Okayama University Implements Digital Transformation at Kurashiki Byobu Festival
On October 18 and 19, 2025, Okayama University (Okayama City, President: Yasunori Nasu) successfully showcased a digital transformation experiment called "Appreciation DX" at the 2025 Kurashiki Byobu Festival. This initiative, led by the Okayama Digital Innovation Platform OI-Start, aims to elevate visitor experiences through the integration of technology with traditional culture. The festival, organized by a committee comprised of the Kurashiki Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, demonstrated the collaborative work of Okayama University's research team, spearheaded by Professor Atsushi Nakazawa from the Graduate School of Health System Integration Science, People Software Co., Ltd., and Okayama Seiryo High School.
The project is part of OI-Start's efforts to use digital technologies to deepen the appreciation of traditional culture while contributing to regional revitalization. During the festival, the Nakazawa laboratory unveiled a prototype of the "Appreciation Facilitation System," a groundbreaking approach that combines robotics and generative AI to transform the viewing experience of traditional art.
At the Kurashiki City Community Center, an exhibition featured a creative folding screen titled "Kachofugetsu," crafted by students from Seiryo High School's art and calligraphy clubs. Attendees could interact with multiple robots throughout the demonstration, receiving explanations and engaging in dialogues about the artworks. Feedback from visitors praised the AI's effective communication, allowing for a more immersive and reflective viewing experience. Comments such as "The AI provided excellent explanations," and "We found the exhibition enjoyable and informative" highlighted the success of the initiative, indicating the potential of AI to enrich traditional cultural experiences.
The Kurashiki Byobu Festival also attracted a significant number of international tourists. The system's multilingual capabilities greatly facilitated understanding across language barriers, resulting in high satisfaction levels among foreign visitors. Moreover, People Software Co., Ltd. contributed by providing a multilingual audio guide system, "MUSENAVI," which offered explanations in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. High school students from Seiryo contributed their voices for the Japanese and English narration, showcasing a tangible collaboration between local enterprises, educational institutions, and the community in fostering cultural expressions.
Okayama University and OI-Start are dedicated to merging Nakazawa's AI innovations with People Software’s technological expertise, aspiring to implement new methodologies in traditional cultural appreciation. This project exemplifies a cooperative innovation model where academia, industry, and government come together to produce impactful results.
Looking towards future endeavors, OI-Start plans to continue its mission of promoting cultural legacy preservation, community engagement, and the resolution of regional challenges through collaborations with universities, local authorities, and businesses. The ongoing commitment of Okayama University, a significant hub for distinctive research and community contribution, underscores its role in advancing both local and global cultural landscapes.
In summary, the successful implementation of the Appreciation DX experiment at the Kurashiki Byobu Festival marks a significant milestone in blending tradition with technology, paving the way for enhanced cultural experiences and community involvement in the digital age.
The project is part of OI-Start's efforts to use digital technologies to deepen the appreciation of traditional culture while contributing to regional revitalization. During the festival, the Nakazawa laboratory unveiled a prototype of the "Appreciation Facilitation System," a groundbreaking approach that combines robotics and generative AI to transform the viewing experience of traditional art.
At the Kurashiki City Community Center, an exhibition featured a creative folding screen titled "Kachofugetsu," crafted by students from Seiryo High School's art and calligraphy clubs. Attendees could interact with multiple robots throughout the demonstration, receiving explanations and engaging in dialogues about the artworks. Feedback from visitors praised the AI's effective communication, allowing for a more immersive and reflective viewing experience. Comments such as "The AI provided excellent explanations," and "We found the exhibition enjoyable and informative" highlighted the success of the initiative, indicating the potential of AI to enrich traditional cultural experiences.
The Kurashiki Byobu Festival also attracted a significant number of international tourists. The system's multilingual capabilities greatly facilitated understanding across language barriers, resulting in high satisfaction levels among foreign visitors. Moreover, People Software Co., Ltd. contributed by providing a multilingual audio guide system, "MUSENAVI," which offered explanations in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. High school students from Seiryo contributed their voices for the Japanese and English narration, showcasing a tangible collaboration between local enterprises, educational institutions, and the community in fostering cultural expressions.
Okayama University and OI-Start are dedicated to merging Nakazawa's AI innovations with People Software’s technological expertise, aspiring to implement new methodologies in traditional cultural appreciation. This project exemplifies a cooperative innovation model where academia, industry, and government come together to produce impactful results.
Looking towards future endeavors, OI-Start plans to continue its mission of promoting cultural legacy preservation, community engagement, and the resolution of regional challenges through collaborations with universities, local authorities, and businesses. The ongoing commitment of Okayama University, a significant hub for distinctive research and community contribution, underscores its role in advancing both local and global cultural landscapes.
In summary, the successful implementation of the Appreciation DX experiment at the Kurashiki Byobu Festival marks a significant milestone in blending tradition with technology, paving the way for enhanced cultural experiences and community involvement in the digital age.
Topics Entertainment & Media）
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