Kyoto University of the Arts to Sponsor J-WAVE's "KYOTO GEIJUTSU DAIGAKU SONG STORIES," Navigated by Shota Yasuda of SUPER EIGHT

Kyoto University of the Arts (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City / President: Taku Sato) is one of the largest comprehensive art universities in Japan, with approximately 23,000 students enrolled in its on-campus and correspondence programs. Among them, the correspondence division has about 18,000 students, supporting the creative activities of a diverse student body.

In April 2026, a new Bachelor of Arts program, the "Music Course," will be established for learning music production completely online. The curriculum is structured for absolute beginners, centered around DTM (Desktop Music), and does not require instrumental skills or knowledge of music theory. It aims to become a new learning space that unleashes the richness and joy of creating music, not just listening to it, for as many people as possible.

To deliver this message to a wider audience, the university will begin sponsoring the J-WAVE music program "KYOTO GEIJUTSU DAIGAKU SONG STORIES" starting with the broadcast on Friday, April 3, 2026. Shota Yasuda of SUPER EIGHT will unravel the stories behind the creation of songs, using clues from the era, social conditions, and cultural relationships. Faculty from the Music Course are also scheduled to appear as guests, so please look forward to it.

■ Program Overview
Program Name: KYOTO GEIJUTSU DAIGAKU SONG STORIES
Broadcast Time: Every Friday 25:30–26:00
Navigator: Shota Yasuda (SUPER EIGHT)
A music talk program that tells the stories hidden behind famous songs. Navigator Shota Yasuda carefully deciphers the creative process and historical background, delivering a new musical experience to listeners.

Shota Yasuda Profile
Born September 11, 1984, in Hyogo Prefecture. Blood type A. Affiliated with STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. A member of the idol group SUPER EIGHT. As an actor, he has appeared in the MBS/TBS drama "Dragon Seinen-dan" (2012), the movie "Usotsuki Happyaku Naniwa Yume no Jin" (2023), and the plays "Alibaba" and "Ai no Kojiki" (2025). In 2020, he released his first solo photobook "LIFE IS".
・Program X Account: https://x.com/songstories813
・Program Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/song_stories813

■ About Kyoto University of the Arts
With a combination of on-campus and correspondence programs, it is Japan's largest art university with over 23,000 students of diverse ages from Japan and abroad. With the philosophy of fostering skills needed in society through art, it has set the educational goal of "Art for Nation Building," where students who learn art will change society. The on-campus program conducts over 100 "social implementation projects" annually, where students tackle challenges faced by companies and local governments with the power of art and design. Through practical, cross-departmental learning, it nurtures expressive individuals with a sense of social responsibility. Furthermore, the correspondence division is Japan's largest art-related distance learning institution with approximately 18,000 students, supporting the creative activities of students from diverse backgrounds. The Music Course, to be newly established in April 2026, is a Bachelor of Arts program for learning music production entirely online. It features a curriculum that systematically teaches production education centered on DTM from the ground up, without presupposing skills in instrument performance or knowledge of music theory.
Location: 2-116 Uryuzan, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606-8271
URL: https://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/