Contemporary Artist Kenji Yanobe and Osaka Electro-Communication University Students Collaborate ~ A New Challenge in Art x Games ~

Osaka Electro-Communication University (Neyagawa City, Osaka Prefecture; President: Kuninari Shiota), in collaboration with Kyoto University of the Arts (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City; President: Taku Sato) and Soai University (Suminoe Ward, Osaka City; President: Tetsushu Shakku), has jointly produced 'The Great Adventure of SHIP'S CAT,' an arcade-style shooting game inspired by contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe's masterpiece 'SHIP'S CAT.'

This work is implemented in 'The Spaceship of SHIP'S CAT,' an arcade cabinet created by Kenji Yanobe as a sculpture. It will be exhibited in a playable state at a dedicated exhibition cabinet in the special shop of the special exhibition 'We in the Room of Wonders, Disappear. —Yasumasa Morimura, Kenji Yanobe, Miwa Yanagi—' held at the Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art (Kita Ward, Osaka City) from Saturday, April 25. Furthermore, a public commemorative event by Kenji Yanobe and the university's development team will be held on Saturday, May 2.

'The Spaceship of SHIP'S CAT' Photo: Omote Nobutada / Photo: Omote Nobutada / Work: Kenji Yanobe / Pixel Art: BAN8KU / thePIXEL

**[Key Points of this Project]**

■ Industry-Academia and Inter-University Collaboration: Three universities (Osaka Electro-Communication University, Kyoto University of the Arts, Soai University) leveraged their respective areas of expertise (programming, design, sound) to develop the project with professional creators.

■ Gamification of Art: Contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe's world of sculptural art is elevated into a 2D game based on the artwork of pixel artist BAN8KU.

■ Hands-on Experience at the Museum: Visitors can actually experience the work as a 'playable art piece' within the museum's exhibition space.

**[Overview of this Project]**

Osaka Electro-Communication University continues to challenge existing frameworks to pioneer 'new possibilities for games.' This project, 'YANOKEN PROJECT,' supervised by contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe, is an attempt to elevate 'static' art into a 'dynamic' game experience. It goes beyond mere entertainment game production, proposing 'playable art' as a cultural dissemination hub in a museum.

Mr. Yasuyuki Toyokawa of Hotel Anteroom Kyoto initiated the project, and Mr. Masahiko Murakami of Skeleton Crew Studio was invited as producer. Under the supervision of Kenji Yanobe, Associate Professor Yoshitatsu Mori of the Digital Game Department, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Osaka Electro-Communication University, was in charge of game design with Professor Satoshi Murakami of the Character Design Department, Kyoto University of the Arts, and Professor Ryokei Takagi (Special Appointment) of the Faculty of Music, Soai University, served as sound director.

Furthermore, for this game, pixel artist BAN8KU created the artwork, and students from the Digital Game Department and Game & Media Department* of Osaka Electro-Communication University, Kyoto University of the Arts, and Soai University were responsible for programming, illustration, animation, and sound production. Students from Osaka Electro-Communication University primarily carried out implementation work as the programming team under the guidance of Associate Professor Mori.

Production Scene

Osaka Electro-Communication University will continue to provide opportunities for students to interact with professionals in society and other universities, creating new value through challenges.

**[Project Supervising Faculty and Responsibilities]**

Director / Kenji Yanobe

Artwork / BAN8KU (the PIXEL)

Producers / Masahiko Murakami (Skeleton Crew Studio), Yasuyuki Toyokawa (Hotel Anteroom Kyoto)

Game Design / Yoshitatsu Mori (Osaka Electro-Communication University), Satoshi Murakami (Kyoto University of the Arts)

Sound Design / Ryokei Takagi (Soai University)

Osaka Electro-Communication University Student Development Team

**[Student Development Team]**

Programming Implementation / Digital Game Department, Game & Media Department*, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Osaka Electro-Communication University

Design Production / Character Design Department, Kyoto University of the Arts

Sound Production / Soai University

**[Exhibition Outline]**

Event Name: We in the Room of Wonders, Disappear. —Yasumasa Morimura, Kenji Yanobe, Miwa Yanagi—

Period: Saturday, April 25, 2026 – Monday (Holiday), July 20, 2026

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (Last admission 16:30)

Venue: Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art, 5th Floor Exhibition Room

Admission Fee: General 1,900 yen, High school/University students 1,300 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students 500 yen

Official URL: https://nakka-art.jp/exhibition-post/sayonara-2026/

**[Game Exhibition Outline]**

Event Name: Art Game 'The Great Adventure of SHIP'S CAT' Experiential Event

Date and Time: Saturday, May 2, 2026 – Thursday, May 6, 2026, 10:00 – 17:00

Venue: Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art 'We in the Room of Wonders