Shirahama Town and Osaka University of Arts Sign Comprehensive Partnership Agreement to Promote Regional Issue Resolution through Art and Nurture Future Talent
Shirahama Town and Osaka University of Arts have entered into a comprehensive partnership to address local challenges and cultivate future talent through artistic initiatives. This collaboration, stemming from nearly a decade of community engagement, aims to boost tourism and art education by leveraging students' creativity. Both the town and university anticipate this partnership will inject new dynamism and excitement into Shirahama.
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- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 21:00
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Osaka University of Arts (Location: Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture, President: Kunihiko Tsukamoto, hereinafter referred to as "Our University") held a comprehensive partnership agreement signing ceremony with Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the university's Art Theatre. This agreement aims to solve regional issues, revitalize the region, foster human resources, and promote school education and lifelong learning. Moving forward, we will promote multifaceted industry-university collaboration projects, such as tourism promotion utilizing the creative perspectives of our students and supporting art education in town elementary and junior high schools.
■ Shirahama Town x Osaka University of Arts: Our Journey So Far
Underlying this comprehensive partnership agreement is a decade of steady, grassroots exchange. This is the first comprehensive partnership agreement between Shirahama Town and an art university. The background to this unusual tag-team is a solid track record of exchange spanning approximately 10 years.
In Shirahama Town, the street art project "JAPAN WALLS in SHIRAHAMA" has been held, where artists who graduated from Osaka University of Arts created giant wall art, attracting attention as new photo spots. Furthermore, students from the Department of Art Planning have collaborated with the town's inn association and resort hotels to plan and operate craft workshops for children, continuing activities rooted in the community.
The practical educational vision advocated by Vice President Hidekuni Tsukamoto, "Students actively engaging in real-world situations is the greatest lesson and leads to growth," aligns with the town's approach to problem-solving, leading to this agreement.
■ Smiling Signing Ceremony, Students Express Enthusiasm for "Shirahama's Future"
The signing ceremony was held in a consistently harmonious and warm atmosphere, much like close relatives with a long history together. Mayor Ooe expressed direct expectations, stating, "Shirahama currently lacks excitement. We want the students to lend us their power," which elicited smiles from the students present.
A student from the Department of Art Planning who participated in the ceremony reflected on the years of workshop operations at Shirahama Town hotels and spoke about the tangible results gained from the field. Project representative Shoko Hori (3rd year) recalled, "This time, with the concept of 'Exploration Team,' about 20 members put together the plan from scratch. The preparations were tough, but on the day, seeing the joy on the faces of the children and their parents who visited Shirahama, we felt great relief and confidence."
Vice representative Minami Hattori (3rd year) stated, "Being able to give form to what I imagined in my mind on-site was an extremely valuable experience as a university student of fine arts. I hope this activity will serve as an inspiration for our juniors to envision their own 'future visions,'" revealing that her experiences in Shirahama led to her own growth.
From the students' words, it was evident that Shirahama Town is more than just a place for activities; it has become a vital space for them to test their creativity and look towards their future. With this comprehensive partnership agreement, activities on the "open campus" of Shirahama Town are expected to accelerate further, generating new "excitement" for the town.
■ Comments from Speakers
Vice President Hidekuni Tsukamoto's Comment
"We have been steadily building exchanges with Shirahama Town for nearly 10 years through workshops at lodging facilities and other means. Today's signing marks a moment where our past efforts have borne significant fruit. For students to engage in activities in the real-world setting of Shirahama Town is an 'unparalleled greatest lesson' that directly contributes to their growth. With this agreement, we aim to continuously create more flexible and interesting projects."
Mayor Yasuhiro Ooe's Comment
"For Shirahama Town, this comprehensive partnership agreement with a school corporation is the first since I became mayor, and I am deeply moved. For the past 31 years, we have been supported by pandas, but now it is necessary to 'return to our roots' and focus on our inherent charm: 'hot springs.' The wall art already created by graduates of Osaka University of Arts has brought a fresh breeze to the town. We hope that with their young sensibilities, they will recreate Shirahama into a place of excitement. We also hope to receive the help of university students in educating the sensibilities of the local children."
