Welcome to our school! ～NDS Tokyo and JMC Academy 2～

Click here to read the article in 日本語.

Hello and Welcome! This is KB from the PicoN! editorial team.

This is part two of the article on Nippon Designers School Tokyo and JMC Academy in Sydney, Australia, from our series introducing schools for the creative arts from around the world.
If you haven’t read part one, check it out here!

And now without further ado, let’s continue our interview with Luna, studying at NDS, and Lilli, studying at JMC Academy!

Lilli is majoring in Game Design at JMC Academy, Sydney.

Luna is studying comic illustration at Nippon Designers School, Tokyo.

☼KB: Can you please tell me where is your favourite place on campus?

☆Lilli: My favourite place would be the computer lab. I find the space is very ergonomic and it’s easier to concentrate than at my home computer sometimes. It’s also got art on the walls from different assessments and is a comfortable space to be in.

☽Runa: The second-floor workspace. On days when I don’t have class until the afternoon, I like to eat lunch here or work on my assignments. Even though it’s always bustling with many students, for some reason I’m able to relax here and so I always think it’s such a strange and curious space. I haven’t borrowed any yet, but I heard that there are over 15,000 different books here. One day, I want to utilise the space as a library too, and not just as a workspace.

☼KB: How about off campus?

☽Runa: The place our school is located, Shibuya, is known for being a young persons’ town where the trends are constantly changing and shifting, even within Tokyo Prefecture where so many people congregate. It’s really exciting to be able to study in this sort of leading-edge city, and every day it’s fun to walk through Shibuya, which is quite literally continuing to develop in the present-progressive.

On route to NDS, Shibuya Sakura Stage just opened to the public this month!

Shibuya is in a state of rapid development and advancement.

☆Lilli: Sydney is quite different from Japan, it’s a lot more multicultural. In the city they have different areas dedicated to different cultures, for example my university is very close to China Town and Thai Town. The transportation is different too, way less bikes and the trains and trams are less crowded. There’s less lights and TV screen ads around as well, and lots of older buildings made of sandstone and brick which have been re-purposed.

JMC Academy Sydney Cafe

JMC Academy Sydney campus is located right next to Sydney’s Central Business District in the heart of the city.

☆Lilli: My favourite place away from university is the park near my house which I walk my dog at. It is near the water so it always smells like the ocean and has a beautiful breeze. Sometimes we run into other adorable dogs too, though my dog likes people more and is a bit socially awkward!

Lilli at the park with her dog. (If I’m not mistaken, a labradoodle!!)

☼KB: Lilli, can I ask you, what do you think about the creative arts in Japan?

☆Lilli: I think that creative arts in Japan are valued much higher than in Australia. Due to the number of mascots and characters in Japan there is a higher need for artists compared to Australia, where most artists become cartoonists or animators. In Australia, more art schools encourage students to not draw in an anime or manga style, as they say that style is not what industries are looking for.

JMC Academy students during an illustration workshop at NDS on the Study Abroad to Japan.

☼KB: Runa, how about you? What do you think about the creative arts abroad?

☽Runa: The thing that interests me is what’s different between Japan and abroad. When I thought about what creative mediums from abroad are close to me, the thing that came to mind was make-up advertisements. When I compared the ads of foreign cosmetic brands circulating in Japan, I learned that even in ads for the same product, the typography, colouring, bone-structure of the models or skin tones etc. varied from country to country. In an age where variety and diversity are extolled, I’m really curious to see how the global creative industries will evolve from now on.

JMC Academy Sydney Library.

☼KB: Thank you both so much! One final question, what’s your dream for the future?

☽Runa: My future dream is to become an illustrator who creates drawings that really move people. Just as I used to admire them, I want to become able to deliver that same inspiration and dreams to many people who see my art. I order to do that, I want to continue to absorb and master what I learn at school.

☆Lilli: I would love to have my own independent studio and make games with a small group of dedicated and talented people. My goal is to create games which had the same impact on me as I grew up, and become a known studio within the Australian games industry.

The desire to inspire people; the mentality of all creators. And while these two schools may be roughly 7,826 km apart, it looks like the passion that drives young talent is the same wherever you study! Best of luck to both of you!! (ง⁎˃ ᵕ ˂ )ง

Check out the official home page or SNS of JMC Academy and NDS to learn more about the schools, and look forward to the next article, where I’ll introduce 2 more schools for the creative arts!

Special Thanks! to JMC Academy and NPI student Yuuta Hatanaka for the photographs for this article.

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