“NEMURUMA EHON” is an original picture book read-aloud program that began streaming on U-NEXT in October 2024. Featuring a carefully selected lineup of Japanese picture books that we want people to read now, chosen together with Nemu Yumemi, the program invites a variety of readers to bring them to life. To convey the appeal of picture books themselves, the actual books are filmed on camera. By making full use of editing techniques such as preserving the sound of pages being turned and action cuts, we aim to transform a single reading experience into video. At the end of the program, “Nemuruma Anime” by Yosuke Omomo continues to play, gently encouraging a calm state of mind and sleep. By exploring what is uniquely possible with streaming video—such as not showing “the next recommended video” and not fixing a set runtime—we aim to create a program that can be a small help in childcare, one that parents can feel comfortable handing to their children on a tablet or smartphone.

“Hirake Hako” is a new packaging design, along with a group of technologies that form its elements, developed with Keiaki Nakaji and presented at TAKEO PAPER SHOW 2023, “PACKAGING—Function and Laughter.” By treating the wave-like structure of Takeo’s fine-paper corrugated board “Fine Flute” as if it were the teeth of a gear, we developed mechanical element technologies that create a variety of “movements” using paper. Building on this technology, we proposed a package that contains the mechanism within the box itself, offering a new way to open it and a distinctive unboxing experience.

This is an original segment for the new craft program “Ugo Kousaku,” which is being developed together by the video streaming service U-NEXT and designer Masaya Ishikawa. By accessing the web app on a smartphone, animations appear over the camera feed. With a single action triggered by tapping the screen, this simple animation asks viewers, “Where in the world would it be interesting to place it?” Through the way the animation’s size and appearance change depending on where it is placed — that is, through the illusion of size — this piece also invites us to reflect on how our eyes work. “Ugo Kousaku” will also convey the joy of thinking and of making things by hand through new craft and video experiences made possible only through streaming, using technology and optical illusions.

This is an original segment for the new craft program “Ugo-Kousaku,” currently in development by the video streaming service U-NEXT and designer Masaya Ishikawa. When you access the web app on your smartphone, an animation appears over the live camera image. Tapping the screen triggers a single action, and the video asks viewers the question: “Where in the world would it be interesting to place this simple animation?” Through the way the animation’s size and appearance change depending on where it is placed—that is, through the illusion of size—the video also invites us to think about the way our eyes work. “Ugo-Kousaku” also conveys the joy of coming up with ideas and making things by hand through new craft and video experiences unique to streaming, using technology and optical illusions.