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The 15th Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
We are now accepting →registrations to join the event as a participant. This event also serves as a conference for young researchers of the ARC-iJAC.
About the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities
Along with the rapid development of the digital and information environment in recent years, we are seeing more and more cross-disciplinary research in academic fields with an awareness of "information" and "digital". This trend is gaining momentum in higher education and research activities as well, and educational programs and course activities related to this trend are being enhanced.
The need for opportunities for academic exchange among undergraduate and graduate students and young researchers studying in such programs under new research themes in line with the times is ever increasing.
For this reason, the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities was established in 2011 as a place for presentation and exchange, with a focus on graduate students and young researchers interested in information and knowledge research in arts, culture, and other related fields, and 14 research meetings have been held to date.
This meeting is positioned as a place where participants can mutually discover new research themes and methods through human exchange in different fields, and we also welcome exploratory and adventurous presentations that are slightly different from conventional conference presentations.
■ Date: March 14 (Sat), 2026,
■ Venye:
Future Plaza Conferece Room, Ritsumeikan University Osaka Ibaraki Campus
(https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/futureplaza/conferencehall/)■ Program & presentation abstracts: Please click →here (in Japanese).
■ Register as a participant: Please register via →Forms. (Deadline: Monday, Feb 9, 2026)
※ There is no participation fee.
※A get-together is planned to be held after the research presentations (face-to-face only). We would like to make it a place for exchange beyond the boundaries of universities and research fields, so please feel free to join us. The venue, participation fee, etc. will be announced shortly.
Organizer: The Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities
Facilitators: Ryo Akama (Ritsumeikan University), Nachi Inoue (Kindai University), Mamiko Sakata (Doshisha University), Takehiko Murakawa (Wakayama University), Ryosuke Yamanishi (Kansai University)
Co-organizers: The Kansai Division of the Art Documentation Society and the Kansai Division of the Japan Society of Information and Knowledge
In cooperation with: International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC), Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University.
Inquiries: kacimeeting+2026■gmail.com (please change "■" to "@")
■ Related links:
→JSIK 情報知識学会
→Japan Art Documentation Society［イベント情報］February 27, 2026(Fri)Day 1: Friday, February 27, 9:30 -18:00 JST (tentative)
Day 2: Saturday, February 28, 10:00 -18:00 JST (tentative)Hybrid event (ARC & online via Zoom)
Presentations marked with ★ are available via YouTube live stream.
Organised by: International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC) , Ritsumeikan University
Click herefor the program.
［イベント情報］February 20, 2026(Fri)"FY 2025 Program for Fostering Artists and Others in Universities"
Programme for the Support of Human Resource Development through the Construction of a Comprehensive Archive & Talent-Development Programme Linking Traditional Woodblock Printing and the Arts
Date: February 20 (Fri) 12:30-17:30 (JST)
Venue: Ritsumeikan University Art Research Centre / Online (Zoom)※If you wish to attend in person at the venue, please register via the form.
※Online participation is available via the Zoom link below.
Zoom：https://ritsumei-ac-jp.zoom.us/j/95445223588
Webinar ID ：954 4522 3588＜Timetable＞
12:00- Opening 12:30- Opening Remarks Ryo AKAMA Professor, College of Letters, Ritsumeikan University ( the Director of the ARC ) 12:40- Keynote Washi - the road to print Rebecca Salter President of the Royal Academy, UK 『素材としての和紙』を国際市場から再定義する 森木 貴男氏 （株式会社 森木ペーパー・代表） 版元が直面している和紙の現況 山田 博隆氏 （美術書出版株式会社芸艸堂 代表取締役社長） 15:00- Panel Discussion "Edo, Modern, and Contemporary Washi" パネリスト 湯浅 克俊氏 (木版画アーティスト) 藤田 飛鳥氏 (日本画家) 中山 誠人氏 (佐藤版画工房・木版画摺師) 平井 恭子氏 (佐藤版画工房・木版画摺師) モデレーター 松葉 涼子 (立命館大学 文学部教授) 17:30- Close Remarks ［イベント情報］January 15, 2026(Thu)On January 15, 2026, the Art Research Center (ARC) at Ritsumeikan University concluded a collaboration agreement with the Dankook G‑RISE Project Group ("RISE"), a consortium formed by Dankook University, Kangnam University, and Yongin University in the Republic of Korea. The agreement aims to promote joint academic and research activities.
