School History

学校の歴史

Established in 1965, Nippon Designers School (NDS) is a Japanese design college offering courses such as graphic design, visual design, illustration, manga, photography, and more. With 3 branches situated in Tokyo and Fukuoka, NDS has continued to educate its students for more than 50 years.

The Start of the Campus

At our school opening ceremony (July 2022), Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad and Ambassador of Japan Embassy, Mr. Takahashi attended! The history of our school has begun from here! We produce a new movement of both Malaysian and Japanese culture.

Nippon Designers School

Yamana Ayao (1897-1980) 山名文夫

Since 1965, he has been the first headmaster of Nippon Designers School in Japan. In the early days, he was one of the pioneers of Japanese graphic design. He was also active as an illustrator and a designer for a cosmetics manufacturer, Shiseido. His works have been inspired by Art Deco which are modern style illustrations that are used in Shiseido’s culture magazine, “Hanatsubaki” the logo of Kinokuniya supermarket, and the grape motif of Shinchosha.

Nippon Photography Institute

Shotaro Akiyama(1920-2003) 秋山庄太郎

Born in Kanda, Tokyo in 1920. After working in the photography department of a movie magazine company, he became a freelance photographer and established himself as a photographer by taking numerous portraits of actresses. From his mid -40s onward, he made “flowers” his life's work, and pioneered flower photography as a form of art that was distinctly different from the conventional botanical illustrated book style of flower photography.

Nippon Designers School Kyushu

Isao Nishijima(1923-2001) 西島伊三雄

Japanese graphic designer and children's picture artist. Former member of NIKATEN and later a member of Japan Advertising Artists' Association. Born in Hakata, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. He was active as a designer of symbol marks for Fukuoka City subway stations, murals, monuments, and package designs for instant ramen noodles.

Our school's mission is to provide high-quality education with an emphasis on creativity, novelty, thinking skills, to develop human resources that can create new socialization and trends.

メッセージ

Message

里中満智子

Machiko Satonaka

Chairperson, Japan Cartoonists Association (Public Interest Incorporated Association)

Representative, Manga Japan (General Incorporated Association)

Chairperson, Japan International Manga Award Selection Committee (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)

Representative, Asia Manga Summit Executive Committee (NPO)

You can draw manga on your own. Even when you're sitting alone at a small desk, what matters most is how vividly you can create a grand vision in your mind and how deeply you can express the emotions of others. I want you to devote all the energy within you to building that world of imagination.

However, in reality, when working alone, it's easy to get stuck on technical aspects. For example, when I first debuted, I had to figure out on my own how to cut screen tones. I had to rely on my own creativity and ingenuity, which often led me down many detours. If something can be learned through guidance, it is far more efficient to be taught. This allows you to devote your energy entirely to "creation."

Furthermore, having peers is a great source of inspiration. In the future, when you all become professionals, they will provide both tangible and intangible support.

I am waiting for those who wish to refine their potential.

舘野仁美

Hitomi Tateno

Representative, Sasayuri Animation Training Institute

Animator

I'm sure there are many of you who dream of one day sharing your work with the world. Why not try nurturing your own creativity? Keep those moments that make you think, "Wow!", "Beautiful!" or "Interesting!" tucked away in the back of your mind. Then, when the opportunity arises, weave that sense of "wonder" into the works you create.

We would be delighted to help you discover that "wonder" and transform it into your art.

中谷日出

Hide Nakaya

Commentator, NHK (Arts, Culture and Digital Affairs)

Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University

Creative Supervisor, NHK Art

President, Digital Entertainment Society

To Future Designers (Manga & Anime Creators)

Today, the creative world of manga and anime is undergoing significant change.

We are now in an era where it is not enough to simply be good at drawing. What truly matters is what kind of stories you create and what kind of worlds you bring to life. Your ideas and imagination can be further expanded through digital technologies such as AI, enabling you to share them with audiences around the world.

What will be required going forward is the ability to think and create as a designer: the ability to find meaning, to build compelling worlds, and to express yourself using new technologies.

At Nippon Designers School Malaysia College, in addition to learning the fundamentals of manga and anime, you will develop the skills to create stories and characters as a designer—nurturing creators who can succeed on the global stage.

Why not share the stories within you with the world?