Connected Ink 2025 has successfully come to a close.
Thank you very much for joining us.

Connected Ink 2026 is scheduled to take place again in November.
We truly look forward to sharing Creative Chaos with you once more.

Highlights and reports from Connected Ink 2025 will be released on our
YouTube channel and on Wacom’s note in the coming weeks—please stay tuned!

「Connected Ink 2025」

Happening on Friday, November 14

and Saturday, November 15!

⌚Time:Friday, 14th — 15:00–20:30 (Reception opens at 14:30)
　　　　   Saturday, 15th — 13:00–20:30 (Reception opens at 12:30)

🏢Venue: Sankaku Hiroba, Shinjuku Sumitomo Building, Tokyo

The theme for this year is

”Takahashi”

TAKAHSHI, in my second year of high school,
we shared a class.
He lent me a single cassette tape—
an album by SION.

Since graduation day, I’ve never seen him again.
But I’ve kept listening to SION ever since,
and those songs have saved me time and again.

Takahashi—a one-of-a-kind presence,
who gave me an irreplaceable impact
in a single fleeting moment of
life’s crossing paths.

Who is your Takahashi?
Are you someone’s Takahashi?
Or have you yet to meet yours?

About Stage Program

Full of Highlights!

Around 30 programs await you!

Stage performances that embody creative chaos, technology presentations that open up the future, stage talks that showcase new forms of education and business insights, and hands-on workshops—an exciting variety of programs will unfold one after another!.

*Simultaneous Interpretation Available

Opening: “Takahashi”

Nobu Ide, Wacom’s President and CEO and Representative Director of Connected Ink Village, kicks off Connected Ink 2025. The theme of this year’s Connected Ink is “Takahashi”—a simple word, but that highlights how a brief encounter can deeply impact a person’s life. During the two days, the event seeks potential depth and breadth of where business, art, and creativity will intersect, creating opportunities for new value. This opening session sets the stage for the event.

Wacom Creators College Club (WCCC) Award ceremony

The award ceremony for the creative contest hosted by Wacom Creators College Club (WCCC), a program catering for needs of students and faculty at universities, vocational schools, high schools, and other institutions engaged in creative education. At the ceremony, 10 distinguished works, including the Grand Prize and Second Prize, will be announced.  Accompanied by commentaries from professional creators who serve as judges, this will be a truly special opportunity for the participating students, and of course, an inspiring and valuable experience for the audience as well.

Montblanc Digital Paper – Digital Handwriting by Montblanc

In this session, Dr. Felix Obschonka will take the audience behind the scenes of one of Montblanc’s most ambitious ventures: the creation of the Montblanc Digital Paper. He will reveal the vision and craftsmanship that guided the Maison as it brought the artistry of handwriting into the digital age, blending tradition, innovation, and a profound respect for the writing experience itself. Discover how Montblanc managed to translate over a century of heritage into a seamless, tactile digital expression, and why preserving the soul of handwriting was at the heart of every design decision.

Galaxy AI and S Pen, Always by your side

Under the long-standing partnership of over a decade between Samsung and Wacom, 2025 marks the development of a new S Pen design. With its hexagonal design and new user experience, the Galaxy Tab S11 can now be used more effectively. In addition, Galaxy AI on the Galaxy Tab S11 makes many aspects of your daily life more convenient. Experience a more convenient and enriched life with Galaxy AI and the S Pen.

KENAZ × Wacom: Pioneering the Next Move

around Webtoons

Born in Korea, vertical-scroll manga or “Webtoon” has been captivating young audiences worldwide. KENAZ, a rising creative studio, leads the field with various types of creators, and eminent producers. KENAZ has also launched a platform to support creators called “KIPhub.” Partnering under the shared vision of empowering communities, Wacom and KENAZ explore new ways to support creators and expand newly-found possibilities of business and expression

Take “KISEKI ART” to Healthcare:

Visualizing the Potential for Early Detection

of Dementia using Handwriting Data and AI

Preferred Networks, a leader in Japan’s Artificial Intelligence development, and Wacom have long been collaborating on the "KISEKI ART" project, using AI to visualize changes in handwriting data captured by digital ink technology. Now, the two companies are applying this research to the early detection of dementia in its pre-symptomatic stage by cross-referencing handwriting data and disease progression. With Japan’s aging population, dementia prevention is urgent. This innovative effort showcases a new way Wacom supports well-being.

