Yamamura Animation, Inc.

Cinema Concert
The AI-based Animation Synchronization is being developed by Tokyo University of the Arts and YAMAHA Corporation. It combines AI with VJ-like human input, allowing the video to follow a live performance in real time, even if the performer does not look at the video.
AI-based Animation Synchronization with Live Music Performance by Kiriyama Koji (Tokyo University of the Arts), Usuha Ryoya (Tokyo University of the Arts), Tamura Motoichi (YAMAHA Corporation), Maezawa Akira (YAMAHA Corporation), Nishiyama Rei (YAMAHA Corporation)

Miyagi Michio's "The Spring Sea" | Satie's "Parade" | Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" | Water Dream

The Spring Sea

Directed and Animated by Yamamura Koji
Music: HARU NO UMI (THE SPRING SEA), Composer: Miyagi Michio
Supported by Tokyo University of the Arts, ART DX Project, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate school of Film and New Media
Producer: Mitsuko Okamoto
Productions: Yamamura Animation, Tokyo University of the Arts

A scene inspired by the Seto Inland Sea is depicted in the style of a sumi-e painting, set to a violin version of the koto piece "HARU NO UMI (The Spring Sea)" by Japanese koto player and composer Miyagi Michio in 1929.

Cinema Concerts (8)
Premiere : Nippon Steel Arts Foundation, Wakayama Performance
”Kioi Afternoon Concert,”
Violin: Sawa Kazuki, Koto: Kikue Gensei
Wakayama Castle Hall, Japan, 2025.10.25 »Site

Fenice Sakai x Nippon Steel Kioi Hall
Resonating Japanese and Western Culture: Japan Classic
Violin: Sawa Kazuki, Koto: Kikue Gensei
Sakai City Arts and Culture Hall, 2025.10.26

Kumamoto Japanese Music Festival Executive Committee x Nippon Steel Kioi Hall
Japanese Music New Artists Exhibition Meets Kioi Afternoon Concert
Violin: Fuminori Shinozaki, Koto: Hikaru Nakajima
Kumamoto, Sears Home Yume Hall, 2026.02.07 »Site

"Resonating Concert" ~Eastern and Western Traditions Resonate Through Music
~ Kitakyushu Municipal Hibiki Hall x Nippon Steel Kioi Hall ~
Violin: Shinozaki Fuminori, Koto: Shikano Tatsuyasu
Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu Municipal Hibiki Hall, 2026.02.08 »Site

"The Spring Sea" Live Performance, Animation, and AI Concert
2026.03.19, 13:30-14:00 / 16:00-16:30, 2026.03.20, 11:30-12:00 / 13:30-14:00 / 15:30-16:00
Tokyo University of the Arts, Ueno Campus, Art & Science Lab 4F
Koto: Kokoro Katayama (1st year, Department of Traditional Japanese Music, Faculty of Music), Reiko Takahashi (1st year, Department of Traditional Japanese Music, Faculty of Music)
Shakuhachi: Mayuka Higuchi (1st year, Department of Traditional Japanese Music, Faculty of Music), Violin: Haruka Yamamoto (1st year, Department of Instrumental Music, Faculty of Music) »Site

"The Spring Sea"cinema consert, Satie's "Parade," "Notes on Monstropedia"
Nippon Connection 2026 26th Japan Film Festival
Violin: Tony CLARK, Koto: Naoko KIKUCHI
Germany, 2026.06.02-07 »Site

"The Spring Sea" Opening film
Opening Ceremony with the Live Screening of The Spring Sea
Violin: Maya Kai, Koto: Tomoko Kihara
3rd Hiroshima Animation Season 2026, Japan, 2026.08.19 »Site

Best of Festival - Animated Short: Richmond International Film Festival

Satie's "Parade"

Trailer |

On Demand |

On Demand Fr |

On Demand En |

Music & text: Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Directed & animated by Yamamura Koji
Special thanks: Arjen Gorter, Ornella Volta, Catherine Verhelst, Hervé Tougeron, Tokyo University of the Arts
Assistant: Yamamura Sanae
Translation: Ilan Nguyên, Spanish Translation: Nicolás Guarín, Chinese Translation: Yantong Zhu
Production: Yamamura Animation
Distribution: Au Praxinoscope
AI-based Animation Synchronization with Live Music Performance by Kiriyama Koji (Tokyo University of the Arts), Usuha Ryoya (Tokyo University of the Arts), Tamura Motoichi (YAMAHA CORPORATION), Maezawa Akira (YAMAHA CORPORATION), Nishiyama Rei (YAMAHA CORPORATION)

A Parade by three managers and four performers.
Koji Yamamura's new animation project, "Parade" de Satie (Satie's "Parade"). Erik Satie composed the ballet music "Parade" in 1916 and 1917.
Dutch indie jazz band Willem Breuker Kollektief played this music and Koji Yamamura directs Erik Satie's"Parade" as a surrealistic animated ballet.It will be coming in 2016 for the 150th anniversary Erik Satie and 100th anniversary "Parade,"

