This Summer, Grab Your Passport to the Future. Digital Hollywood University [DHU] Summer Open Campus 2026

Digital Hollywood University (DHU), located in Ochanomizu, Tokyo, with President Naotaka Fujii, is a corporate university accredited by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. DHU operates the Faculty of Digital Communication—a four-year undergraduate program focused on digital content, planning, and communication—and the Graduate School of Digital Content, a professional graduate school bridging theory and practice to create new businesses. DHU will host its "Summer Open Campus 2026," Day 1, on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

DHU holds Open Campus events each season—spring, early summer, summer, and autumn. Each summer, the Open Campus features special guest lectures by leading industry professionals, hands-on experience classes showcasing the latest in digital creativity, student project presentations, and exhibitions and events organized by student clubs and volunteer groups.

In 2026, the event will again feature special lectures by distinguished external guests and dynamic venue production by "Campus PR Project," a student team dedicated to promoting DHU's Open Campus. Don't miss this vibrant, entertainment-filled Open Campus experience.

【Event Highlights】

Highlight 1 Special Lecture by Alumnus Director of the TV Anime "Noblesse Oblige" (Day 1 [7/19])

On Day 1 of the Summer Open Campus (July 19), DHU welcomes Yutaro Sawada (Class of 2009), a graduate of the university, for a special Making Seminar.

Sawada served as director of the TV anime series "Noblesse Oblige," based on the essay manga by Hiromu Arakawa. He will share insights into the behind-the-scenes production process, his creative philosophy, his career path including short-form animation, anecdotes from his time at DHU, and key mindsets for success as a creator. This is a rare opportunity to learn directly from an alumnus thriving in the professional industry about the joys of anime production and career development as a creative professional.

▽ Yutaro Sawada

Short-form animation director. Sawada entered Digital Hollywood University as a first-year student and studied filmmaking techniques. His stop-motion short film won awards at film festivals, launching his professional filmmaking career while still in school. After graduation, he worked as a freelancer before joining Pie in the sky Inc. in 2017. He is known for his dynamic, fast-paced directing style and has served as director, cinematographer, and editor for projects including NHK's "Minna no Uta" ("Rice Hide-and-Seek"), "Pokémon KidsTV," and others.

His latest work is the TV anime "Noblesse Oblige" (original work: Hiromu Arakawa).

Highlight 2 Hands-on Experience Classes Led by Practicing Faculty (Day 1 [7/19])

DHU's unique curriculum enables broad study of digital content and planning/communication within a single faculty and department. To let visitors experience this firsthand, four hands-on classes will be offered in areas such as 3DCG and VR. While regular classes are 90 minutes, these Open Campus versions will be condensed into 30-minute sessions.

▽ Instructors

{3DCG} Mr. Yoshiyuki Fuiwa

Graduated from Digital Hollywood Tokyo's Comprehensive ProCG Program. Worked at Polygon Pictures handling layout and character animation, while also serving as an instructor at Digital Hollywood Tokyo. Has taught at DHU since May 2014.

{Psychology} Ms. Saiko Yoshida

Graduated from Taisho University, then joined Nichii Gakkan Co., Ltd., where she contributed to launching new ventures including long-term care insurance services and disability welfare programs, as well as planning and developing educational courses. After encountering strong resistance to working in mental health care during one project launch, she became deeply interested and pursued certification as a Mental Health and Welfare Officer. Now operates independently, providing mental health-focused institutional design for companies, individual mental health support for employees, and training in self-care, line care, and communication skills.

{Real-Time Video Compositing} Mr. Christopher Hans Eckert

Contributed to establishing Digital Hollywood's foundation in Tokyo since its early days in 1994. Served as Academic Director when the Santa Monica campus (DHIMA) opened in 1997. Currently works as a freelancer, pursuing next-generation filmmaking integrating AI and virtual production. Also serves as a professor at Otis College of Art and Design, maintaining a dual role in education and industry practice for over 30 years.

{Manga × AI} Mr. Kentaro Moteduki

Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University, then joined TOMY (now Takara Tomy). After working at an advertising agency, joined a subsidiary of IBM in 1995. Involved in content production for the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Multilingual Interpretation Project for Cultural Properties, including VR-based devotional experiences centered on the sculptor Unkei. Has long been interested in remote participation in classes via VR technology, even before the pandemic. Developed "NICE CAMERA," a system enabling meeting participation via avatars. Holds master's degrees from Digital Hollywood University Graduate School and Kyoto Seika University Graduate School.

* Lineup for Day 2 [8/23] guest speakers and experience classes will be announced sequentially from early July onward.