Supporting Clinical Practice and

Medical Education: VR and Digital Ink

Open the Gate to Medical DX

Holoeyes creates VR apps that visualize unique 3D body data, while many medical settings still rely on 2D analog methods to handle complex biological information. Together with Wacom, they aim to transform healthcare workflows by combining VR software with digital pen and ink technology. This innovation supports clinical care and revolutionizes medical education. Discover the latest advancements in medical DX.

Conveying Colors Felt by the Brain

—“Irotodokeru-maru,” a Display

Supporting Color Vision Variation

Color vision variation refers to the differences in how individuals perceive colors. According to the Genetics Society of Japan, about 5% of Japanese men are estimated to have some form of color vision variation. “Irotodokeru-maru” is a collaborative project between the Saitama Industrial Technology Center and Wacom. The project aims to optimize display output for each individual’s unique color vision, creating an environment where everyone can enjoy creative works as artists intended. In this session, Nobu Ide, CEO at Wacom, Hiroyuki Kawazoe and Makoto Aoki, responsible for color management, to discuss the background and future directions of the project. In addition, at the exhibition booth, visitors can experience color vision variation using the prototype.

Note: This exhibition are intended to promote understanding of color vision variation. They are not designed to provide medical diagnosis or testing.

Don’t Miss It! A New Game Project from Connected Ink

It all began with a simple idea: “Why not make a game at Connected Ink?” This new project brings together adventure game creator Kazuhide Oka and architect/university professor Tamotsu Ito—a unique collaboration across disciplines. The game is inspired by a small town surrounded by forest, the hometown of one of Ito’s former students. An abandoned school, a village shrine, and scenic rural landscapes—what stories lie hidden in this quiet town? Oka and Ito will share how the project came to life, joined by Wacom’s Mr. Ide from Connected Ink Village, who will talk about what’s next. A new adventure begins—don’t miss the start of this journey!

Workshops, participatory sessions, and large-scale booths

Packed with unique experiences!

Discover exhibitions by artists active across a wide range of fields, explore next-generation technology at our interactive corners, and visit partner and sponsor booths filled with creative displays and hands-on experiences.

Wacom Creators College Club (WCCC)

Contestant Works Exhibit

Wacom Creators College Club (WCCC) is a program catering for needs of students and faculty at universities, vocational schools, high schools, and other institutions engaged in creative education. This year, WCCC will host its first-ever contest for students from member schools. A selection of 100 outstanding works, created under the theme of “Making Connections,” will be showcased, adding vibrant color to the Connected Ink venue. In the adjacent Wacom Creative Products exhibition zone, visitors will also get their hands on a full lineup of Wacom’s new products —including new products announced this fiscal year. It’s an opportunity to experience the tools that bring creative works to life, along with the sense of “Connection” they foster.

“Hello, this is Connected Ink Radio!”

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Connected Ink, we’re excited to introduce a brand-new program — Connected Ink Radio. A glass-walled radio booth will appear at the venue, streaming live throughout the event. To listen, simply use the single-ear earphones available near the booth. Our hosts feature a charming vocalist, an art director who is also a poet and philosopher, and Wacom’s IR representative — together with special guests sharing unique stories and ideas. Can’t attend in person? Enjoy the show on YouTube Live. 
 📻https://youtube.com/live/ONZzMZWolIo?feature=share

“Writing is about Finding.  PILOT DIGIKAKU STATION”

Pilot and Wacom are professional experts when it comes to “writing and drawing.”  Both companies are jointly working on a new in-store communication system to connect people and offer encounters through digital “writing and drawing.”  The theme is “A place you can casually drop by and jot something down. When you write, you’ll surely find or create something, and it makes you a little happier.”  Looking into various potential services in the future, the stations are unveiled in Connected Ink 2025.

Art Pop-Up Shop by Connected Ink

For the first time, Connected Ink presents an art merchandise corner! Explore a wide range of original creations — from illustrations and sculptures to manga and novels. Artists connected to Connected Ink, both professional and amateur, will be selling their work at individual tables. Enjoy conversations with the creators and discover your own unique favorite pieces. See the list of participating artists here.

Support the Future of “Creativity”

— Used Product Collection Booth

Wacom is running a trial campaign to collect any used Wacom products for recycling at this event. Bring your old Wacom gear to the reception desk and let us know! You might win an art book signed by a popular illustrator!

*For Mobile Studio / Cintiq Companion devices, we can only accept units that have been initialized (factory reset). Devices that cannot be initialized due to startup issues cannot be accepted.