■ Signing Ceremony Outline
Name: Comprehensive Partnership Agreement Signing Ceremony between Osaka University of Arts and Shirahama Town
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 13:00~
Location: Osaka University of Arts, Art Theatre
Attendees: Shirahama Town Mayor Yasuhiro Ooe, General Affairs Division Chief Yasuhito Tamaki; Osaka University of Arts Vice President Hidekuni Tsukamoto, Department of Art Planning Head Keizo Murakami.
■ Shirahama Town x Osaka University of Arts: Our Journey So Far
Underlying this comprehensive partnership agreement is a decade of steady, grassroots exchange. This is the first comprehensive partnership agreement between Shirahama Town and an art university. The background to this unusual tag-team is a solid track record of exchange spanning approximately 10 years.
In Shirahama Town, the street art project "JAPAN WALLS in SHIRAHAMA" has been held, where artists who graduated from Osaka University of Arts created giant wall art, attracting attention as new photo spots. Furthermore, students from the Department of Art Planning have collaborated with the town's inn association and resort hotels to plan and operate craft workshops for children, continuing activities rooted in the community.
The practical educational vision advocated by Vice President Hidekuni Tsukamoto, "Students actively engaging in real-world situations is the greatest lesson and leads to growth," aligns with the town's approach to problem-solving, leading to this agreement.
■ Smiling Signing Ceremony, Students Express Enthusiasm for "Shirahama's Future"
The signing ceremony was held in a consistently harmonious and warm atmosphere, much like close relatives with a long history together. Mayor Ooe expressed direct expectations, stating, "Shirahama currently lacks excitement. We want the students to lend us their power," which elicited smiles from the students present.
A student from the Department of Art Planning who participated in the ceremony reflected on the years of workshop operations at Shirahama Town hotels and spoke about the tangible results gained from the field. Project representative Shoko Hori (3rd year) recalled, "This time, with the concept of 'Exploration Team,' about 20 members put together the plan from scratch. The preparations were tough, but on the day, seeing the joy on the faces of the children and their parents who visited Shirahama, we felt great relief and confidence."
Vice representative Minami Hattori (3rd year) stated, "Being able to give form to what I imagined in my mind on-site was an extremely valuable experience as a university student of fine arts. I hope this activity will serve as an inspiration for our juniors to envision their own 'future visions,'" revealing that her experiences in Shirahama led to her own growth.
From the students' words, it was evident that Shirahama Town is more than just a place for activities; it has become a vital space for them to test their creativity and look towards their future. With this comprehensive partnership agreement, activities on the "open campus" of Shirahama Town are expected to accelerate further, generating new "excitement" for the town.
■ Comments from Speakers
Vice President Hidekuni Tsukamoto's Comment
"We have been steadily building exchanges with Shirahama Town for nearly 10 years through workshops at lodging facilities and other means. Today's signing marks a moment where our past efforts have borne significant fruit. For students to engage in activities in the real-world setting of Shirahama Town is an 'unparalleled greatest lesson' that directly contributes to their growth. With this agreement, we aim to continuously create more flexible and interesting projects."
Mayor Yasuhiro Ooe's Comment
"For Shirahama Town, this comprehensive partnership agreement with a school corporation is the first since I became mayor, and I am deeply moved. For the past 31 years, we have been supported by pandas, but now it is necessary to 'return to our roots' and focus on our inherent charm: 'hot springs.' The wall art already created by graduates of Osaka University of Arts has brought a fresh breeze to the town. We hope that with their young sensibilities, they will recreate Shirahama into a place of excitement. We also hope to receive the help of university students in educating the sensibilities of the local children."
■ Signing Ceremony Outline
Name: Comprehensive Partnership Agreement Signing Ceremony between Osaka University of Arts and Shirahama Town
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 13:00~
Location: Osaka University of Arts, Art Theatre
Attendees: Shirahama Town Mayor Yasuhiro Ooe, General Affairs Division Chief Yasuhito Tamaki; Osaka University of Arts Vice President Hidekuni Tsukamoto, Department of Art Planning Head Keizo Murakami.