[Kyoto University of the Arts, a part of Uryuyama Gakuen Educational Corporation] Kyoto University of the Arts to hold a preview event for the “Music Course” to be launched next spring. Junji Ishiwata and Hiroshi Egawa hold a special conversation to discuss the “profundity of songwriting.”
Kyoto University of the Arts, Uryuyama Gakuen Educational Foundation Press Release: October 30, 2025 Kyoto University of the Arts will hold a preview event for the “Music Course” to be launched next spring. Junji Ishiwata and Hiroshi Egawa will hold a special conversation to discuss the “profundity of songwriting.” Beginners welcome! Experience a completely online arts university education from home [November 8th] Kyoto University of Arts (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City / President: Taku Sato) is one of Japan’s largest comprehensive art universities, with approximately 23,000 students studying both on-campus and correspondence courses. From November 8th (Sat) to November 14th (Fri) and 16th (Sun), 2025, we will be offering online classes where you can experience the “22 Learning Aspects” of our correspondence courses. We will be welcoming a diverse group of guest instructors, providing an opportunity to experience “art university learning” from the comfort of your own home. In particular, on Saturday, November 8th, we will be holding a trial class for the new “Music Course,” which will be launched in April 2026. We will be welcoming special guest Junji Ishiwata, a leading lyricist and music producer, in conversation with Hiroshi Egawa, a faculty member at our university. The theme of the
conversation will be “Why do you write lyrics?” Through a conversation that intertwines a professional perspective with that of an educator, we will explore the profound appeal of the expressive act of “lyric writing.” ■Music Course Special Trial Program “Why You Write Songs” Date and Time: Saturday, November 8, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Guest Lecturer: Junji Ishiwata (Lyricist and Music Producer) Instructors: Hiroshi Egawa, Misaki Kido, Toki Morita, Yuta Watanabe Format: Online (Zoom webinar) *Free participation Capacity: 1,000 people (first come, first served) Target audience: High school and university students, working adults, and others interested in music, songwriting, and music production Application: Advance application required via the dedicated form. https://40468u.share-na2.hsforms.com/2stWhD87jR_OshWT21x3SSg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/26069/608/26069-608-2915aed317476a9c4b00b765ac502d36-1929×2700.jpg Junji Ishiwatari Lyricist/music producer. He debuted as a member of SUPERCAR, and after the band disbanded, he became a lyricist, writing songs for Superfly’s “Ai wo Komete Hanataba wo” (A Bouquet of Love), Little Glee Monster’s “Sekai wa Anata ni Warakaketeiru” (The World is Smiling at You), King & Prince’s “Tsukiyomi” (which topped the Oricon annual single rankings in 2022 and became a million-seller, selling over one million copies), King & Prince’s “We are young” (which also topped the annual single rankings in 2023 and became a
million-seller), as well as SMAP, SUPER EIGHT, Hey! Say! He has worked with numerous artists across genres, including JUMP, DISH//, Eikichi Yazawa, Sayuri Ishikawa, Hiroko Yakushimaru, Keisuke Yamauchi, TOMMORROW X TOGETHER, Mika Nakashima, and Mone Kamishiraishi, and has been involved in the production of over 700 songs to date. He has also produced theme songs for numerous films, dramas, and anime, and oversaw the Japanese lyrics for the films “Sing,” “Sing 2,” and this year’s “Wicked,” earning him acclaim both in Japan and overseas. In addition to his musical career, he is also a writer, and his collection of short stories, “Scream with Happiness” (Chikuma Shobo), has sold 200,000 copies. In 2021, he formed the new unit “THE BLACKBAND,” of which he is currently active.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/26069/608/26069-608-32fe5fc33267706b000dd2aa078c6e3d-578×783.png Egawa Hiroshi He worked as an AD for a local FM radio station and made his major debut as a home-recording musician. After releasing five self-produced singles and one album, he became active as a lyricist, composer, and sound producer. He has written songs for AKB48, NGT48, and Kaori Kawamura, and lyrics for CHAGE and Akina Nakamori. In recent years, he has been involved in the launch of the production team for the group “Lyrical Lily,” which includes games, anime, and voice actors, and has produced numerous songs. He is the head of the music course and an associate professor at Kyoto University of the Arts. [Now accepting applications for the “Autumn Online One-Day Trial Enrollment,” a casual opportunity to try out learning at an art university] In addition to music courses, we are now accepting applications for an online trial session of Kyoto University of Arts’ Correspondence Education Department’s “22 Lessons” that allows you to try them out from the comfort of your own home, anywhere in the country. If you’re unsure which department or course to choose, you can apply for multiple courses. This is highly recommended for those interested in enrolling and wanting to learn about the classes and teachers available. Event overview Date and Time: Saturday, November 8, 2025 – Friday, November 14, 2025, Sunday, November 16, 2025, 10:00-10:30, 1:30-3:00 PM, 7:00-8:30 PM *Depending on the course. Format: Online (Zoom webinar) *Free to participate. Capacity: 1,000 people per session (first come, first served) Special website: https://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/t/briefing/1day-autumn/ Guest instructors: Sugar Fukurou (Illustration Course), Kuroyanagi Teppei (Video Course), Oorui Tomoki (Food Culture Design Course) *Titles omitted ⬛︎ About Kyoto University of Arts As one of Japan’s largest art universities, Kyoto University of Arts offers both on-campus and correspondence courses, attracting over 23,000 highly motivated students of diverse ages from Japan and overseas. Through the arts, we cultivate skills essential to society. Our educational goal is to create an “arts-based nation” where art students can transform society. In our on-campus courses, we promote art education with a particular emphasis on the relationship between society and art. We conduct over 100 “social implementation projects” annually, in which students use the power of art and design to solve challenges facing businesses, local
governments, and other organizations. Through cross-disciplinary group work and hands-on work, we cultivate creative individuals with social skills. Address: 2-116 Uryuyama-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 606-8271 URL: https://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/