Cinema Concerts (3)
Premire screening by AI-based Animation Synchronization with Live Music Performance:
2025 New Year's Eve Concert
Emptiness and Fullness: A Musical Illustrator by Eric Satie
Conductor: Lee Dong-shin, Busan Cultural Center X Busan Cultural Foundation Citizens' Orchestra
2025.12.31, South Korea, Busan Cultural Center Grand Theater
Organized by: Busan Cultural Center Foundation, Busan MBC »Site

Concert Film: The Surreal Universe of Koji Yamamura
by Geneva Conservatory of Music
“Mt. Head””The Old Crocodile” “Muybridge’s Strings” “Satie’s ‘Parade’””Kid’s Castle” “Kipling Jr.”
2025.06.06, Switzerland, Les Cinémas Du Grütli »Site

41st Festival of 3 Continents, France, Opening
Screening: "Water Dream"“Satie’s ‘Parade’”
Piano: Catherine Verhels, Mezzo: Kakei Akie and others
2019.11.19 »Site

Vivaldi's Four Seasons

| Animation for live music | 2017.11 | Japan | Around 45'00" | HD | 16:9 | No dialogue |

Film Production: Tokyo University of the Arts
Planner: Sawa Kazuki, Producer: Okamoto Mitsuko, Artistic director: Yamamura Koji, Technical director: Takashi Kiriyama, Video system developer : Usuha Ryoya, Sync system developer: Maezawa Akira
Animation directors:
Spring: Anna Budanova, Summer: Priit and Olga Pärn, Autumn: Astushi Wada, Winter: Theodore Ushev
In commemoration of the 130th anniversary of Tokyo University of the Arts in 2017, A. Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" will be animated and performed using AI to keep the timing of the animation in sync with live performance developed through an industry-academic collaboration by Yamaha Corporation and Tokyo University of Arts.

Spring: Anna Budanova

Autumn: Wada Astushi

Cinem Concerts (13)
Premiure: Kita-kyusyu Hibikin Hall
vaiolin: Kazuki Sawa, Music performance: Hibiki Strings
Kita-kyusyu, 2017.11.19

2017,.12.23 Tokyo University of the Arts Concert Hall, Tokyo

Animac, International Animation Festival
Spain, 2018

Music performance: Covent Garden Soloists Orchestra from London
Vene Teater (Russian Theatre), Tallinni, Estonia, 2018.10.08

From 2019 screenings will be conducted using an AI video synchronization system

Aratani Theatre in LA, U.S., 2019.01.13

~Strings Meet Video~ Kazuki Sawa & Hibiki Hall Chamber Orchestra Valentine's Day Concert
Conductor & Violin: Kazuki Sawa, Hibiki Hall Chamber Orchestra
2019.02.09 Fuji Yusoki Hall, Sanyo-Onoda City, Yamaguchi

Monstra Lisbonn International Animation Festival
Portgal, 2019.03.21

AI-Based Animation Synchronization
National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria, 2019.11.17

Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Castle of Annecy, France, 2019.06

2021.01.26, Hakuju Hall, Tokyo

New Year's Concert 2022: A New Year's Play with Technology and Classical Music!
Violin Solo: Masahide Denda, Harpsichord: Shintaka Suzuki, String Quintet: Violin: Karen Kido, Kaoru Oe, Viola: Ryu Muramatsu, Cello: Fumitsugu Ito, Double Bass: Ken Otsuki
2022.01.10, Harmony Hall Fukui Grand Hall, Fukui City »Site

Kinokuni Music Festival 2022
Violin: Kazuki Sawa
2022.10.14, Wakayama Castle Hall, Wakayama City

Anifilm International Festival Animated Film
at the F. X. Šalda Theatre,Liberec, Czech Republic, 2023.05.02

Grand Prix: 9th Festival Ciné Poème, France, 2020.03

Water Dream

Animation, Direction: Yamamura Koji
Original Music for instruments, voice and soundtrack: Catherin Verhelst
Dramaturgie: Hervé Tougeron
Mezzo: Kakei Akie
Clarinets: Annelise Clément
Viola: Delphine Millour
Piano: Catherine Verhelst
Recording : STUDIO 7ème CIEL, Issy les Moulineaux/France
Recording Sounds : Jean-Maurice Hayano
Supported from National Histry Museum in Nuntes
Foundation Franco-Japanese Sasawawa

This film depicts evolution from birth of life to whale in the sea with music and images by dedication to the American contemporary composer George Klum's "Vox Balaenae (1971)" There are 4 part, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic.

Cinema Concert (1)
41st Festival of 3 Continents, France, Opening
Screening: "Water Dream"“Satie’s ‘Parade’”
Piano: Catherine Verhels, Mezzo: Kakei Akie and others
2019.11.19 »Site