[Oisix Niigata] Industry-Academia Collaboration Project with Japan's Largest Creator Management Company 'UUUM' and 'International Institute of Image and Media Arts' Launched to Develop Niigata Prefecture through Fostering Video Creators

Oisix Niigata Albirex Baseball Club (operating company: Niigata Professional Baseball Club Co., Ltd., Location: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Representative Director and President: Takuya Ikeda, hereinafter Oisix) is pleased to announce the launch of an industry-academia collaboration project starting April 27, 2026. This project aims to promote the development of Niigata Prefecture through the fostering of video creators, in collaboration with UUUM Co., Ltd. (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and President: Masayuki Umekage), Japan's largest creator management company, and the International Institute of Image and Media Arts, a vocational school in Niigata that develops talent in video and creative fields, including voice actors, actors, and TV production techniques.

■ Project Background: Niigata Prefecture with good access but challenges in 'lodging tourism'

Niigata Prefecture boasts excellent transportation convenience, being approximately 2 hours from Tokyo via the Joetsu Shinkansen. However, according to the Japan Tourism Agency's 'Accommodation Travel Survey'*, the total number of overnight stays ranks 16th nationwide (approximately 10.52 million nights), which is significantly lower compared to major tourist prefectures within a 2-hour radius of Tokyo. This suggests that the appeal of Niigata Prefecture as a 'treasure trove of food and nature' may not be sufficiently visualized, making the enhancement of tourism information dissemination a critical issue.

* From the Japan Tourism Agency's 'Accommodation Travel Survey' Prefectural Total Overnight Stays Trend Table (Annual Total) FY2024 data.

■ Challenge: 'Videos' are the deciding factor for choosing tourist destinations

According to the 'Information and Communications White Paper 2025' (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)**, the usage rate of video sharing services including YouTube is on an increasing trend across all age groups. Furthermore, the 'Survey on Time Spent on Information and Communications Media and Information Behavior 2023' (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)*** indicates that across all age groups from teens to 60s surveyed, the longest time spent on the internet during holidays is on watching video sharing services. In future regional revitalization efforts, 'whether local charm can be conveyed through video' will be key. However, video production requires filming and editing skills, planning ability, and distribution know-how, and due to high costs and specialization, regional businesses that can fully utilize this are limited.

** From the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications 'Information and Communications White Paper 2025'.

*** From Chapter 2, 2-1 'Time Spent and Actor Rate for Each Internet Usage Item' of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Institute for Information and Communications Policy '2023 Survey on Time Spent on Information and Communications Media and Information Behavior Report'.

■ About the Oisix Industry-Academia Collaboration Project to Foster 'Video Creators' Capable of Disseminating Niigata's Charm

Oisix has participated in the NPB farm league since the 2024 season, playing approximately 70 home games out of 140 annual games in Niigata Prefecture. Various innovative events are held at the stadium, and with the aim of being 'Japan's most delicious baseball team,' they also focus on stadium gourmet. By providing enjoyment for a wide range of people, from small children to the elderly, over 100,000 spectators visited the stadium last season from within and outside the prefecture.

Furthermore, from the 2026 season, Masumi Kuwata has joined as CBO, attracting even greater attention from within and outside the prefecture. By creating and disseminating videos centered on Oisix, they will convey the appeal of Niigata Prefecture nationwide.

Through this industry-academia collaboration project, Oisix and UUUM will partner. UUUM-affiliated creator SOSHI will provide direct guidance to students who voluntarily gather from the International Institute of Image and Media Arts. Students from the International Institute of Image and Media Arts will have the opportunity to plan, film, and edit videos on the theme of Oisix, working alongside creators active on the front lines. The created videos will be disseminated worldwide through Oisix's official accounts. This project aims to contribute to the revitalization of Niigata Prefecture by fostering talent that can disseminate regional charm through videos, through the collaboration of these three parties.

▲ Image of the three-party collaboration

UUUM Co., Ltd.

UUUM is a creative agency with the mission 'Pioneering the world with the passion of ideas.' It is Japan's largest MCN (Multi-Channel Network) and provides people with 'new experiences' through playful ideas. Centered on supporting over 15,000 YouTube channels, it develops influencer marketing, goods and events business, and media business.

International Institute of Image and Media Arts

International Institute of Image and Media Arts is a vocational school where students can learn diverse media and entertainment fields such as video, sound, lighting, stage, voice actors, actors, and VTubers. Through practical education linked to real-world sites, students learn the production flow from planning to filming, editing, and direction in a practical manner. Furthermore, it promotes internships and collaboration with companies and industries.