#Japan #Tokyo #Immersive Experience #BASSDRUM #jangled nerves

Japan's Creative Frontier: jangled nerves Expands to Tokyo

In an exciting development for the immersive experience design sector, Kanta Shimizu has been appointed as the head of the new Japanese branch of jangled nerves, a prominent creative collective originating from Stuttgart, Germany. This expansion is set for September 2025 and comes under the Japanese technical director collective, BASSDRUM, led by the influential Keisuke Kajiyashiki. This collaboration signals a significant step forward in merging innovative concepts in design with high-tech interactive media.

Immerse in Storytelling Through Spatial Design

Founded in 1998 by renowned architects Thomas Hund and Ingo Zilungiber, jangled nerves specializes in creating immersive experiences that integrate interactive technology and media. The company's strength lies in designing environments that evoke powerful narratives, making it a go-to partner for global brands. Their portfolio includes renowned clients such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Porsche, in addition to notable projects for DMG MORI and the Luxembourg Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

At the heart of jangled nerves' philosophy is the belief in crafting immersive experiences of all forms and scales. They strive to break down the boundaries between space, media, and communication, ultimately seeking to move the audience emotionally through their projects.

The Rationale Behind Establishing a Japanese Presence

The decision to open a Japanese office arises amidst a rising demand for experiential projects in Asia and the evolving digital representation landscape. Following the establishment of their Chinese branch in Shanghai in 2019, the team recognized the immense potential and need for innovative solutions in the Asian market. Now, with the impending Tokyo branch, jangled nerves aims to continue building on its success while further developing its unique offerings in Japan.

Synergy Between BASSDRUM and jangled nerves

BASSDRUM stands as Japan's first technical director collective, bringing together top technical specialists to conceptualize and implement large-scale experience systems. Their range of expertise includes collaborations with major manufacturers for technological innovation, interactive content design using AI and XR, as well as research and development-focused prototyping.

The opening of jangled nerves' Japanese office marks the beginning of an exciting partnership that looks to combine strengths in architecture and technology, paving the way for new value creation in the following areas:

• - Cross-disciplinary experience design that integrates architecture, interaction, and media.
• - R&D and prototyping development aided by architectural and technological fusion.
• - Building a collaborative proposal framework for global clients and strengthening execution capabilities in the European market.
• - Promoting business expansion and localization across Asia through collaboration with jangled nerves China.

Words from the Leaders

Kanta Shimizu, head of jangled nerves Japan and technical director at BASSDRUM, expressed, "The fusion of digital and physical realms, once considered a groundbreaking concept, is now an indispensable connection. This fusion unfolds within space itself. jangled nerves has been at the forefront of merging digital storytelling with spatial experiences. BASSDRUM has sought to inspire innovation through Japanese craftsmanship. With our collaboration, we are set to embark on a transformative journey toward future spatial creation."

Thomas Hund, CEO and co-founder of jangled nerves, added, "Our collaboration began with the Luxembourg Pavilion at the expo, where we forged a strong trust through closely shared values. I’m thrilled that this connection has evolved into a partnership allowing us to explore new designs across Japan and Europe. ‘Be jangled’ represents our spirit of curiosity and passion towards new cultural perspectives, and I look forward to embarking on this journey with ‘jangled Japan’."

Get to Know the Creators

jangled nerves

Originating from Stuttgart, jangled nerves blends architectural design and media expression to construct immersive environments. Their expertise lies in developing deeply engaging experiences centered around storytelling for brand showrooms, exhibition halls, and museums, managing projects from conceptualization to execution. More about their work can be found here.

BASSDRUM

BASSDRUM is the world’s first collective of technical directors, leading projects that span from experience facility planning to new business development, leveraging cutting-edge technology like AI to enhance their initiatives. The synthesis of creativity and technical prowess allows them to maximize implementation power across all project stages. Learn more about BASSDRUM here.