By creating art (abstract paintings) and appreciating the work of others, participants will develop creative communication skills, become aware of unconscious biases, and promote self-awareness.
Overview
EGAKU is an arts program that aims to restore and enhance the creativity inherent in all of us through repeated experiences of appreciation and creation. Just like building a muscle, it's important to repeat this experience over and over again. Furthermore, how do you convey to others the appreciation you feel in your heart, and how do you communicate the creation you create with your senses? Putting your ideas into words adds logic. This is an essential leadership function, not only engaging others with your unique creativity but also helping them understand your reasons for doing so.
This creative learning method through art has proven effective in human resource and entrepreneurship development at over 200 companies, government agencies, and universities, and has been attended by numerous entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. It enhances the creative thinking and communication skills essential for the coming era, and equips you with the foundational skills to collaborate with diverse individuals and carve out your own creative future. Participants will develop the six fundamental skills necessary to carve out your own future and build a prosperous society together with diverse individuals.
| 📂 Category | Innovation |
| 📌 Keywords | Self-awareness, Intrinsic motivation, verbalization, creativity, communication |
| 🎯 Objectives | Enhance your "creative thinking skills" and "creative communication skills" and acquire the fundamental skills to creatively carve out your own future while collaborating with diverse people. |
| 🌐 Language | English and Japanese |
| 👥 Target Participants | Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral students |
| 🗓 Format | Half day (in person) |
| ✅ Past & Upcoming Sessions | Saturday, December 5, 2026, 13:00-17:00 Held annually since FY2018 |
| 📍 Venue | At 9201 Gallery, White Ship Inc. in Akasaka, Tokyo |
| 🌟 Recommended for | - Students who want to understand my values and motivations and discover what I want to do and what my potential is. - Students who want to understand and master the essence of creative thinking, which is necessary to solve complex problems. - Students who want to improve their "Creative Communication” skills, which are necessary for working with a diverse range of people |
| 📊 Points | 4 points (Points to be awarded to students enrolled in the courses for credits. Please refer to the syllabus for details.) |
| 🎟️ Capacity | 30 participants |
Main Content
- Appreciation: Feel with your heart, not your head. Stop making assumptions and let your imagination flow.
- Creativity: The goal isn't to draw well. Expand your horizons of thought and emotion through a variety of forms of expression.
- Appreciate the work of others and verbalize your own.
- This workshop will be held at White Ship's gallery in Akasaka. Enhance your creativity in a different environment.
Facilitator
Kimi Hasebe
Co-founder/CEO, White Ship Inc. and Director, ELAB
In 2001, together with artist Kunihiko Tanizawa, she founded White Ship Inc. with the vision of using the power of art to create a spiritually enriching, recycling-oriented society. Her creative thinking development method, EGAKU®️, which she developed in 2002, has expanded to include children, students, business professionals, and companies, with 26,000 people taking the course to date. Since 2008, she has designed, implemented, and taught programs using the method to address the challenges of over 200 organizations, primarily major corporations. She has also led the introduction of the method to over 50 schools and educational organizations, including junior and senior high schools, teachers, universities, and graduate schools, directing lesson design and serving as a lecturer.
Ryoko Nakamura
Chief Global Learning & Strategy Officer, White Ship Inc. and Director / Head of Global Projects & Partnerships, ELAB
She graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs with a degree in International Development. She has worked at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong, New York, London and Tokyo. After working at TPG Axon Capital and Deutsche Asset Management, she joined White Ship in 2013, where she is primarily responsible for programs for foreign and global companies. She also promotes overseas projects and dissemination at ELAB, and in 2024 she planned and implemented a program for global education experts at the OECD Paris headquarters, where she served as a lecturer, earning positive reviews.
Past Event Records
Voices from Participants
- This art workshop was a truly special experience for me. Through painting and sharing, I rediscovered the meaning of “expression” — not for the result, but to connect with the present moment and my inner self. In a safe and open environment, we were free to express emotions, share feelings, and find inspiration and resonance through others’ artworks. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who wishes to understand themselves better, discover inner strength, or gain new perspectives through art. It’s not just an artistic experience, but also a meaningful dialogue with the heart. (M1)
- It's interesting. In this workshop, you can meet people who have different backgrounds and talk with them to get some new insights。（M2)
- This workshop provides an amazing way to peak into the minds of others and your own in a unique way! It is fun, positive and relaxing!（D1)
- Whoever enjoy doing art or just interested in without prior experience could join this workshop since it is so insightful and fun. （D1）
- At first glance, drawing might not seem like a useful tool for research, but the EGAKU workshop allows me to develop the ability to see things from multiple perspectives through art. I believe this ability is extremely important in research. Through this workshop, I personally experienced how the same subject can appear completely differently depending on your perspective. I feel I have developed this ability. (M1)
- It was a rare opportunity to honestly express my own feelings and thoughts and share my work and the background behind it with others, and I found it very stimulating. I think even those unfamiliar with art will enjoy it! (M1)
- I strongly recommend trying out EGAKU if you're interested in more than just drawing. It's a fantastic way to express yourself using colors and shapes, which surprisingly can convey messages more accurately than words. Even if you're like me – someone who's shy and not great at talking about feelings – EGAKU shows you can communicate well through art. The workshop taught me to stay open-minded, focus on myself, enjoy learning new things, and be open to new experiences without comparing to others. Give EGAKU a shot – it could change how you see things (M2)
Event Report
Contact Faculty
Prof. Keisuke Yamada, Center for Entrepreneurship Education (CEE)
📩 yamada.k.9f82 [at] m.isct.ac.jp
