In November 2020, Wacom became partners with Oiso Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, CELSYS, Inc., and I-NET Corp. to promote the "New Normal Digital Creative Education"* initiative with the goal of raising the caliber of education in Oiso Town even higher. This partnership was created out of a desire to support "writing/drawing."
Wacom is dedicated to encouraging the love of writing/drawing and showing children that the world expands when they continue to write/draw. The partnership with Oiso Town has developed into a city-wide initiative, not only for children but for all of the residents.
Tadakuni Tsubota, from the Creative BU Retail Partnership, is running this initiative. President Nobu Ide felt confident that Tadakuni had it all under control after visiting Oiso Town together. Tadakuni made about 100 trips back and forth between Oiso Town and Shinjuku, Tokyo, where our office is situated. We spoke with him about the initiative he has been developing with the people in Oiso Town.
*"New Normal Digital Creative Education" aims to actively integrate creative activities into education that make use of digital technology's advantages, such as sharing collaborative work and art, as well as analog creative initiatives within a digital environment.
How did Wacom begin collaborating with Oiso Town?
Tadakuni: Through a partnership with I-NET Corp., we had a meeting with the Oiso Town Board of Education in August 2020. Back when the GIGA School concept was just beginning, I spoke with the school board members about how we could offer support through the power of technology together with Wacom. Oiso Town, CELSYS, Inc., I-NET Corp., and Wacom forged a collaborative agreement, which was announced at Connected Ink 2020 to support "writing/drawing" from an educational standpoint.
What kinds of activities does Wacom engage in?
Tadakuni: Shortly after we finalized the collaborative agreement, we worked with the Art Club of Kokufu Junior High School in Oiso Town and they created digital works. We first displayed them at Connected Ink 2020, which marked the beginning of digital creation in junior high schools. The kids had so much fun making their artwork that in the following year, 2021, we decided to host a badge-creation event and a summer drawing class for kids. The project was originally for elementary and junior high school students which we launched together with the School Education Division. Later on, other divisions learned of the children's positive responses, and they became interested in working together. In 2022, the program was expanded to include all residents of the town, with events such as digital painting classes.
Our scope and focus are growing quickly, wouldn’t you say?
Tadakuni: Since people in town talk about their experiences and what they felt, information about our activities is spreading quickly from student to teacher, teacher to school, and from school to town. I am grateful that not only the kids but also the residents are aware of our initiatives. From the standpoint of “writing/drawing”, people in nearby towns and teachers who are not directly related to art are also showing interest in the project.
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How did the town residents and children respond?
Tadakuni: The young students were overjoyed. When I introduced myself, they replied "Are you from Wacom, the company with the pen display?”. After about 15 minutes of instructions on how to connect to the PC and use CLIP STUDIO PAINT, they were quickly able to draw. I think that adults are becoming more aware of what Wacom is doing based on the response from the kids.
There were some challenging periods at the beginning as we struggled to decide what to do. Support from teachers has been the key to driving it forward. They have been there for us because they think that we should do it if it’s meaningful for the kids. Now, when we host an event, people ask when the next one will be. It makes me happy to hear that the people in town are enjoying the activities we are organizing.
Are there any situations that were particularly memorable?
Tadakuni: It was the first Connected Ink in 2020 when the students from Kokufu Junior High School participated. Our initiative would not have started without that.
There were challenges during the creation process, but I’ll never forget the students’ smiles when the project was done and their pieces were presented. It was a true joy seeing the children’s happiness at the thank-you event for the students who took part in Connected Ink 2020, everyone’s smiles at the badge events, and the workshops on digital drawing. In any case, I’m most delighted that they were happy when they were creating something.
Recently, we have opened our events to people of all ages. Everyone agrees that these events are enjoyable and is a place where beautiful artwork is created. Some visitors come with a specific idea in mind, such as a person wishing to trace an old photograph. I get the impression that the people in town are making us feel welcome.
As a salesperson, isn’t it better to sell as many units as you can?
Tadakuni: Of course selling as many as we can is better (laughs). I think that supporting the “writing/drawing” of our customers is a key component of both our daily work and our efforts with Oiso Town. I would be thrilled if we got more people to use and like our products through these events because our final goal is to have people say that they are excited to use Wacom products.
What future initiatives do you have in mind?
Tadakuni: We intend to keep hosting workshops on digital drawing with exhibitions running alongside them. We would also like to actively take part in the town-sponsored events to share our products and experiences of digital writing/drawing. Additionally, I am taking part as an observer in the town council’s discussion on how to promote the GIGA school concept and the development of ICT education. There is no grand plan, but I hope to keep working with the people in Oiso Town to support “writing/drawing.”
What does the initiative with Oiso Town mean to you?
Tadakuni: That is a difficult question…! I can’t imagine not having this initiative. There are so many things that I have learned because of our efforts with Oiso Town, such as the fact that our users all have questions about the areas in which we work, or that they wanted to do these kinds of things with our products. I cried when a student who was not very good at school was very enthusiastic about a piece of artwork he created and told me how much fun he had. His parents were also delighted, and I was glad that we did it. It’s a part of my job, but it has become a part of my life too. Supporting "writing/drawing" has become something important to me, and the people of Oiso are extremely supportive.
