Hell's Wheel Descends! Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau and Pictoria Launch New IP Project!
Key facts
- Hell's Wheel Descends! Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau and Pictoria Launch New IP Project!
- The Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau and Pictoria Inc. are launching a new IP project called "Jigoku Kourin," which fuses Beppu Keirin (bicycle racing) with "Jigoku Meguri" (hell tours). With animation direction by Hiroko Utsumi and character design by INEMOUSE, the project aims for regional revitalization and co-creation with fans using cutting-edge technology.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 12, 2026
Direct answer
The Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau and Pictoria Inc. are launching a new IP project called "Jigoku Kourin," which fuses Beppu Keirin (bicycle racing) with "Jigoku Meguri" (hell tours). With animation direction by Hiroko Utsumi and character design by INEMOUSE, the project aims for regional revitalization and co-creation with fans using cutting-edge technology.
- Citation
- Hell's Wheel Descends! Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau and Pictoria Launch New IP Project! (June 12, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 12, 2026
The Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau and Pictoria Inc. are launching a new IP project called "Jigoku Kourin," which fuses Beppu Keirin (bicycle racing) with "Jigoku Meguri" (hell tours). With animation direction by Hiroko Utsumi and character design by INEMOUSE, the project aims for regional revitalization and co-creation with fans using cutting-edge technology.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 17:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 12, 2026 at 08:21
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 16:52 (8h 31m after Collected)
Pictoria Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO Hayato Aindow), a company that creates IP using the latest technology, announces the launch of a new IP project, "Jigoku Kourin" (Hell's Wheel Descends), in collaboration with the Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau.
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, a city rich in unique hot spring culture and history. We are launching "Jigoku Kourin" as a brand-new entertainment IP project, merging the long-loved "Beppu Keirin" with the one-of-a-kind tourist resource, "Jigoku Meguri" (Hell Tours).
Hiroko Utsumi, director of hit works such as "Free!" and "SK8 the Infinity," who continues to excite fans domestically and internationally, will participate as the original character designer. The project will depict unique characters through the lens of personifying bicycle racing and hell tours.
The core of this project is the fusion of "bicycle racing x entertainment" and the introduction of new technologies to accelerate it. Rather than a temporary external collaboration, we aim to establish a "co-creation" based fan economy that builds an IP rooted in the region and grows with its fans.
Starting from the real entertainment space of the velodrome, we aim for a next-generation regional revitalization project that will eventually involve the entire tourism and industry of Beppu City in a large-scale virtual and real circulation. Please look forward to it!
■"Jigoku Kourin" Officially Begins! Teaser PV & Super Beautiful Key Visual Finally Unveiled!
Ahead of the start of this new story, we released the teaser PV for "Jigoku Kourin" on Thursday, June 4th. The video offers a glimpse into the world the work will depict. Please witness it!
Teaser PV here: https://youtu.be/1Px7M_duWBk
Furthermore, on Thursday, June 11th, we released the key visual drawn by INEMOUSE, who is in charge of the character design for this work. The elegant world of "Jigoku Kourin" is vividly expressed alongside the figures of the attractive characters.
【A Miraculous Tag Team Realized! Key Visual & Character Design Unveiled】
Handling the character design for this work is INEMOUSE, a popular illustrator who has garnered much support for their overwhelmingly beautiful and delicate illustrations (https://x.com/inemouse?s=20).
This collaboration was realized through a strong desire and passionate offer from Hiroko Utsumi, the original character designer, who stated, "Only INEMOUSE can fully express their charm." How will the characters, imbued with the passion of the original concept and drawn so attractively, perform?
Please look forward to the new project "Jigoku Kourin," which is sure to raise expectations!
■Introduction
From hell, descends "Rin" (Wheel)--.
Once feared as "hell," the land was shunned by people as a bringer of disaster.
Seeing its uncontrollable, raging state, a certain shadow appeared and calmed the entire area.
Time flows, and now the hells are tourist attractions, entertaining people.
And now.
Whether by whim, or by a great will.
"Try living together with people."
At the moment those words echoed, they appeared at the Beppu Velodrome--.
A youth hell tale begins now.