Booth “Takahashi” -- That one phrase(Takahashi) might be the words(Takahashi) that change someone’s tomorrow.

In a small unmanned booth set up in the corner of the venue, you can share the words(Takahashi) that once moved your heart. Write your own, read others’, and feel their meaning. The words that once changed your life may now change someone else’s.

Life Ink Community ～ Collaborative exploration

of the delicate and complex

creative processes of the brain and body

“Life Ink Community” is an artistic, collaborative exploration of the delicate and complex creative processes of the brain and body, using biosensing technology and a new form of digital ink. It captures inner states of people as they change through interactions with other people and transforms them into intuitive and accessible artistic expressions. With multiple number of participants, visitors can try the biosensing gear and experience a novel immersive installation featuring glass-free stereoscopic 3D and surround sound.

Omiya Koryo High School “Pen Tablet Art Challenge 2025”

“For their third participation, about 25 students from the Fine Arts and Calligraphy Departments will create works on the theme of “Takahashi” using the Wacom MovinkPad 11. With no single correct answer, the abstract theme encourages students to explore themselves and uncover new possibilities. Guided since the program’s launch by Mr. Shun Matsushita, the initiative highlights the fusion of digital and analog through the act of drawing and writing by hand. We invite you to experience the students’ challenges and achievements.
🌍Omiya Koryo High School https://ohmiyakoryo-h.spec.ed.jp/
🌍Pen Tablet Art Challenge 2024 https://www.wacom.com/en-jp/about-wacom/social-initiatives/ordinary-days-at-omiya-koryo-high-school

The aiwa device lineup expanded with the addition of

products adopting Wacom technology

JENESIS Corporation has been in the business of various devices. Its subsidiary, aiwa Marketing Japan Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as aiwa), plans and sells the aiwa product line. In March 2025, Wacom provided its digital pen technology for the first time for the tablet device “aiwa tab AE10.” This product allows users to freely capture ideas that come to mind during meetings or classes, or take notes during video calls, all through digital handwriting. Excellent pen pressure sensitivity, tilt detection, and palm rejection are also key features. Additionally, the aiwa pen compatible with Wacom's Active ES technology and capable of handling various PCs and tablet devices such as Microsoft Surface series and Chromebooks, will be also on display. The company's diverse range of devices, boasting a rich variety, will also be showcased.

Experience Zone of Learning Service Powered by

“Handwriting x Digital”

Z-kai and Wacom have collaborated on developing learning services tapping into the power pf “handwriting x digital” technology. Since 2023, Wacom's digital pen and ink technologies have been adopted in the “Z-kai Learning App” for distance education, which now offers unique services such as “Ink Journey,” “Replay Heatmap,” and “Learning Search Chienowa.” The booth allows visitors to experience the above services using Z-kai's unique tablet equipped with Wacom pen technology, while serving as a venue for study consultations, too.

Workshop: Let’s Explore Circuit Boards!

Make a Balancing Dragonfly

Did you know that at the heart of every Wacom pen is a tiny circuit board? It’s the flat piece that holds and connects all the electronic parts. Together with K.P.D. Co., Ltd.—who have been designing Wacom’s circuit boards for over 15 years—we’re hosting a hands-on “Circuit Board Art” workshop. Using real circuit boards (the kind you don’t usually get to see), you’ll create a playful balancing dragonfly that gently rocks back and forth. Along the way, you’ll discover the delicate beauty of circuit boards and learn about K.P.D.’s craftsmanship. Plus, a Wacom engineer will share an inside look at the boards that power Wacom pens.

■Date & Time: Saturday, November 15, 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM (two sessions, about 30 minutes each)
■Sign-up: At the K.P.D. booth on the day (first-come, first-served)
■Cost: Free
■Note: Nippers will be used. Children in elementary school or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Join us for a fun chance to explore the hidden world inside Wacom pens!

🌍About K.P.D.  https://www.kpd-jp.biz/

A Koinobori Coloring Experience with the Koishikai Artists

Wacom's headquarters is located in Kazo, Saitama—an area renowned for its traditional koinobori (carp streamers). To share the beauty of this cultural craft, a local group of artisans known as the Koishikai will host a hands-on koinobori coloring experience. Visitors are invited to paint each scale with care, bringing their own stories to life through color. At the booth, hand-painted koinobori showcasing the historical techniques of Kazo will be on display. Overhead, a vibrant array of past works by the Koishikai will soar through the air, filling the venue with festive spirit.