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History with Oiso Town as of December 2022
We'll keep moving forward with Oiso Town.
We would like to introduce the artworks by artists in Oiso Town, Kanagawa, Japan, where we have been working together to support the writing/drawing initiative.
コミュニティーとの交流を目的に生まれたワコム・エクスペリエンス・センター・ポートランド。その旗振り役を務めるメーガン・デイビスの心の灯りとともにこれまでの成長を振り返ります。
二つの大きな問いかけとともに開幕したコネクテッド・インク2022。東京で開催されたいくつかのセッションを紹介しながら振り返ります。
詳細はこちら「私たちの灯り」では心の灯りをテーマにチームメンバーの作品を紹介してきました。今回は「かくこと」を軸にともに取り組みを進める神奈川県大磯町のアーティストによる作品を紹介します。
詳細はこちら神奈川県大磯町とのコラボレーションは「かくこと」を軸に町全体の取り組みへと広がりをみせています。担当するクリエイティブBUの坪田直邦に話を聞きました。
チームメンバーの心の灯りを起点に、コネクテッド・インクという多面体の一面を覗いてみます。二人目は、Corporate Engagementを担当する桧森陽平です。
チームメンバーの心の灯りを起点に、コネクテッド・インクという多面体の一面を覗いてみます。一人目は、2016年から企画運営の中心的役割を務めるハイジ・ワンです。
2021年9月、ワコムは、株式会社ヘラルボニーと一般社団法人コネクテッド・インク・ビレッジと共に、「コール・アンド・レスポンス」(呼びかけと呼応)という新たな取り組みを始めました。
当日行われた70近いセッションの中からオープニングとフィナーレを振り返り、コネクテッド・インク2021がもたらしたものについて考えてみます。
「心の灯り」をテーマに、二回目となるアートコンテストを開催しました。思いもよらぬ出来事にさまざまな変化が起こる中、今、そして未来へと続くチームメンバーの心の灯りを作品を通して紹介します。
「コネクテッド・インク2020」は、終わりなき問いを続けていくワコムの新たな覚悟であり、挑戦の始まりでした。
コネクテッド・インク2020の舞台として制作された「ステージKOPPA」。多様な場面に応じて、形や役割を変化させ、そこで起こるさまざまな物語をつないでいくステージです。
「心の灯り」をテーマに、二回目となるアートコンテストを開催しました。思いもよらぬ出来事にさまざまな変化が起こる中、今、そして未来へと続くチームメンバーの心の灯りを作品を通して紹介します。
私たちの取り組みで大切にしている「灯り」をテーマに、チームメンバー(社員)を対象にしたアートコンテストを開催しました。チームメンバーによる投票で選ばれた三作品を紹介します。
新型コロナウィルス感染拡大防止のため、外出自粛をしていた子どもたちに何か楽しい時間を提供したい。FC KAZOとイラストレーター・すいいろさんと共に、小学生を対象としたオンラインお絵描き教室を開催しました。
FC KAZOと共にチームと地域を育てたい。ワコムは埼玉県加須市のフットボールクラブ「FC KAZO」のオフィシャルパートナーとして活動を支援しています。
私たちの取り組みで大切にしている「灯り」をテーマに、チームメンバー(社員)を対象にしたアートコンテストを開催しました。チームメンバーによる投票で選ばれた三作品を紹介します。
新型コロナウイルス感染拡大防止による休校中の子どもたちを対象に、ドイツのチームメンバーがオンラインワークショップ「Young Wacom」を開催しました。
アメリカでカスタマーオペレーションを担当するアレックス・ダフィーは、アーティストを支援する新たなプログラムを立ち上げました。このプログラムを立ち上げるきっかけとなったアーティストのデボン・ブラッグ氏との物語について、アレックスに聞きました。
KOPPAのはじまりは2019年4月。伊藤さんの展示制作がきっかけでした。展示後も「また誰かに使ってもらえるものにしたい。」KOPPAに込められた思いをお聞きしました。
自分たちで組み立てて、広げて、しまって、また一緒に旅に出る。壊すのが当たり前であった展示什器の在り方を大きく変えた「旅するKOPPA」が誕生しました。
建築現場の端材を活かせないかと、建築家の伊藤維さんの呼びかけで生まれた家具「KOPPA」。ワコムとの出会いは小さな偶然がきっかけでした。
私たちの取り組みで大切にしている「灯り」をテーマにアートコンテストを開催しました。作品を通して、チームメンバーが大切にしている心の灯りの存在を紹介します。
東京工業高等専門学校で技術者を目指す学生を対象にマーケティングの講義を行いました。
高校生のデジタルコンテンツ制作支援のため、倉庫に眠るペンタブレットを高校のクラブ活動や学校対抗のコンテストの副賞として毎年贈呈しています。
学習中の視線データとペンの動きから、生徒個人の学習特性を明らかにし、個人に合わせた学習環境を提供する「教育向けAIインク」を開発しました。
ブルガリアで働くソフトウエアデザイナー、ヨアナ・シメノヴァは、子どもたちのITクラスをもっと楽しくしたいとWacom Intuosを学校に導入しました。