teacher About NDS

Principal

Asawo Noguchi

When you draw an illustration on a blank piece of paper or plan a room, it is exciting. It is the fundamental joy that comes from imagining a new world and giving it shape. This is both a very enjoyable and difficult task.
At NDS, you will learn how to organize each thought, how to approach it, the process of development, and expression techniques in an effective manner. By doing so, you will experience the joy of creating “things” more deeply and get a start as a creator who creates a rich world.
Nowadays, digital communication has become commonplace, and a completely different world is being created. This change will continue. Even in such a situation, what remains important for creators is “motivation” and “passion. What you want to express, what you want to convey, and how brightly you want to shine will determine the outcome.
Let’s nurture these “creative thoughts” in the process of learning and build our own personalities together.

The house of Nanbara

Adviser

Machiko Satonaka

Chairperson of the Selection Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan International MANGA Award
Executive Director, the Japan Cartoonists Association (Manga Japan)
Representative, the NPO Asian MANGA Summit Administrating Authority JAPAN

Drawing manga can be done all alone. The key factor of the work lies in whether you are able to envision a large image in your head and how well you are able to express the multitude of human souls, even if you are facing a small desk alone. I want you to focus all the energy within you in creating that world you imagine. But in reality, it is often the case that you may falter with the technical skills if you attempt to draw alone. As a personal example, when I had just debuted, I had no alternative but to teach myself how to shave the screen-tone through trial and error, and I took many detours. If it’s a matter that can be resolved through teaching, it is much more practical to be taught. That way, it enables you to pour your energy purely into your “creation.” And, having classmates and colleagues will be a great stimulant. They will also become your moral and material support in the future as fellow professionals. We welcome those who want to refine their own possibilities.

PROFILE

Debuted in 1964 while she was a sophomore in high school with “Pia no Shouzou” which won the 1st Kodansha New Faces Award. She has written close to 500 titles through her 53 years career, including “Ariesu no Otome-tachi [Ladies of Aries],” “Asunaro-zaka,” “Umi no Aurora [Aurora of the sea],” “Kariudo no Seiza [The Hunter’s Constellation],” and “Tenjou no Niji [The Rainbow in the Sky].”

Adviser

Osamu Fukushima

Head, Fukushima Design
Professor, Tokyo Polytechnic University,
co-head of fukufukuplus corporation

If posed the question, “Are you confident about yourself?,” I doubt there are many people who would reply “YES!.” Education up to high school is mainly about memory. A child blessed with good memory would be considered an excellent student and will be treasured and will gain self-confidence. Frankly, I was a loser through high school. But after entering NDS, even if I experienced minor failures, I never gave up, and as a result, the God of Design bestowed a smile upon me. Even if you aren’t confident, please find joy in design and try your best in creating works. The God of Design will not betray those young people who are making an effort. Take the first step by believing in your own potential! If you try your best in what you love, you will gain confidence in yourself.

PROFILE

The first Japanese artist to receive the Grand Prix at the International Poster Triennial in Toyama, an exhibition which receives the most number of submissions in the world, and has also received over 30 awards in and out of Japan, including the Cannes International Advertising Festival Gold Prize. As an educator, his students have been received over 40 awards, including the Grand Prix prize for the Yomiuri Advertising Award for 3 consecutive years.

Adviser

Hide Nakaya

Former NHK commentator, arts and culture/digital affairs
Specially appointed professor, Kyoto University Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability
Creative Supervisor, NHK Art Inc.

We are entering a new era in the realm of design, including Web 3.0, the Metaverse, and generative AI. A wave is coming that will revolutionize our work and lives from its very structure. The work of designers will also change drastically! Or perhaps it would be better to say that a new form of designers will be born. In the evolving digital society, designers are required to have new adaptability to unexplored areas such as how to master AI and how to create a virtual society such as VR. This new adaptability is the “ability to think of design ideas” to read the changing symbols of the times and create things and services. Nippon Designer Gakuin will nurture creators of the new era who have the “ability of design inspiration” to create new relationships with the changing times. Why don’t you join us in designing a new society?

PROFILE

Graduated from the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. After working as an art director, joined NHK in 1989.
Dispatched to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab.
In 1995, he designed the current logo mark for NHK’s corporate identity, and in 1999, he became a member of NHK’s commentary committee (in charge of arts and culture and digital-related issues).
He designed the NHK logo mark, directed the BS promotion video, directed the official video for the Nagano Olympics international transmission, directed the high-definition drama “DREAM TV 200X,” and was in charge of art direction for the NHK Special “The Human Body, Brain and Mind.
He also serves as a judge for the Good Design Fellow (Good Design Award).