NEWS

On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) held the final presentation event for the .KNOTs Summit Spring 2026 as part of the APU Connection Hub for the spring semester program.

“.KNOTs.” is a co-creation program in which students work with companies for approximately three months to explore opportunities and solutions to challenges faced by businesses and local communities. This semester, four companies, Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd., Arnet Corporation, Mirairo Inc., and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd. (Oita Branch) participated in the program. Students worked throughout the semester to address questions presented by each company.

Through repeated dialogue with the participating companies, students developed a deeper understanding of the social issues and needs underlying each question, while drawing on their diverse cultural backgrounds and areas of expertise to explore potential solutions. Taking on questions with no predetermined answers, experimenting through trial and error, and creating value along the way are among the defining features of the program.

At the event, each team presented the results of approximately three months of activities.

Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Team: Yoshimoto Kogyo Team)

Under the theme “Bringing Japanese Comedy to the World through SDGs Awareness Videos,” the team conducted marketing research leveraging APU’s unique multicultural environment. They analyzed the cultural backgrounds and audience needs of different countries and regions and developed proposals for expanding SDGs awareness videos overseas.

Arnet Corporation. (Team: Arnet × APU)

In response to the question, “Facial Recognition Systems × Tourism!? How Can Cutting-Edge Technology Be Applied to Tourism?”, the team proposed services for international visitors to Japan using facial recognition AI technology. By incorporating the user perspective into the service design, they demonstrated the potential applications of the technology in regional tourism.

Mirairo Inc. (Team: Lively Society)

In response to the question, “What Would a Database That Optimizes Accessibility for People with Disabilities Around the World Look Like?”, the team focused on the challenges faced by inbound tourists with disabilities. They researched and analyzed accessibility information and relevant systems in different countries and proposed a universal database that could be used across national borders.

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd. (Oita Branch) (Team: WacrossCycle)

In response to the question, “How can we effectively communicate the April 2026 revisions to Japan’s bicycle laws, regardless of the nationality of the audience?”, the team developed a solution scenario based on surveys and interviews with APU students. They proposed creating and providing awareness videos that can be easily understood in multilingual and multicultural environments.

Following the presentations, feedback was provided by APU Vice President Yoshifumi Okamura, Professor Masanori Fujita, Director of the Division of Social Collaboration, and Professor Mina Fujie, Specially Appointed Professor. Students and participating companies also shared comments reflecting on their three-month experience in the program.

.KNOTs is a co-creation program that aims to create new value by bringing together students, companies, and local communities to learn from one another. Recruitment for the fall semester 2026 program will begin in September, with the program scheduled to run from October 2026 through January 2027. APU will continue to create opportunities for companies, local communities, and students to work together to address social challenges.