Kotono Ota (Western-style Painting)
【Current Position】
Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. (Paint Department)
[Job starting from April 2025]
Tokiwamatsu Gakuen Yokohama University of Art and Design
Part-time assistant at the Art Research Lab
degree in artsPReasons for entering the (master's) program
To be honest, I didn't have a particular industry in which I wanted to work, but the main reason I decided to go to graduate school was that I wanted to stay at university a little longer and focus on production.
Another big factor was that I wanted to have time to deepen my own expression before entering society, and listening to the stories of people who were actually working made me feel that "I should do what I love while I still can."
Towards the end of my studies, I felt that I was finally beginning to get my thoughts together about my own work. Until then, I had been just moving my hands around aimlessly, but as I worked on my graduation project, I started to think about things like "why am I using this color?" and "what is the meaning of this motif?", and changes began to appear in my composition and colors.
I felt that my previously vague expressions were gradually taking shape, and I felt a strong sense that if I continued a little longer, I might be able to deepen the parts that were unclear.
For this reason, I decided to go to graduate school, where I could look at my work from a more specialized perspective and engage in research and production.
degree in artsPWhat I learned in (master's semester)
After proceeding to the master's program, I began to turn my attention to the creative process itself, combining different materials and trying new techniques, in addition to traditional brushwork and matière.
For example, I have attempted to create accidental textures by taking advantage of the different properties of oil paint and acrylic paint, and to express the passage of time by layering several layers of paint and then sanding away the layers underneath.
In addition, I have had more opportunities to submit reports along with my work, and by verbalizing unconscious expressions and choices, I have come to look at my own work objectively. When presenting research or writing a paper, you are required to be able to logically explain the background and concept of your work, but I believe that analyzing works through words ultimately leads to a broadening of the scope of your expression.
As for the classes, I was impressed by the classes where the professors talked about their own techniques, ideas, and production processes. By learning about the trial and error and thoughts behind their everyday production, I was able to get a more real feel for the perspective of an artist.
Through these experiences, I was able to deepen my expression from both practical and theoretical perspectives and gain a new perspective on the relationship between production and research.
Introduction of current activities
In his current work, he continues to create through trial and error, asking himself, "Can I weave together multi-layered emotions through the complex changes in shape and color?"
I often find joy in discovering the shapes and colors that emerge by chance while layering paint, and the power that resides in expressions that appear unconsciously, so in the creative process, I repeatedly build up thick layers of paint and scrape them away, placing great importance on the stories and sensations that emerge when chance and intention intersect. Recently, I have also begun painting on wooden boards, and am working on expressions that make use of the characteristics of the material.
I am currently working in the painting department at Kaikai Kiki, where I am involved in the production of art works, from silkscreen printing and creating the colors used in the works to foiling and finishing work. Since I am involved in the production of works on a global scale here, I am not only learning techniques but also the structure of the art world and the quality of world-class works.
This experience has had a positive impact on my own work, and I am able to balance my creative work with my day job, incorporating the skills and knowledge I gained on the job into my projects.
From April I will be working in the painting lab of Yokohama Art University, but I would like to continue to gain a variety of experiences while continuing my own creative work and exploring my future direction.
Message to current students or those considering going to higher education
To be honest, I think there is plenty of meaning in going to graduate school even if you don't have a clear goal in mind. I myself decided to go to graduate school because I just wanted to stay in college, but as a result, I was able to learn a lot and gain valuable experience.
Of course, if you go on to a master's course, you will no longer be able to "just draw" as you did in the undergraduate program. You will have more opportunities to think more deeply about your work and explain your ideas to others, so you will likely be faced with the question, "What do I want to do?" However, this can also be a good stimulus for sorting out your own expressions and gaining a deeper understanding.
In addition, because graduate school allows you to use your time relatively freely, you can focus on your creative endeavors while also participating in exhibitions and gaining experience outside of art. Another attraction of graduate school is the opportunity to broaden your horizons through a variety of experiences.
If you are unsure about continuing your studies, it might be a good idea to think, "One option would be to take two more years to really focus on my own creative endeavors."
Wang Xuhua (Visual Communication Design)
Blanca Association Art Director
degree in artsPReasons for entering the (master's) program
I am an international student from China and was deeply influenced by Japanese design philosophy. Japanese design is at its pinnacle in its pursuit of detail and precision. This experience not only shaped my design philosophy, but also served as a great opportunity to further deepen my knowledge of design and expand my horizons overseas.