■Characters & Voice Actors
Chinoike (Blood Pond): Chiharu Sawashiro
Umi (Sea): Ryoya Takahashi
Tatsumaki (Tornado): Shotaro Morikubo
Shiraike (White Pond): Takeaki Masuyama
Oniishibozu (Ogre Stone Monk): Masaaki Mizunaka
Oniyama (Ogre Mountain): Sho Nogami
Kamado (Stove): Katsuyuki Konishi
■YouTube Content Such as Voice Dramas and Streaming, as well as Local Experiences, are Planned in Various Forms
In this project, to allow fans to fully enjoy the charm of the characters, we will expand interaction with everyone in various forms, including voice dramas, video content, and interactive streaming on YouTube.
In addition to video content featuring characters brought to life by voice actors, we plan to implement an "Oshaberi Experience" (Chat Experience) at the Beppu Velodrome where you can interact with the characters in real life. We aim to deliver the感動 (emotion) of "connecting with characters here and now" that can only be experienced locally.
■Regarding the Initiative
To realize the real-life experiences and real-time communication in streaming mentioned above, we are considering the use of digital technologies such as synthesized speech.
In operating these technologies, we prioritize respect for the rights and expressions of the voice actors, proceeding with thorough prior explanation and consent. AI and synthesized speech are merely auxiliary tools; we will use them responsibly and sincerely to realize a system that allows real-time conversation between you and the characters, not for "generating infinite words automatically."
■Future Prospects
Moving forward, along with content development on YouTube, we will also consider local initiatives within Beppu City, creating opportunities to experience the world of "Jigoku Kourin" both online and offline.
We aim to nurture this initiative not as a temporary endeavor but as a project loved for many years to come. We also wish to energize the future of Beppu Keirin hand-in-hand with the local community. By becoming a catalyst for developing the city's overall appeal in new ways, we will contribute to sustainable regional revitalization.
"Jigoku Kourin"
Concept & Overall Planning: Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau
Planning, Production, Development: Pictoria Inc.
Original Character Concept: Hiroko Utsumi
Character Design & Illustration: INEMOUSE
Official Website: https://jigoku-kourin.com/
Official X: https://x.com/JIGOKU_KOURIN
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JIGOKU_KOURIN
Official TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@jigoku_kourin
■About Pictoria Inc.
Pictoria Inc. aims to "Create a Future Worth Rooting For" by creating IP through AI-centric technology.
We will globally disseminate our VTuber-related business, AI character business utilizing the latest AI technology, and our self-developed and co-developed IP businesses since our founding.
■Company Overview
Company Name: Pictoria Inc.
Location: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Hayato Aindow, Representative Director & CEO
Year Founded: December 2017
Official Website: https://pictoria.co.jp/
Official X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Pictoria_Inc
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, a city rich in unique hot spring culture and history. We are launching "Jigoku Kourin" as a brand-new entertainment IP project, merging the long-loved "Beppu Keirin" with the one-of-a-kind tourist resource, "Jigoku Meguri" (Hell Tours).
Hiroko Utsumi, director of hit works such as "Free!" and "SK8 the Infinity," who continues to excite fans domestically and internationally, will participate as the original character designer. The project will depict unique characters through the lens of personifying bicycle racing and hell tours.
The core of this project is the fusion of "bicycle racing x entertainment" and the introduction of new technologies to accelerate it. Rather than a temporary external collaboration, we aim to establish a "co-creation" based fan economy that builds an IP rooted in the region and grows with its fans.
Starting from the real entertainment space of the velodrome, we aim for a next-generation regional revitalization project that will eventually involve the entire tourism and industry of Beppu City in a large-scale virtual and real circulation. Please look forward to it!
■"Jigoku Kourin" Officially Begins! Teaser PV & Super Beautiful Key Visual Finally Unveiled!
Ahead of the start of this new story, we released the teaser PV for "Jigoku Kourin" on Thursday, June 4th. The video offers a glimpse into the world the work will depict. Please witness it!
Teaser PV here: https://youtu.be/1Px7M_duWBk
Furthermore, on Thursday, June 11th, we released the key visual drawn by INEMOUSE, who is in charge of the character design for this work. The elegant world of "Jigoku Kourin" is vividly expressed alongside the figures of the attractive characters.
【A Miraculous Tag Team Realized! Key Visual & Character Design Unveiled】
Handling the character design for this work is INEMOUSE, a popular illustrator who has garnered much support for their overwhelmingly beautiful and delicate illustrations (https://x.com/inemouse?s=20).