A Hot New Sensation!

Join the Art Revolution with the Indie Game

“AI-yo Saraba”!

Born from a sudden spark in early 2025, this groundbreaking idea has inspired top creators and ignited a creative whirlwind (UZZ). Experience a whole new kind of AI × Drawing × Visual Novel game — where your art drives the story. Your drawings solve missions, and Wacom’s finest digital pen lets you express your true artistic spirit. Become a Revolutionary Artist and join the movement!

Draw What You Feel! Quick Drawing Workshop

Join story artist Yui Kurita for a fun and energetic Quick Drawing workshop, where you'll capture the movements of a live model in just 1 to 3 minutes! The model for this session is dancer MIDORI.
No matter your age or drawing skill — even if you've never drawn before — you're welcome to join. With Yui’s lively guidance, you’ll be inspired to let your pen move freely and enjoy the joy of drawing — just grab a pen and enjoy the freedom of drawing what you feel!

Find Your “Takahashi”!

Art Therapy Workshop to Enhance Creativity

Inspired by this year’s Connected Ink theme, “Your Own Takahashi,” participants will create artworks using materials such as lightweight clay and crayons. Through the creative process, you’ll find your imagination and originality naturally unfold. Both professionals in design and art, as well as general participants, are warmly welcome. No artistic skill is required — just come and freely express your inner creativity through artmaking. This program is conducted by art therapists from Quest Institute, a pioneer of art therapy in Japan. For over 25 years, Quest has been dedicated to its mission of “building a healthy society through art-based care for the mind.” The facilitators include certified Clinical Art Therapists (Diploma holders) from Quest’s professional training program.

◎ How to Join: Please register at the Connected Ink general reception desk on the day of the event. (First-come, first-served basis)

◎ Date & Time: Saturday, November 15
(Two sessions / 8 participants per session / approx. 45 min each)
Session 1: 17:00–17:45 Session 2: 18:15–19:00

◎ Participation Fee: Free
You may take your completed artwork home with you.
Art materials such as paper, pens, and colored pencils will be available at the venue — please feel free to choose your favorites and enjoy the experience.

🌍 Art in Chat (A creative retreat by Quest Institute)  https://artinchat.com/

🌍 About Quest Institute  https://questnet.co.jp/

Seven types of digital pens with luxurious Wajima lacquer finishes and hands-on experience of & “Chinkin” technique, applying pattens to the surface using gold powder

The traditional lacquerware technique of Noto, “Wajimanuri,” is used in various tableware items such as bowls, cups, chopsticks, and trays. Furthermore, the decorative technique of carving patterns into the layered lacquer surface Wajimanuri and embedding gold powder into them is called “Chinkin.” This time, with the cooperation with a Wajimanuri chinkin artisan,Yasutaka Maeda, we made seven types of Wajimanuri digital pens. At this booth, visitors can pick up such luxurious digital pens and draw pictures using a pen tablet. The pictures drawn will be applied to a Wajimanuri surface on the spot using the Chinkin technique, and you can take home your completed “Chiankin work.” Also on display are various Wajimanuri products other than pens, with a view to preserving traditional crafts and supporting the recovery of the areas affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

“MINAMOTO” — Illuminating Figure Model Artists

Born from the idea of “Shedding Light on Figure Model Artists,” MINAMOTO explores new forms of creative expression through projects like the Eshi 100 Artists Exhibition collaboration and the VR avatar “The Nine-Tailed Observer.”
Now, with support from Kaiyodo and APPLAND, MINAMOTO is preparing a new kind of exhibition — “MINAMOTO EX.”, set for 2026, showcasing its evolving vision of art and creation.

Cheesecake That Conveys a Message:

From “Tasting Without Knowing” to

“Knowing and Truly Tasting”

We shape the heartfelt stories of farmers, beekeepers, and dairy producers into cheesecakes. Each one is a creation where the passions of those who make, choose, and enjoy food come together. Just as Wacom connects people’s emotions through a pen, we connect people, cities, and rural communities through food—bringing new life to Japan’s primary industries.

“Prototype Takahashi”

This exhibition explores new artistic possibilities that emerge between the analog and digital realms. From attempts to convey emotion through language-based expression, to proposing AI interfaces designed to support and connect with people, the works presented here represent a range of experimental prototypes. Experience how the free and flexible creative spirit of Digital Hollywood University students leads to new forms of expression and challenges toward the future.