ORENDA WORLD and Amakusa City: Pioneering Digital Art Island Initiative

ORENDA WORLD, a company based in Minato, Tokyo, has established a new collaborative project in Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture. The initiative called the 'Digital Art Island Creation Project' has received a significant endorsement by being chosen as the first site for the Cabinet Office's 'Content Regional Revitalization Hub.' This selection marks an essential milestone in the push for regional development through the digital arts and serves as an example of innovation and collaborative efforts in content industry growth.

Overview of the Project

The Japanese Cabinet Office has aimed to select approximately 200 sites nationwide by 2033 to enhance local regions through content creation. The 'Digital Art Island Creation Project' was selected from among only seven projects that exemplify this goal. Their strategy focuses on nurturing local talent and growing the digital content industry from scratch. This leads to the creation of job opportunities while encouraging sustainable economic growth through technology integration.

The project aims to strengthen partnerships between industries, academia, and government agencies. This cooperation is evidenced through initiatives like training programs for digital creators conducted at Kumamoto Prefectural Amakusa Technical High School.

Furthermore, eight content-related companies have established operations in Amakusa, embracing technology to create a sustainable economic environment for young individuals to thrive locally. This project uniquely positions Amakusa to foster digital content as a local industry, showcasing its progressive approach.

Background and Previous Initiatives

ORENDA WORLD made its entry into Amakusa in February 2023, establishing the 'Digital Art Amakusa' organization in July of the same year in collaboration with the city. Under the leadership of CEO Yoshiharu Shibuya, the initiative addresses local challenges, such as the outflow of young talent, by developing a robust digital content sector.

Efforts so far have included inviting active creators to provide technical training at Amakusa Technical High School. The initiative has aimed to reclaim the region's identity, branding the entire island as a 'studio for focused production.' It has even garnered national attention, being featured in educational materials by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for its collaboration between specialized high schools and industries.

Comments from Leadership

Yoshiharu Shibuya, CEO of ORENDA WORLD and Representative Director of the Digital Art Amakusa organization, emphasized the significance of this recognition from the Cabinet Office. He stated, "This designation affirms our commitment to making Amakusa a hub for content creation. We aim to establish a self-sufficient industrial structure that encourages learning and creativity, moving beyond dependence on specific works. Integrating Amakusa's rich natural environment with cutting-edge technology will allow us to showcase a new model of regional development to the world."

Future Prospects

With the Cabinet Office’s endorsement, ORENDA WORLD plans to ramp up collaborations with various agencies to expedite the branding of 'Digital Art Island' by 2033. By further digitizing regional assets and enhancing the creative ecosystem, they aim to establish an environment where both domestic and international creators contribute to producing continuous digital content emanating from Amakusa.

About Digital Art Amakusa

- Established: July 10, 2023
- Location: 3-17 Chuo Shinmachi, Amakusa City, Kumamoto, 863-0023, Japan
- Website: https://www.digi-ama.com/
- Members: ORENDA WORLD, Amakusa City
- CEO: Yoshiharu Shibuya (ORENDA WORLD CEO)
- Directors: Akiharu Baba (Mayor of Amakusa City)
- Business Focus: Training digital artists, attracting enterprises, and supporting CG and design production.

About ORENDA WORLD
ORENDA WORLD Inc., founded in July 2015, envisions creating moving experiences through design and technology that address societal challenges. Their work spans game development, AI solutions, and promoting regional revitalization efforts. They also actively use voice synthesis technology in digital human and metaverse content collaborations.

- Company Name: ORENDA WORLD Inc.
- Founded: July 15, 2015
- Address: 1-3-6 Aoyama SI Building, Minato, Tokyo, 107-0061, Japan
- Website: https://orenda.co.jp
- CEO: Yoshiharu Shibuya
- Business Areas: AI Solutions, Design Development, Regional Revitalization.