From August 4 to 8, 2025, a joint workshop was held at the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts for animation and design students from Japan and Korea. Participants from both countries formed mixed groups and created short animations inspired by the local context of Okinawa.
Prior to the workshop, 22 students researched the theme of “Chura” and Okinawan culture, submitting their own interpretations of “Chura.” Upon arrival, the students attended a lecture on Okinawan History and Culture by Professor Nakamoto Masaru and began discussions on their team projects.
On the second day, four teams went on field trips to collect visual and audio materials. On the third day, after a lecture on Animation and Traditional Culture by Professor Yamamura Koji, the four teams presented their project plans. Finally, on the fourth day, each team showcased its completed animation at the final presentation.
Organized by Agency for Cultural Affairs (Government of Japan) and Korea National University of Arts
Operated by Tokyo University of the Arts and Korea National University of Arts
Secretariat: UNIJAPAN and Korea National University of Arts
PARTICIPANTS
Chungkang College of Cultural Industries
NA Yaebin | 4th-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
KIM Naseul | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
JEONG Youmin | 2nd-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
LEE Hayoung | 2nd-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
Korea National University of Arts
KIM Sol | 4th-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
AN Jiwon | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
BANG Haneul | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
JEONG Gayeon | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
Musashino Art University
KAWAMURA Mizuki | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Imaging Arts and Sciences
SAITO Yoshihisa | 2nd-year Undergraduate Student, Imaging Arts and Sciences
Tokyo Polytechnic University
HADANO Madoka | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
OGUSU Mutsuka | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Animation
Tokyo University of the Arts
KAWAKAMI Rin | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Design
KINOUCHI Yusuke | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Design
Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
KAMIMURA Miki | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Design and Crafts
CHIBANA Misa | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Design and Crafts
MIYAHIRA Suzune | 3rd-year Undergraduate Student, Design and Crafts
OKUBO Chihiro | 3rd -year Undergraduate Student, Design and Crafts
FURUGEN Minori | 2nd-year Undergraduate Student, Design and Crafts
HIRANO Hikari | 2nd-year Undergraduate Student, Design and Crafts
TANOUE Ayami | 2nd-year Undergraduate Student, Design and Crafts
TERUYA Yuki | 2nd-year Undergraduate Student, Design and Crafts
STAFF
Chungkang College of Cultural Industries
KIM Yunkyoung | Professor
YI Suyeon | Staff / Foundation of Industrial-Academic Cooperation
Korea National University of Arts
LEE Jungmin | Professor
KWAK Youngjin | Professor
LEE Kyunghwa | CAMPUS Asia Coordinator
OH Sang-a | CAMPUS Asia Coordinator
Tokyo University of the Arts
OKAMOTO Mitsuko | Professor
YAMAMURA Koji | Professor
EGUCHI Asako | Project Associate Professor
ITO Keigo | Assistant Professor
FURUKAWAHARA Momoka | Research Assistant
MATSUMOTO Iyo | Research Assistant
Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
NAKAMOTO Masaru | Professor
MATAYOSHI Hiroshi | Professor
UNIJAPAN
KOMATSU Machiko | staff
Team A: BANG Haneul, CHIBANA Misa, JEONG Youmin, KAMIMURA Miki, KINOUCHI Yusuke, OGUSU Mutsuka
I-ssi
Technique: 2D, Digital drawing
Concept: Clear and pure will
Outline: Through waves rise like the arms of a Shisa and swallow life, even within them, Okinawa’s spirit shows a steadfast will to carry life forward.
Team B: AN Jiwon, FURUGEN Minori, MIYAHIRA Suzune, NA Yaebin, SAITO Yoshihisa
Twinkle – The Spirit of Light –
Technique: 2D, Digital drawing, Stop-motion, Live-action
Concept: The flow of time, originating from a single water drop at Sefa-Utaki.
Outline: The spirit of light playfully hangs over the lives of people and plants since ancient times.
Team C: HIRANO Hikari, KAWAKAMIi Rin, KIM Naseul, KIM Sol, TANOUE Ayami
Hibiki – Feeling of sound
Concept: Each person expresses the ‘Chura of Okinawa’ and together they create one abstract movement.
Outline: By utilizing various materials from the sea, each one creates a different movement, and by lowering the transparency and overlapping them, a single abstract animation is created
Uchina Time
Technique: Digital drawing
Concept: “Chura” means more than just beautiful in Okinawa-it reflects purity in nature, air, water, and the heart. This short animation combines that sense of purity with the slow rhythm of “Uchina Time”.
Outline: In a busy world, guardian Shisa gently slow down moments, helping people rediscover calm and clarity. Through several short scenes, we quietly share the beauty of slowing down.