The University of Tsukuba has a long history and is impressive for its academic atmosphere and beautiful natural environment. This is not only an ideal environment for living and research, but also a platform for holistic personal growth. I thought that being exposed to cutting-edge design theory and practice, and interacting with outstanding students and faculty from around the world, would be of great significance in broadening my design horizons and deepening my professional abilities. I am interested in the design projects and social activities that Tadanobu Hara handles, and I believe that by studying visual design at the University of Tsukuba, I will be able to broaden my field of view and improve the skills necessary for thinking, coming up with ideas, and applying them in design. I believed it and decided to go to university.
degree in artsPWhat I learned in (master's semester)
My graduate school years were a valuable journey of exploration and growth for me. During my studies, I not only learned various design theories from the instructors, but also learned how to put them into practice. I was able to reconsider visual design not just as a technique for making things visually beautiful, but as an effective means for solving various social issues. During the semester, I was actively involved in laboratory activities and was given the opportunity to develop not only my language skills but also my overall communication skills through team cooperation. Through these activities, I was able to accumulate a lot of design experience. For example, we designed designs that are actually used, such as the local government's certification mark and the University of Tsukuba Comprehensive Academic Group mark.
Comprehensive academic group logo designed while enrolled in school
Introduction of current activities
The Blanca Association that I belong to does a wide variety of designs, and more than half of our partners are foreigners. In addition to the diversity of nationalities, each person has their own specialty, such as culinary expertise, fashion, and interior design. As an art director, I participate in a variety of projects including brand planning, pop-up shop planning, product packaging design, and web design. There are also opportunities to participate in overseas design projects. We also manage art spaces, building connections with young Chinese artists and designers active at Tokyo University of the Arts, Tama Art University, Musashino Art University, etc., and collaborating with them in planning art exhibitions.
In this kind of environment, I am thinking every day about what I can do to further grow in the future. While utilizing my knowledge and experience in art and design, I am also thinking about tackling new areas of design that I have never tried before, fields that I have never considered before or that I thought were out of reach.
We also interact with international students enrolled in art and art universities.
Message to current students or those considering going to higher education
While some people may feel anxious or unsure in this rapidly changing era, I view this situation positively as an opportunity with endless possibilities. The future is not predetermined, but shaped by the imagination, creativity, and actions of each of us. Therefore, it is important not only to have a brave heart to carve out the future, but also to always keep learning and maintain a curiosity and open mind for new knowledge, technology, and ideas. What is important in graduate school is not only learning specific knowledge and skills, but also learning how to learn, think, communicate and cooperate with others. And to acquire the ability to keep thinking about what you can do in an ever-changing world.
The University of Tsukuba's slogan "Imagine the Future" is a call to action, not just to imagine the future, but to actually take action. Let's open up our future by embracing change, courageously pursuing our dreams, and constantly learning and thinking.
Yuko Imaizumi (Environmental Design)
Ai Plant Design Office Co., Ltd. Research Planning Department
Connecting greenery and people, connecting people
degree in artsPReasons for entering the (master's) program
Ever since I entered university, I had been vaguely thinking about going to graduate school. One reason was that my parents are researchers. When I was young, I visited the research institution where my parents worked and was able to experience the research atmosphere and facilities, which fostered my curiosity about research.
School group4When I was thinking about a theme for my graduation research in 2017, I came across ``Tree Burial Cemetery'' and became deeply interested in it. In my graduation research, I pursued this theme through my thesis and production, but I was left with questions and a desire to dig deeper into things that had not yet been clarified.
This led me to decide to go to graduate school. I feel that research on tree burial cemeteries has great potential in future society, and I am interested in this topic.2We believed that by spending a year on the subject, we would be able to deepen our specialized knowledge and provide new possibilities for society.
My decision to go to graduate school was based on my passion for research, and I believe that this choice will lead to my personal growth and contribution to society.
degree in artsPWhat I learned in (master's semester)
First of all, the major difference between university and graduate school is that in graduate school,2I think the advantage is that you can immerse yourself in research throughout the year. During my university days, the focus was on lectures and exercises, but in graduate school, the focus was on research rather than lectures, and I realized that the knowledge about design and landscape that I had learned through lectures and exercises as an undergraduate student would be useful in my research. . University is the preparatory stage for research, and graduate school has the image of a staircase where students take on the challenge of full-scale research by making full use of their accumulated knowledge.
at graduate school2During the year, I encountered various spaces and people through surveys and inspections, and learned that there is a huge amount of experience and knowledge that can be gained by observing spaces with your own eyes and talking with people through hearing surveys. I did. I also participated in many conference presentations, and learned how much fun it is to present, share, and discuss my own research results. I was able to devote myself more deeply to my research as a graduate student compared to when I was an undergraduate, even when I was researching the same arboreal cemetery. I feel that my decision to attend graduate school was meaningful because of this sense of fulfillment.
Sketching situation
Introduction of current activities
I work at Ai Plant Design Office.
We mainly provide landscaping consulting services. We engage in a wide range of activities, from planning, research, planning, and design, while listening to the requests of clients, from large-scale green spaces such as forests to spaces where people and greenery closely interact, such as parks, street trees, and gardens. .
