The ZEN University Content Industry History Archive Research Center (HARC) released the eighth installment of its "Oral History Collection" on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The collection features video and transcripts of testimonies from leading figures in various fields related to the Japanese content industry.

Masashi Kumada, the editor who pioneered the manga market

Takanori Aki, founder of Good Smile Company

Comic Market Preparation Committee Co-representatives Kahoru Yasuda and Koichi Ichikawa

Hiroyuki Ito, CEO of Crypton Future Media Inc.

Junya Kondo, CEO of Hatena Co., Ltd.

The next oral history update is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th.

Passing on Valuable Testimonies of the Development of Japan's Content Industry as a Historical Asset to Future Generations

HARC's Oral History Collection is an initiative to preserve for future generations, through video and transcripts, testimonies from people active in the content industry, including games, animation, and manga, as well as the IT and internet culture fields that have created these industries.

While Japan's content industry has contributed to increasing international cultural influence and revitalizing the economy, many of the testimonies of those who supported it behind the scenes are already being lost, and there are few objective critiques or research results based on historical facts. By making oral history available as a historical asset for social use, such as research, education, and business creation, HARC hopes to pass on knowledge to future generations in the content industry. We have already conducted interviews with over 60 people, and plan to continue releasing more as part of our oral history collection.

[Oral History Collection List] *Titles omitted

<IT>
Tomio Goto (former director of NEC Corporation's Japan Personal Computer Museum, developer of the "TK-80" microcomputer kit)
Masao Suga (former Toshiba Corporation, developer of the "Dynabook" and inventor of the "SD card")
Norio Murakami (former CEO of Google Japan)
Keiji Takao (former J-Phone, inventor of "Shamail")
Masaaki Hagino (Voyager, digital publishing business)
Hidetoshi Nishimori (Tokyo University of Science, proponent of "quantum annealing")
Yoh Takemura (former IBM Japan, DOS/V product planning) and Toshimasa Taketane (IT/former IBM Japan, promotion staff member of the OADG Council)
Kazunori Ukawa and Hatsuko Ukawa (IT/founders of JustSystems, creators of "Ichitaro," etc.)
Hiroyuki Suetaka (IT/former Casio Computer, creators of the world's first LCD digital camera, the "QV10")
Takayoshi Shiina (Founder of Sword)

<Game>
Keiko Erikawa (Honorary Chairman, Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd.)
Yoichi Erikawa (Chairman and Representative Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd./Founder)
Yasuhiro Fukushima (Founder, former Enix Co., Ltd.)
Shigeru Yamashita (Advisor, Sega Fave Co., Ltd./Former Chairman, Japan Amusement Industry Association)
Osamu Satomi (Founder, Sammy, Chairman and Representative Director, Sega Sammy Holdings Inc.)
Oji Hiroi (Director, Character Creator, Founder, Red Entertainment Inc.)

<Manga>
Machiko Satonaka (Manga Artist/"The Maidens of Aries," "Rainbow in the Sky," etc.)
Mitsuru Sugaya (Manga Artist/"Game Center Arashi," etc.)
Haruhiko Suzuki (Editor/Shueisha) Weekly Shonen Jump Editorial Department ("Captain Tsubasa" and "Ring ni Kakero")
Big Joe (Manga artist / "The Chef Ajihei" etc.)
Rikichiro Toda (Editor / Founder of Shonen Gahosha)
Masashi Kumada (Editor/Shogakukan Weekly Shonen Sunday, etc.)

<Animation>
Yoichi Ogawa (President and CEO of Shirogumi Co., Ltd.)
Sunao Katabuchi (Animation film director / "In This Corner of the World" etc.)
Tatsuo Shimamura (Founder of Shirogumi Co., Ltd.)
Keiichi Hara (Animation director / "Crayon Shin-chan" etc.)
Masao Maruyama (Founder of Madhouse, MAPPA, Studio M2)
Nozomi Takahashi (Animation producer)
Masaki Tsuji (Anime scriptwriter and author / "Astro Boy" and "Devilman" etc.)
Takanori Aki (Founder of Good Smile Company)

<Internet Culture>
Jun Murai (Computer scientist / "Father of the Internet in Japan")
Takashi Yamakawa (Formerly with Nissho Iwai Corporation / Contributed to the creation of "NiftyServe")
Rei Tanii (Internet culture / Maho no iLand Founder)
Kazuhiko Hachiya (Internet Culture/Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, media artist, developer of "PostPet")
Sadaaki Kato (Founder of note)
Junya Kondo (Founder of Hatena)
Kahoru Yasuda and Koichi Ichikawa (Co-Chairs of Comic Market Preparation Committee)
Hiroyuki Ito (CEO of Crypton Future Media, Inc.)