*In random order
Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University
Conducts legal and scientific research on the relationship between robots and social systems.
Research assistant professor, The University of Tokyo Graduate School
Conducts research on workshop design as “devices” for stimulating creativity.
Contemporary artist, founder of DOMMUNE, and professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design
Oversees the live-streaming internet channel DOMMUNE that has generated interest both in Japan and internationally.
Musician and sound artist
An up-and-coming sound artist who focuses on employing cutting-edge technology in sound design and who has released some radical electronic music compositions in Japan and internationally.
Director, KADOKAWA ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc.
Formerly chief editor of the well-known PC magazine Monthly ASCII, currently involved in a variety of critical review and writing activities.
Media artist and entrepreneur
Winner of numerous awards worldwide and hailed as a “wizard” for his visual compositions and research combining computer and analog technology.
DJ, FM802
Popular "feel good" DJ in the Kansai area known for her motto “Every Day Is a Happy Day”.
Comedic creators
A production company with the slogan “We think of what’s funny and different.” Working in both the digital and analog spheres, their challenge is to make people laugh through commercial messages with comedic themes.
CEO of Morinosuke Co., Ltd.
A futurist widely acclaimed in many fields for detailed, wide-ranging predictions drawn from his own methodology.
Professor at The University of Tokyo Graduate School and CG artist
Internationally renowned computer and graphics artist, winner of the 2010 ACM SIGGRAPH Distinguished Artist Award, presented with Japan’s Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon in 2013.
Shinto Priest and Chief of Public Relations, Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Coordinates all divisions of Tenmangu Shrine for Osaka’s huge summer festival, the Tenjin Matsuri. Renowned as one of Japan's top three festivals, it attracts 1.3 million people over two days.
Associate Professor, Osaka University Center for the Study of Communication Design
Art producer involved in diverse cultural activities, including art projects and the nurturing of young artists.
Writer for television and radio
A screenwriter focusing on new OMOSIROI concepts, primarily for television.
Artistic director, Ars Electronica
The artistic director at Ars Electronica, one of the world’s most respected organizations in the field of new media art.
Artist and programmer
An artist who has created many works intermixing different fields, including video, audio and electronics, based on computer programming.
CEO of AMF Inc. and teenage entrepreneur
While in her 3rd year of junior high school, she started her company based on the motto “Invigorating the World’s Teenagers”. Created a “Junior High School and High School Girls Research Group” with 50 members and currently operates a curation site “for junior high and high school girls, by junior high and high school girls” to share Japan’s teenage girls’ KAWAII culture with the world.
Associate professor at The Kyoto University Museum
An expert in research and workshops on “inclusive design” for resolving social problems.
Professor, Osaka University Cybermedia Center
Professor at Osaka University’s Cybermedia Center and a specialist in information and communications technology.
Theatrical artist group
An Osaka-based theatrical artist group focused on sharing Japan’s charm with the world.
Assistant professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab
While serving as an assistant professor of media arts and sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, she created highly original works that attracted world attention.
Beatmaker, DJ, and producer
A multi artist who eclectically intermingles music, visuals, and other media as a beatmaker, DJ, and VJ.
interaction designer Takuma Nakata and Naomi Nishimura’s solo project Inner Science
Interaction designer Takuma Nakata and beatmaker Inner Science have joined together in a special unit for the Festival.
Cartoonist
A renowned Higashi Osaka-born cartoonist famous for such works as Fuchico on the Cup and Bakadrill.
Contemporary artist
A cutting-edge contemporary public artist who creates “human interactions in space”.
Orchestra
This orchestra has been highly praised for their exceptional versatility in performing everything from classical to contemporary music.
ATR fellow and director, ATR Intelligent Robotics and Communications Laboratories
A researcher specializing in robots useful for daily life and robots that can engage in natural dialogues with humans.
Chief curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
A contemporary art curator who has contributed to the success of numerous art festivals and exhibitions both in Japan and overseas.
Learning activist
Organizer of TEDxTokyo and active in education reform in numerous countries around the world.
President and CEO, Active Learning Inc.
Active in Japan and internationally as a facilitator of corporate innovation using unique methods for nurturing a company’s human resources.
Co-founder and representative director of Loftwork Inc.
Involved in the establishment of new network services for creative industries and responsible for many creative projects.
Representative and webmaster, Daily Portal Z
The webmaster of Daily Portal Z and administrator of the incredibly popular website Yaginome.jp, which attracts more than 100,000 hits a day.
Mathematician and street performer
A global-minded mathematician fluent in 12 languages who is also an entertainer and street performer.
Executive director of How Do You Like Wednesday
The prominent director of Hokkaido Television's popular TV program How Do You Like Wednesday? and the host of the Kotatsu Kaigi.
Musician and educator
A musician and educator who has developed experience-based education programs using musical art.
Representative director, Knowledge Capital Association and former president of Osaka University
Representative director of Knowledge Capital Association and a professional who has helped establish the modeling and performance evaluation of computer networks as academic fields.
Representative, Norio Murakami Office and former honorary chairman, Google Japan
A global entrepreneur who has served as honorary chairman of Google Japan and as president of other noted foreign IT firms.
Contemporary artist
Artist known for the Atom Suit Project and the Giant Torayan animatronic sculpture which stands over 7 meters tall.
Professor, National Museum of Ethnology
A cultural anthropologist and specialist in masks and rituals of Africa, he researches methods of cultural representation in museums.
DJ, FM802
Hear his dulcet tones guide Festival proceedings. He will play a vital supporting role at the Kotatsu Kaigi.
*Program content and the participation of Knowledge Persons are subject to change without prior notice.