From the investigation and planning stage to on-site attendance, we coordinate among different professions such as the client, experts, and constructors, and we also work in collaboration with citizens.
By constantly working with plants, I aim to create an environment where plants are healthy and the people who live there can live a better life. Also, part of my job is to appropriately manage the progress of the project and present, share, and discuss the results.
The company has a research planning department and a design planning department.2There are two departments. The research and planning department mainly conducts surveys of the current situation, mainly understanding the flora and fauna, and creates plans, while the design and planning department conducts basic and implementation designs, from plans centered on planting and vegetation management. In both departments, work begins with a thorough understanding of the current situation on-site.
I belong to both departments, and I work while learning knowledge about both research and design.2I feel the joy of learning and growing while being involved in projects in each department.
Investigation scene
Message to current students or those considering going to higher education
Looking back as a member of society, I feel that university was a very blessed environment. I met many friends who are interested in art and environmental design. Having a comrade around me that I can get excited about together is a treasure to me now. In the university's rich natural environment, surrounded by plants, I was able to deepen my studies in a relaxed manner.
at university4Years and after entering graduate school2The past year has been a valuable time for me to get to know myself and find what I'm passionate about. I feel that these experiences have led to my current work. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have found a field that caters to my inquisitive spirit.
As a comprehensive university, I think the University of Tsukuba is wonderful in that it brings together a wide variety of academic fields. Personally, by taking classes offered at other academic departments, my love for plants deepened, which led to my current job.
I am still working hard at my daily work while surrounded by plants. I hope that all of you who are considering going to higher education will find something wonderful that you can become passionate about.
Kenjiro Haruta (Sho-Calligraphy)
Taito City Calligraphy Museum Specialist
Conveying cultural properties and their value to future generations
degree in artsPReasons for entering the (master's) program
School group1I had wanted to go on to graduate school since my freshman year, but the deciding factor was the school.2I had a senior in my class, ``History of Chinese Calligraphy,'' which was my specialty subject in XNUMX.
``History of Chinese Calligraphy'' was the first class to systematically study the history of calligraphy.Before taking this course, I only knew a little about the classic works and famous calligraphers that I had written, but through this class, I was able to connect the dots of classics and calligraphers from the same period with lines, and the lines became a surface ( I vividly remember the joy of broadening my perspective on calligraphy, experiencing the sensation of the surface becoming three-dimensional (relationship with the style of the previous and subsequent eras).This class exposed me to the theory of calligraphy for the first time, and for the first time, my intellectual curiosity about calligraphy arose.
My seniors were people whose lives revolved around calligraphy.During our casual conversations, I learned a lot of things that I didn't know before, and since most of my seniors had gone on to graduate school, I naturally wanted to go on to graduate school myself.
degree in artsPWhat I learned in (master's semester)
When I was a student, even if I didn't understand something, I didn't know what to use to research it.TulipsI looked it up using the affiliated library book search, but this is it!I couldn't find the book, so I went to the Taigei Library,NDC728Sometimes I wandered around the calligraphy/calligraphy section.Even though I had such a rich collection of books, I had very little ability to make use of them.
In graduate school classes, there is a book called a ``tool book'' for searching literature, and there are multiple exercises in which students actually use it.Preparing for the presentation was quite difficult, but I was able to acquire the ability to use literature, such as ``If I want to know something, I can use this tool book.''By going to graduate school, I gained the ability to investigate things I don't understand, and by turning my "I don't know" into "I understand," I feel that I was able to realize the deeper appeal of calligraphy. .
Introduction of current activities
Currently, at the Taito City Calligraphy Museum,4We plan and hold several exhibitions.Although it is a small museum, many people who are not familiar with calligraphy visit the museum.For such people, books are interesting!In order to make people think of this, we create creative captions and hold workshops where you can actually write the name of the name with a brush.We are also involved in educational activities that convey the appeal of calligraphy to the next generation, such as visiting local kindergartens to give lectures.
Additionally, curators are required to have expertise in areas such as exhibitions and research.Even when exhibiting the same work, the theme of the exhibition is different each time, so we must keep in mind what value the work has within that theme and where to focus on the work. I try to look at each work from multiple perspectives.In our research, we are collaborating with the Tokyo National Museum (XNUMX).4During one of the sessions, I create a catalog and keep it as a result of my research.
Message to current students or those considering going to higher education
While working on calligraphy, I often feel depressed and feel inadequate.When I was a student, this happened to me many times while creating works or writing papers, and I'm probably not the only one.What motivates me at times like this is always a new discovery.Of course, it is necessary to think things through on your own, but even now, there are many times when the different perspectives of third parties, such as teachers, seniors, classmates, and juniors, can give you hints.