Highlight 3 The Airport: A Place to Discover Your Destination and Take Off Toward a New Horizon

Each year, the Summer Open Campus features a unique event theme. In 2024, the theme was "RPG"—an Open Campus where visitors could "level up" throughout the day. In 2025, the theme was "Time Travel," celebrating the university's 20th anniversary with an experience transcending time and space from past to future.

This year's theme is "Airport." Just as airports connect diverse people and values and serve as gateways to new worlds, DHU offers a wide range of learning experiences and career pathways. In a constantly changing society, this Open Campus aims to help visitors expand their interests and possibilities, reflect on the future they wish to pursue, and discover new starting points. We invite you to experience new discoveries and meaningful encounters.

Each year, the event concept and associated venue planning and operations are led by "Campus PR Project," a student team dedicated to promoting DHU's Open Campus. From venue decorations and project exhibitions to student consultation booths and online participant events, these students are actively creating diverse content to showcase DHU's appeal. Please look forward to their efforts!

▽ Campus PR Project

An on-campus internship program at DHU.

The team plans and operates public relations activities for DHU, including Open Campus events. Their goals are to provide accurate information to high school students and prospective applicants, deepen students' understanding of university life to enrich their experience, and develop professional skills that support external internships and job hunting.

As of June 2026, seven members from the 9th cohort are active!

Instagram: @dhucprp

【Summer Open Campus 2026 Event Overview】

Event Dates:

〈Day 1〉 Sunday, July 19, 2026, 13:00–17:00

〈Day 2〉 Sunday, August 23, 2026, 13:00–17:00

* Lineup for Day 2 [8/23] guest speakers and experience classes will be announced sequentially from early July onward.

Event Format:

On-site attendance [Surugadai Campus]

Online attendance [Live streaming via YouTube Live and Zoom]

Event Details and Registration:

Please register via the "Summer Open Campus 2026" event page:

https://www.dhw.ac.jp/news/summeroc2026/

Important Notes:

* On-site attendance is limited in capacity and operates on a [full reservation-only basis]. Walk-ins and unregistered attendees will not be admitted.

* Those wishing to attend on-site must register in advance via the event page. Registration will close once capacity is reached. We appreciate your understanding.

* Those wishing to attend online must complete "event reservation" by the day before the Open Campus. A viewing URL will be sent to the registered email address by 12:00 on the day of the event.

Inquiries:

DHU Admissions Office

nyushi@dhw.ac.jp

【Highlights from Last Year (Summer Open Campus 2025)】

▽ Aftermovie

https://youtu.be/PYBwWyCzrPw?si=OBhj5xRyw0xDVA2M

▽ Event Report

https://www.dhw.ac.jp/news/20250919_summeroc2025/

△ Live streaming via YouTube Live (video broadcasts by alumni and current students)

△ Hands-on digital production experience using PCs

△ Experience classes led by active industry professionals

△ Workshops (Mini Autumn Tryout)

△ Portfolio exhibition and consultation corner

【Digital Hollywood University (DHU)】

https://www.dhw.ac.jp

Founded in April 2005 in Akihabara, Tokyo, as a corporate university accredited by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (current campus located in Ochanomizu, Tokyo). DHU comprises the Faculty of Digital Communication (four-year undergraduate program) and the Graduate School of Digital Content (professional graduate school).

In April 2026, Naotaka Fujii assumed the role of second president. Building on the founding president, Tomiyuki Sugiyama's vision of "Make Everything Entertainment," the university has adopted a new academic vision: "Fill the World."

The Faculty of Digital Communication equips students with the ability to live authentically in an uncertain and unpredictable future. Through a single-faculty, single-department structure, students learn broadly from faculty active at the forefront of industry, covering digital content (3DCG/VFX, VR/AR, games, video, graphics, web design, media art, programming, etc.) and planning/communication (business planning, marketing, PR, etc.). To cultivate global talent, DHU offers intensive foreign language programs and actively promotes study abroad. The campus, located in front of Ochanomizu Station, hosts students from 46 countries and regions, creating a diverse learning environment.

The Graduate School of Digital Content aims to nurture leaders who drive social change through digital communication in a hyper-connected information society. By integrating the four balanced elements of the SEAD (Science/Engineering/Art/Design) framework, the school bridges theory and practice. Through initiatives such as new venture planning and prototyping, and startup support for graduate students, DHU ranked 17th nationwide and 7th among private universities in the "2025 Survey of University-Originated Ventures" (by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), having produced numerous entrepreneurs.