International Art & Design College Students Launch Immersive 360-Degree Video Project to Showcase Fukushima’s Future – Commemorating 10th Anniversary of Commutan Fukushima

International Art & Design College (Nishigo, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture), part of the NSG Group, has launched a 360-degree immersive video production project led by students from its Game & CG Department, starting June 26, 2026. This initiative marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of Commutan Fukushima, the public outreach building of the Fukushima Environmental Creation Center.

In this project, students will take full responsibility for planning, directing, CG production, and editing to create immersive video content to be screened at the Environmental Creation Theater within Commutan Fukushima. The goal is to communicate Fukushima Prefecture’s environmental initiatives, recovery efforts, and future vision through the unique storytelling capabilities of 360-degree immersive video.

To kick off the project, a kickoff meeting and orientation session were held, attended by 41 first- and third-year students from the Game & CG Department. Participants learned about Commutan Fukushima’s role in environmental education and public outreach, experienced actual 360-degree videos at the Environmental Creation Theater, and attended a special lecture by leading creators in the field. The lecture covered practical techniques such as camera work specific to 360-degree video, viewer gaze guidance, and methods to reduce VR-induced motion sickness.

Unlike traditional video production, 360-degree video requires advanced creative and technical skills, as viewers can freely move their viewpoint. Students will design spatial narratives and produce CG content that fully utilizes the immersive environment. Through hands-on experience in planning, scripting, filming, CG creation, and editing, they will produce a video that communicates Fukushima’s appeal and educational value to a nationwide audience.

Moving forward, students will receive bi-monthly production guidance from industry experts, with the final video scheduled for completion in early February 2027.

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, Fukushima Prefecture has consistently shared information on environmental issues, energy, and recovery. Commutan Fukushima serves as an interactive learning facility where visitors of all ages—from children to adults—can explore topics such as radiation, renewable energy, and regional recovery through experiential exhibits and immersive 360-degree videos. It has become a key educational hub in Fukushima, attracting numerous visitors.

This project represents a new challenge: translating the region’s values and initiatives into visual media through the creative lens of the next generation of creators. It also exemplifies a practical talent development initiative through collaboration between local communities and educational institutions.

The Game & CG Department at International Art & Design College not only teaches specialized skills in CG, video, VR, and game development but also actively engages in industry-academia-government collaboration projects with corporations and local governments. By creating real-world projects in connection with society, students develop the planning, expressive, and production skills demanded in professional environments.

The department’s philosophy goes beyond “learning within campus” to “creating works while engaging with local communities and society.” This is the core strength of the Game & CG Department.

Through this project, students will grow as creators capable of visually expressing Fukushima’s future while challenging themselves to produce new content that promotes the region’s charm nationwide.

International Art & Design College (School Corporation International Comprehensive Gakuen)

Address: 2-4-1 Katahachi-machi, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture

Representative: Hisahiro Ida

URL: https://www.art-design.ac.jp/

About the NSG Group: https://www.nsg.gr.jp/

The NSG Group is a consortium of 101 organizations centered on education, medical care, welfare, and nursing services. It also operates in diverse sectors including health and sports, construction and real estate, food and agriculture, trading, advertising, ICT, hotels, apparel, beauty, human resources, and entertainment. Committed to making every local community “the world’s richest and happiest town,” the group drives regional revitalization from a private-sector perspective, guided by the keywords “people,” “peace of mind,” “work,” and “charm.”