Although I have only recently graduated from graduate school, I am keenly aware of how privileged the university environment was.There are people of the same age around you who are interested in calligraphy, and those people are naturally writing with brushes, and you can casually have conversations about calligraphy. Such an environment does not exist outside of university. I don't.I hope that you will take full advantage of the wonderful environment that is the University of Tsukuba Graduate School.
I would like current students to take pride in being able to study together with their peers in the field of calligraphy.I also cherish the thoughts I had when I decided to pursue a career in calligraphy, and I strongly hope to continue learning calligraphy together with all of you.
Matsuzaki Aoyo (Art Environment Support)
University of Tsukuba Hospital Art Coordinator
Cheer Art Secretariat, a specified non-profit organization
Ryotokuji University Part-time lecturer
Cosmic art Mira Art School Lecturer
I want to turn my nervousness towards the unknown into excitement. I am studying at the “intersection of people and art”
degree in artsPReasons for entering the (master's) program
Honestly, my reason for going to university is not something I can proudly say.I entered the University of Tsukuba from the academic group and was enrolled in the art support course from that time, but even before I entered university, I thought, ``I'm not very good at it, so I'm not good at it.4I was thinking about going to graduate school, thinking that I might not be able to study satisfactorily at this age.I anyway4I took a lot of classes to learn as much as I could in a year, but I did my best to enjoy and learn from each one.As I expected, even though I received help from many people during my first graduation research, I had to do my best to compile it into a thesis and submit it by the deadline. I couldn't get to the bottom of the question until I could.Perhaps because of that, I didn't have any confidence in myself, and even though I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do when I entered the university, I didn't really know what I wanted to do.However, for some reason, I had a strong feeling that I didn't want to just look for a job right now, and that I might be able to gain something by studying more at graduate school.So, I faced my graduate school entrance exam with great anxiety and a confused feeling about the future, as I watched my classmates who had already received job offers from famous companies.
degree in artsPWhat I learned in (master's semester)
The theme of my graduation research was art therapy, but after taking a class on appreciation education in graduate school, I became interested in an activity called ``mutual appreciation,'' where children and students appreciate each other's works. became.Then, I looked back on my graduation research and realized that I was interested in the sharing activity within art therapy, where we discuss and deepen our awareness of the works we have created.Therefore, in my final research, I chose a theme of mutual appreciation that focused more on the content I wanted to explore.
In the class, I learned the theory of art education that forms the basis of my research, practical examples from Japan and abroad, and presentation skills to convey my research to others in an easy-to-understand manner.The arts support field also offers a wealth of practical exercises.When we planned and implemented an expression and appreciation program at a nearby nursery school, we were able to learn about the ``real scene'', such as the environment in which art activities take place and the reactions of children and nursery teachers, which could not be understood through classroom lectures alone. It's done.The things I learned here are still useful in my current job.
Kota Akaba
KAKENHI Project 17H04771
Introduction of current activities
I mainly work in art-related fields in the medical, welfare, and educational fields.At the University of Tsukuba Hospital, as an art coordinator, I work on art activities such as in-hospital exhibitions and workshops through collaboration between the hospital and the university's art department, and I act as a liaison for both fields, coordinating and managing each project. Masu.NPOsThrough our activities, we support the creation of places through art, such as local clinics and medical consultation centers.As a university lecturer, I teach classes to students aiming to become professionals in the medical and welfare fields, and to think about the possibilities of art for patients, users, and staff.Additionally, as a private art classroom instructor, I create and provide modeling programs for children.In addition, last year we also held craft classes at children's centers and art workshops for elderly people with dementia.3From age90I met many people up to the age of XNUMX.
It can be scary to come into contact with things you don't know, such as new people, experiences, and values.However, I feel that art has the power to alleviate that fear and encourage encounters with the unknown.Get to know the other person and yourself, regardless of age, gender, status as a medical worker, patient, teacher, student, etc.Through art, I would like to create opportunities for various sites to become ``exciting places to encounter the unknown''.Toward this end, I am currently studying every day while working in a field where people and art intersect.
Cosmic art Mira Art School
Message to current students or those considering going to higher education
In terms of discovering answers and possibilities that no one knows about yet, I feel that research and production activities are as painful as ``thinking about how you want to live your life.''There are difficulties, loneliness, and anxiety that come with it, and sometimes you may feel like you are out of touch.Of course, it's great to be able to work on one thing without wavering, but what you want to know, what you want to express, and what you want to be will gradually change, and it's important to be able to accept yourself as you continue to change. I think it is also very important to become.After many years have passed, if you look back on what you have done up until now, you may be able to find the element that overlaps with all of them, the core of yourself.
At Tsukuba Graduate School, you can learn cross-disciplinary studies that go beyond fields and degree programs, as well as specialized studies, and we have professors who carefully support you.If you feel something that appeals to you and makes you want to study here, please take the exam.My reason for going to university is not something I'm proud of, but it's definitely the most fun, even though it's tiring.2It was a year.