This collaboration was realized through a strong desire and passionate offer from Hiroko Utsumi, the original character designer, who stated, "Only INEMOUSE can fully express their charm." How will the characters, imbued with the passion of the original concept and drawn so attractively, perform?
Please look forward to the new project "Jigoku Kourin," which is sure to raise expectations!
■Introduction
From hell, descends "Rin" (Wheel)--.
Once feared as "hell," the land was shunned by people as a bringer of disaster.
Seeing its uncontrollable, raging state, a certain shadow appeared and calmed the entire area.
Time flows, and now the hells are tourist attractions, entertaining people.
And now.
Whether by whim, or by a great will.
"Try living together with people."
At the moment those words echoed, they appeared at the Beppu Velodrome--.
A youth hell tale begins now.
■Characters & Voice Actors
Chinoike (Blood Pond): Chiharu Sawashiro
Umi (Sea): Ryoya Takahashi
Tatsumaki (Tornado): Shotaro Morikubo
Shiraike (White Pond): Takeaki Masuyama
Oniishibozu (Ogre Stone Monk): Masaaki Mizunaka
Oniyama (Ogre Mountain): Sho Nogami
Kamado (Stove): Katsuyuki Konishi
■YouTube Content Such as Voice Dramas and Streaming, as well as Local Experiences, are Planned in Various Forms
In this project, to allow fans to fully enjoy the charm of the characters, we will expand interaction with everyone in various forms, including voice dramas, video content, and interactive streaming on YouTube.
In addition to video content featuring characters brought to life by voice actors, we plan to implement an "Oshaberi Experience" (Chat Experience) at the Beppu Velodrome where you can interact with the characters in real life. We aim to deliver the感動 (emotion) of "connecting with characters here and now" that can only be experienced locally.
■Regarding the Initiative
To realize the real-life experiences and real-time communication in streaming mentioned above, we are considering the use of digital technologies such as synthesized speech.
In operating these technologies, we prioritize respect for the rights and expressions of the voice actors, proceeding with thorough prior explanation and consent. AI and synthesized speech are merely auxiliary tools; we will use them responsibly and sincerely to realize a system that allows real-time conversation between you and the characters, not for "generating infinite words automatically."
■Future Prospects
Moving forward, along with content development on YouTube, we will also consider local initiatives within Beppu City, creating opportunities to experience the world of "Jigoku Kourin" both online and offline.
We aim to nurture this initiative not as a temporary endeavor but as a project loved for many years to come. We also wish to energize the future of Beppu Keirin hand-in-hand with the local community. By becoming a catalyst for developing the city's overall appeal in new ways, we will contribute to sustainable regional revitalization.
"Jigoku Kourin"
Concept & Overall Planning: Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau
Planning, Production, Development: Pictoria Inc.
Original Character Concept: Hiroko Utsumi
Character Design & Illustration: INEMOUSE
Official Website: https://jigoku-kourin.com/
Official X: https://x.com/JIGOKU_KOURIN
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JIGOKU_KOURIN
Official TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@jigoku_kourin
■About Pictoria Inc.
Pictoria Inc. aims to "Create a Future Worth Rooting For" by creating IP through AI-centric technology.
We will globally disseminate our VTuber-related business, AI character business utilizing the latest AI technology, and our self-developed and co-developed IP businesses since our founding.
■Company Overview
Company Name: Pictoria Inc.
Location: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Hayato Aindow, Representative Director & CEO
Year Founded: December 2017
Official Website: https://pictoria.co.jp/
Official X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Pictoria_Inc
FAQ
What is the main objective of the "Jigoku Kourin" project?
To create a new entertainment IP by merging Beppu Keirin and "Jigoku Meguri," utilizing cutting-edge technology to achieve regional revitalization and establish a co-creative economy with fans.
Which creators are involved in the project?
Hiroko Utsumi is responsible for the original character concept, and INEMOUSE handles the character design, featuring a stellar production team.
What is the significance of this project for Beppu City?
By merging unique tourism resources with entertainment, it aims to attract new tourists, revitalize local industries, and build a next-generation regional development model using digital technology.
How can fans participate in the project?
Fans can engage with characters and participate through voice dramas, YouTube streaming, and "Oshaberi Experience" (chatting experience) events held locally.
What technologies does Pictoria Inc. utilize?
They employ digital technologies such as AI and synthesized speech to provide real-time communication and immersive experiences, thereby enhancing IP value and deepening fan engagement.