Toyo Bijutsu School's Free Learning Site 'Tohbi Study' Surpasses 10,000 Users in Just 4 Days After Announcement

Toyo Bijutsu School, a specialized art and design school in Tokyo (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Principal: Daisuke Nakago, established in 1946), has seen its free interactive learning website 'Tohbi Study' (study.to-bi.ac.jp) surpass 10,000 cumulative users just four days after its initial announcement on social media (X). The school first introduced the site on X on July 8, 2026, sparking significant public interest, and cumulative users exceeded 10,000 by July 11.

Reaching 10,000 users in just four days

Although 'Tohbi Study' was launched in June, its usage surged dramatically after the official Toyo Bijutsu School X account introduced it on July 8, 2026. Daily user counts during this period were as follows:

July 8: 139 users (initial X announcement)

July 9: 3,621 users

July 10: 6,191 users (peak / 21,199 pages viewed in one day)

July 11: 1,401 users (cumulative users surpass 10,000)

By July 13—five days after the announcement—the primary traffic source had shifted from social media to 'direct visits' and 'search,' originating from bookmarks or smartphone home screens. On that day, user count reached 1,090, surpassing the previous day (July 12: 859 users), with an average session duration of 4 minutes and 17 seconds—indicating sustained engagement even beyond the initial peak. Visitors drawn by the buzz are now beginning to use the site as a daily learning resource.

Why it spread: Learning styles of the 'time-performance' generation

Among younger generations, there is a growing trend toward prioritizing 'time-performance' (tai-pa), such as avoiding long-form videos or watching them at accelerated speeds. As a result, short-form video has become the dominant entry point for learning. 'Tohbi Study' offers each topic in just a few minutes, combining explanations with interactive elements like sliders and buttons that provide immediate feedback. This hands-on approach allows users to reach understanding faster than passive viewing, aligning well with the learning preferences of the tai-pa generation.

What's inside? Three interactive, faculty-supervised learning pathways

'Tohbi Study' is a free learning platform that teaches design and computer fundamentals not just through reading, but by enabling users to interact directly with on-screen elements. No registration is required, and anyone can access it immediately. The main content areas are:

Basic Lab (Practical Training): Learn foundational design skills such as color theory, typography, paths (pen tool), layout, and file submission—all through interactive browser-based exercises. Examples include 'Basics of Color' (experiment with the three primary colors), 'Basics of Paths' (trace with the pen tool), and 'Basics of Typography' (adjust Japanese text alignment).

Graphic Design Museum (Interactive Exhibition): A small virtual museum where users can experience the principles that shaped modern design by manipulating sliders and buttons. Exhibits include Gestalt (perception), Bauhaus, Op Art, 100 Years of Posters, and Japanese family crests (kamon).

Career Guide (Field-Specific Summaries): Career pathways in art and design, categorized by field and explained through the lenses of 'How to Become,' 'Who It Suits,' and 'How to Choose a School.'

All content is supervised by Toyo Bijutsu School faculty and designed from the perspective of industry professionals.

Beyond 'watch and forget': High-quality engagement

The platform has achieved not only high traffic but also high engagement quality. On the peak day (July 10), the average session duration was approximately 4 minutes, with users viewing an average of 2.8 pages per session. New users accounted for about 76% of total traffic, indicating broad reach among audiences previously unfamiliar with the school.

Growing through user feedback: Request form and post-launch expansion

'Tohbi Study' features a 'Learning Request' form on its website, allowing anyone to anonymously suggest topics they'd like to see covered. The team uses these inputs to continuously expand the content library. Since launch, new content has been added regularly, including a recently released 'Design Glossary'—a multilingual reference for industry terms, complete with a quiz function.

Reaching even more people

'Tohbi Study' is completely free and requires no registration

Accessible on both computers and smartphones, 'Tohbi Study' is designed for students and professionals learning design, as well as anyone of any age curious about design. We encourage everyone to try it out. ▶ https://study.to-bi.ac.jp/

Principal's Comment

'Design is inherently something you grasp through hands-on experience—“Ah, I get it!” We wanted to make that entry point freely accessible to everyone. We are amazed by how quickly so many people have adopted it and deeply feel the strong demand for learning. We hope those who haven’t yet tried it will do so freely. Based on user feedback, we will continue expanding our content offerings.'

— Daisuke Nakago, Principal, Toyo Bijutsu School

Overview

Toyo Bijutsu School (Private Vocational School)

Founded: 1946

Address: 2-6 Tomioka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0067

Principal: Daisuke Nakago

Accreditation: Vocational School (Private / Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology certified Professional Practice Program)

Programs: 4-year program (Advanced Specialist) / 2-year program (Specialist) / 1-year evening program

Departments: Creative Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Illustration, Manga, Painting, Conservation and Restoration

URL: https://www.to-bi.ac.jp/ X: https://x.com/toyobijyutsu