Aoi Ichinose, a doodle creator and mother of three living in Yamanashi, won the grand prize in her category at the Beauty Japan BAY global 2025 contest, which aims to discover beautiful women who will play active roles in society. Participation in Japan tournament decided Certified illustrator by the International My Story Association (General Incorporated Association) Press Release: October 29, 2025 Aoi Ichinose, a Yamanashi-based illustrator and mother of three, won the grand prize in her category at the Beauty Japan BAY global 2025 contest, which aims to discover beautiful women who will play an active role in society. Selected to compete in the Japan tournament We create “drawing movies” that convey the appeal of products and services through stories based on the journeys of the companies and entrepreneurs that sell them. At the competition, she gave a presentation describing her own struggles with pursuing her dreams while raising children, which resonated with many viewers. Image
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Yamanashi-based “mom creator” Ichise Aoi, mother of three, has launched “Beauty Winner of the Grand Prize in the “Beauty Japan” category. Beauty Japan is a programmatic contest that aims to recognize the beauty of Japanese women and discover women who can contribute to society. We place emphasis not only on appearance, but also on inner beauty, lifestyle, human qualities, and the impact they can have on society.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/171609/1/171609-1-fd040e1831eba1befdf4879037aa1ed7-1800×2700.jpg 2024 Grand Prize winner (right) of the Fashion category of the same area competition presents the trophy. At the regional competition held at Haneda Airport on August 11, 2025, Kazuse won the Grand Prix in the Fashion – Trend-Creating – category. She has been selected to compete in the Japan competition to be held on November 20th. We create “drawable movies” that convey the appeal of the products and services offered by companies and entrepreneurs through illustrations and stories based on the lives of those people. At the regional
competition, she gave a presentation describing the struggles she faced while pursuing her dreams while raising three children, along with her own life story. Supporters have given us positive feedback, including: “The words and expressions are consistent, and the message is clearly conveyed” and “Through the new form of expression known as a drawing movie, they are bringing hope to the community.” For the Japan Tournament to be held at BUNTAI Yokohama on November 20, 2025, we are further refining the content and preparing to convey Kazuse’s thoughts in a more profound and powerful way. The “power” of drawing movies
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/171609/1/171609-1-ef669d01eece1de5fc7d315c12e7b109-2508×1672.jpg In fact, Oekaki Movies are not just cute “illustration videos.” Their essence is to “give shape to invisible thoughts.” The “passions” and “philosophies” of companies and entrepreneurs can be difficult to convey through words alone. Drawing movies use illustrations and narration to “visualize” the background and story, allowing you to deliver them in a memorable way. By adopting this expression method, – You can communicate your brand with a unique narrative that other companies cannot. – By communicating the underlying passion behind your products and services, you can deepen your relationship of trust with your fans. In other words, doodle movies are a tool that can simultaneously differentiate your brand from others and create a unique brand identity. We’ve actually seen this effect from the examples we’ve produced so far. [Case Study 1: Video Production for a Member of Parliament] In the case of one council member, the initial challenge was, “We can see his policies and achievements, but it’s hard to get a sense of his personality.” No matter how dedicated he is to his daily work, it’s difficult to convey the background behind his efforts, such as “Why are you so committed to this initiative?” or “What are your thoughts on city development?” So we introduced a drawing movie. We illustrated the council members’ personal origins, their feelings for the town, and the stories behind their challenges, creating a “story.”
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWzN5Y9GFOs When the finished video was released, we received many comments, such as, “I had no idea there were such feelings,” and “I want to support them,” which sparked interest in politics. [Case Study 2: Story Movie of a Nurse Managing a Nursing Facility] A nurse who has been running a nursing facility for many years came to us for advice, saying, “No matter how much passion I put into creating a service, it’s hard to convey my personality and philosophy as a nurse.” We introduced drawing movies at a time when we were rolling out an innovative service that allows users to consult with medical AI online about health management and minor ailments. Based on the idea that “people should face their own bodies and lives before they become ill and use that as a guide for living,” this approximately 10-minute story tells the story of her origins as a nurse, the reality of life she witnessed in the field, and her journey to starting her own business. After the video was released, the company received positive feedback, such as “The warmth was conveyed” and “I can trust this service,” establishing the brand’s worldview. https://img.youtube.com/vi/qatf4Tqo4Rg/sddefault.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qatf4Tqo4Rg The estimated production period is approximately three months. We handle everything from careful interviews to script creation, illustration production, narration recording, illustration photography, and editing to create a story movie that brings out the unique qualities of that person or company. In this way, drawing movies are a method of expression that transforms the issue of “not being able to convey your feelings” into a “brand that resonates with people.” We believe that their greatest power lies not only in their cute appearance, but also in their “power to communicate and move people’s hearts.” Why Draw Movies? “Those who want to communicate” can clearly convey their feelings. “Those who receive” can also clearly receive their feelings. Draw Movies make this bridge possible. So why a drawing movie? Ichinose has obtained the highest qualification as a doodle creator from the International My Story Association, a general incorporated association. He systematically studied story structure and Japanese expressions, thoroughly researching the intention behind each scene and line. Drawing on numerous films and works, I create each illustration and word with a clear intention. Furthermore, according to research by British psychologist Dr. Richard Wiseman, illustrated videos have an average 20% higher viewer retention rate, an average 22% higher content comprehension rate, and an average 30% higher conversion rate compared to live-action videos, even when the content is exactly the same.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/171609/1/171609-1-f20288e6b9cdcaeb6dc59055225d49b7-2200×1222.png With this background, we are not just creating “illustrated videos,” but are creating them with all our heart as “heart-moving stories.” “It’s okay to live selfishly”: What motivated me to take on the challenge “Beauty Japan” I learned about this competition when I received an offer to participate from Ichikawa-san, the representative of Ichikawa Berry House (2022 Beauty Japan Grand Prix winner), who also lives in Yamanashi Prefecture. I was hesitant because my children are still young, but I was honest with myself and decided to participate, thinking, “If I don’t try now, I’ll regret it.” I was also moved by the story of the 2024 Beauty Japan Grand Prize winner, who said, “I discovered dreams and my mission that I had never even considered when I first entered the competition,” and I decided to take on the challenge.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/171609/1/171609-1-4a3f1e121539306acb964bf7118e1ece-3900×2587.jpg Ichinose is a doodle creator and mother of three. Her children are aged 2, 3, and 5, and she leads busy days in the midst of raising them. (As of 2025) However, through her work with Beauty Japan, whenever she interacts with entrepreneurs and business owners from all over the country, she realizes that “if you put yourself in an environment where you can take on challenges, you can do anything.” “Even if you have children, you can create your own life with your own hands.” I feel it’s important to have that awareness and the courage to put yourself first at times. However, I could not have accomplished this challenge alone. The understanding of my family, the support of my children, and the presence of my colleagues. All of these were the driving forces that supported me in my challenge. My challenge at Beauty Japan was not as a mother or a wife, but as a woman. I will continue to take on the challenge, drawing strength from my gratitude to those who have supported me, in the hopes of inspiring others to take a step forward. Ichinose Aoi Profile
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/171609/1/171609-1-8e3437eeeeaf89adbcfb0236ed83f5b08-1058×1058.jpg Mom of three living in Yamanashi Prefecture and art creator She creates “artwork movies” that convey the appeal of products and services through stories based on the journeys of the companies and entrepreneurs that sell them. For inquiries, please message me on social media, Or contact me via the inquiry form. International My Story Association (General Incorporated Association) Oekaki Movie Co., Ltd. Homepage ▶︎facebook
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