The signing ceremony was held on the Kinugasa Campus of Ritsumeikan University. From the Dankook G‑RISE Project Group, the following members attended:
- Prof. Oh Young KIM (Dankook University, Project Director / Group Leader)
- Prof. Hyong Jun CHOI (Dankook University, Deputy Project Director / Deputy Leader)
- Prof. Woong CHOI (Kangnam University, Deputy Project Director / Deputy Leader)
- Dr. Jun Seok PARK (Yongin University, Project Director / Group Leader)
- Dr. Dae Kwon LEE (Yongin University)
They were accompanied by approximately 40 students from Korea.
From the ARC, participants included:- Prof. Ryo Akama (Director of ARC / Professor, College of Letters)
- Prof. Liang Li (ARC Research Member / Professor, College of Information Science and Engineering)
- Prof. Satoru Tanaka (ARC Research Member / Professor, College of Information Science and Engineering)
- Dr. Travis Seifman (ARC Research Member / Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Kinugasa Research Organization)
Purpose and Vision of the Collaboration
Through this agreement, the ARC and the three Korean universities aim to enhance international research cooperation in advanced technology fields within the G7 context, as well as in regional industries related to GX (Green Transformation), by leveraging their respective intellectual resources and research achievements. Together, they will work toward:
- Building a bridge between G7-level advanced technology research and GX‑related regional industry research.
- Developing an internationally competitive research hub.
- Fostering innovation by combining the strengths of all participating institutions.
This partnership seeks to create new academic fields that integrate advanced technologies with regional culture and industries.
About Dankook G‑RISE (Gyeonggi‑RISE)
Dankook G‑RISE is a large-scale industry-academic collaboration project led by Dankook University and based on Korea's national RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) program. Dankook University was selected in 2025 as a "Future Growth Industry Leading University," responsible for nurturing talent in G7/GX industries centered in Gyeonggi Province, including advanced mobility, AI, semiconductors, big data, renewable energy, and cultural tourism.
Dankook University, Kangnam University, and Yongin University work together as a consortium under this initiative.
［イベント情報］December 19, 2025(Fri)"FY 2025 Program for Fostering Artists and Others in Universities"
Programme for the Support of Human Resource Development through the Construction of a Comprehensive Archive & Talent-Development Programme Linking Traditional Woodblock Printing and the Arts
Date: Friday, 19 December, 9:30-17:30
Venue: Ritsumeikan University Art Research Centre / Online (Zoom)※If you wish to attend in person at the venue, please register via the form.
※Online participation is available via the Zoom link below.
Zoom：https://ritsumei-ac-jp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V7UBxtVbTO2hYwhNMYVquw
ウェビナーID ：954 4522 3588
パスコード ：890604Programme ※Please click here for the programme details.
9:20-9:30 Opening remarks
Session 1: Keynote
9:30-9:55 Ryo Akama & Ryoko Matsuba
"The Current State and Future of Woodblock Print Digital Archives: Connecting Research and Creative Practice" (provisional title)
Session2:Film Screening
10:00-12:00 Screening of Paper by Washi＋
Commentary: Ayumi Hamada (Director, Washi＋)---------------------
Session 3: Research Presentations（Workshop Report Session）
13:00-13:10 -- Introduction
13:10-13:30 Myosai (online)
13:30-13:50 Miki Sawanaga (online)
13:50-14:10 Michika Noda (online)
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14:20-14:40 Keiko Kobayashi (on-site)
14:40-15:00 Tomomi Furukawa (on-site)
15:00-15:20 Eriko Fujita (online)
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15:30-16:00 Mia O (online)
16:00-16:20 Nobuto Ogawa (online)
16:20-16:50 Natasha Norman Moodley (online)
16:50-17:20 Lucy May Schofield (online)17:20-17:30 Closing remarks
［イベント情報］December 17, 2025(Wed)The 158th International ARC Seminar will be held as a webinar on Wednesday, December 17, from 18:30 JST.
The program is as follows:
Speakers: Ryoko Matsuba (Professor, College of Letters Japanese Literature, Ritsumeikan University / Professor, College of Arts and Design, Ritsumeikan University)
Topic: "Designing Connectives-- Time, People, Skills, and Materials as Seen in Japanese Traditional Woodblock Printing"
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 18:30 - 20:00 JST
Participation: free of charge
Zoom webinar
Live streaming on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@studioarc504
The seminar has been changed to a seminar open to all.
Please invite anyone who is interested.
［イベント情報］December 10, 2025(Wed)The 157th International ARC Seminar will be held as a webinar on Wednesday, December 10, from 18:30 JST.
The program is as follows:
Speakers: Sayoko Ueda (Professor, Institute for General Education, Ritsumeikan University / Professor, College of Arts and Design, Ritsumeikan University)
Topic: "From Exhibition to Exhibition: A Case Study of Ota Kijiro"
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 18:30 - 20:00 JST
Participation: free of charge
Zoom webinar
Live streaming on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@studioarc504
The seminar has been changed to a seminar open to all.
Please invite anyone who is interested.
Exhibit: The World of Hand-Painted Movie Posters and Signboards IV
Dates: December 1 (Mon) - 6 (Sat), 2025
Time: 10:00-17:00
Location: Multi-Purpose Room, Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University (Kinugasa campus)
Admission: Free
Organizers:
* Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University
*"Kyoto Street Culture Archive: Memories of the Pop Culture Featuring the Streets, and their Visualization" Project (ARC-iJAC Digital Humanities Center for Japanese Arts and Cultures)
*"Project for the Construction of an Archive of Non-Film Materials Related to Showa period Movie theatre Culture" (Kakenhi C)In the early Showa period, as motion pictures moved from silent films to "talkies," hand-drawn posters adorned the interiors of Kyoto cinemas, advertising both the films currently being shown, and upcoming releases. At that time, each week typically saw new film releases, resulting accordingly in a great diversity and number of posters.
In the fourth installment of this exhibit, we are featuring posters produced at the Shinko Kinema studios for display at the Shochiku-za, Kyoto-za, and other Shochiku-affiliated movie theatres. These include posters illustrated by Takeda Kosei (Ihachiro), who was famous at the time in the world of Kabuki for the posters and signboards he produced for Kyoto's Minami-za Kabuki theatre. Please enjoy this world of hand-drawn movie posters, designed with compositions, touches, and typefaces selected to suit each film.
The hand-drawn posters in this exhibit are a selection of those held by the Kyoto cinema posters production studio Takematsu Gabo. The studio's collection includes roughly 800 posters, all of which were made to be displayed in Shochiku-affiliated cinemas in central Kyoto around 1928 to 1942. Similar posters were presumably displayed at other cinemas, but only these are known to survive, making them exceptionally important resources for understanding the movie industry and cinema culture of that time. This six-day exhibit features roughly 80 posters made at the Shinko Kinema studios in 1936-1937, as well as maps and photographs of Kyoto cinemas from the 1950s-1970s, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the Kyoto of that time.
［イベント情報］November 26, 2025(Wed)The 156th International ARC Seminar will be held as a webinar on Wednesday, Novrmbr 26, from 18:30 JST.
The program is as follows:
Speakers: Takashi Kirimura (Associate Professor, Faculty of Cultural Studies, Kyoto Sangyo University / Professor, College of Arts and Design, Ritsumeikan University)
Topic: "Digital Archive of Past Urban Landscape Using Photogrammetry"
Date: Wednesday, November 26 , 2025, 18:30 - 20:00 JST
Participation: free of charge
Zoom webinar
Live streaming on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@studioarc504
The seminar has been changed to a seminar open to all.
Please invite anyone who is interested.
［イベント情報］November 19, 2025(Wed)The 155th International ARC Seminar will be held as a webinar on Wednesday,Novrmbr 19, from 18:30 JST.
The program is as follows:
Speakers: Kazushi Mukaiyama (Professor, College of Arts and Design, Ritsumeikan University)
Topic: "Cultural heritage video mapping and Manga AI"
Date: Wednesday, November 19 , 2025, 18:30 - 20:00 JST
Participation: free of charge
Zoom webinar
Live streaming on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@studioarc504
The seminar has been changed to a seminar open to all.
Please invite anyone who is interested.
