Practice-Inspiring Story Studio (Iba Lab, Fall 2024)
Practice-Inspiring Story Studio:
Crafting Manga, Picture Books, and Songs
to Extend a Helping Hand to Those in Need, Inspire Action, and Empower Lives
(Unleashing Natural Creativity of Human, Sometimes with Embracing Generative AI)
Entry due: July 22nd
Objectives
In this research group, we are dedicated to crafting and sharing stories that inspire people to take actions. Our goal is to craft manga, picture books, and songs - familiar forms of storytelling that deeply resonate with people. By weaving narrative elements that spark motivation in readers and listeners, we will craft compelling works that encourage them to put into practice in their own lives.
We are actively seeking individuals who are passionate about crafting original manga, picture books, or songs, whether they are currently engaged in these pursuits or aspire to do so. Let’s come together to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborate to produce remarkable works that we can share with the world.
To support people in implementing good practices, we integrate “pattern languages” into our stories. The pattern languages encapsulate the essential points and wisdom of good practices. At the Iba Lab, we have been dedicated to crafting pattern languages across various domains for the past two decades. For an overview of what a pattern language is and the pattern languages crafted and at Iba Lab, please watch this keynote video (“Improving the Quality of Creative Practices with Pattern Languages"). We have identified and articulated over 3,000 patterns (rules of thumb) spanning more than 90 fields of practice. We will draw upon this rich repository of knowledge to inform and enrich our creative works.
To gain a deeper understanding of how pattern languages can be expressed through manga, we recommend reading our paper on Pattern Manga (“Pattern Manga: Attractively Expressing Patterns of a Pattern Language in Manga Style”). For insights into the incorporation of pattern languages in songs, please explore our paper on Pattern Songs (“Pattern Song: Auditory Expression for Pattern Languages” ; Our pattern song on Spotify). These papers provide detailed explanations of the approaches and structures we employ, along with illustrative case studies, making it easier to grasp the key concepts behind the Iba Lab’s methodology.
Throughout the semester, each member will have the opportunity to work on crafting one or more types of works, including manga, picture books, or songs. During our regular group meetings, we will come together to share each works-in-progress, providing constructive feedback and engaging in discussions on how to refine and improve our creations. To further deepen our understanding of the craft, we will embark on a collective learning journey, exploring books and videos that offer insights into the creative processes and techniques employed by professional creators across various fields.
As we delve into the vast potential of human creativity and explore ways to nurture and manifest it, we also recognize the exciting possibilities offered by generative AI as a valuable partner in the creative process. We are eager to embark on a practical exploration of how we can harness the power of generative AI to enhance and augment our creative endeavors. If you are intrigued by the prospect of applying generative AI in innovative ways within the creative domain, we wholeheartedly encourage you to join us on this exciting journey of discovery.
Who We Are Looking For
I would like to emphasize the following point: Who we are looking for in this research group are those who possess the genuine desire to extend a helping hand to those in need, inspire action, and empower lives - and who actually put these values into practice. Research on pattern languages and related storytelling is NOT suitable for those who are primarily focused on improving their own lives, achieving personal success, or seeking recognition. Also, it is NOT appropriate for people who are overwhelmed by their own problems and have little mental or emotional capacity to devote to others. The motivation should NOT be self-fulfillment or the desire to create something for oneself.
The most essential aspect of creating a compelling pattern language and crafting stories based on them is having compassion and a readiness to lend a helping hand to those who are struggling. Without these qualities, it is impossible to create something that genuinely helps people in need, even in the distant future. We seek individuals who are driven by a deep sense of empathy and a sincere commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
If you are the kind of person who takes action to assist someone in distress that you encounter on the street, or if you are willing to invest time and effort to support those in need who are close to you (not because you enjoy doing it for your own gratification), then you possess the fundamental qualities necessary for creating a good pattern language.
In this research group, we are seeking individuals who can sincerely act and dedicate themselves to the well-being of others. We look forward to receiving applications from those who embody these characteristics.
Additional Participation to the Research Project (If interested)
In addition to Crafting Manga, Picture Books, and Songs, you can also participate in the research projects undertaken by graduate students. The research projects in the fall semester of 2024 include (A) Research project for crafting a pattern language of Manga Crafting, (B) Research Project for crafting a pattern language of good research design that opens new paths in academia, (C) Research project for crafting a pattern language of actively acquiring the skills to be creative and conduct academic research, (D) Research project for crafting and utilizing a pattern language of ways for youth in poverty-stricken areas of Southeast Asia to live self-reliantly (with a focus on the Philippines). These projects are typically conducted on Wednesday afternoons and other times.
Class Schedule
#1 Introduction
The purpose and approach of the global seminars hosted by Iba Lab will be explained. Additionally, members will introduce themselves.
#2 Exploring Pattern Languages and Pattern Manga, Picture Books, and Song.
We will read the papers and works on Pattern Language and Pattern Manga, Picture Books, and Song, discuss the contents together, and ensure that we have a solid understanding of the important points.
#3 Individual progress reports and feedback
Each member will report on the progress of their practical work, and we will provide feedback to each other on the reported progress.
#4 Individual progress reports and feedback
Each member will report on their progress and receive feedback from the group.
#5 Individual progress reports and feedback
Each member will report on their progress and receive feedback from the group.
#6 Literature Review
We will read books that are important for our creative activities and discuss the key points together as a group.
#7 Literature Review
We will read books that are important for our creative activities and discuss the key points together as a group.
#8 Individual progress reports and feedback
Each member will report on their progress and receive feedback from the group.
#9 Individual progress reports and feedback
Each member will report on their progress and receive feedback from the group.
#10 Individual progress reports and feedback
Each member will report on their progress and receive feedback from the group.
#11 Individual progress reports and feedback
Each member will report on their progress and receive feedback from the group.
#12 Individual progress reports and feedback
Each member will report on their progress and receive feedback from the group.
#13 Reflective Presentation on Creation
Each member will reflect on their creative activities throughout the semester and present their discoveries and insights gained during the process.
#14 Reflective Presentation on Creation
Each member will reflect on their creative activities throughout the semester and present their discoveries and insights gained during the process.
#15 Reflective Presentation on Creation
Each member will reflect on their creative activities throughout the semester and present their discoveries and insights gained during the process.
Grading
Student evaluations will be determined by assessing the following components: active participation in the creative process, meaningful contributions to seminar discussions, timely submission of weekly reflection notes, and the quality of the final discovery paper and presentations at the end of the semester. Grading will be based on a holistic assessment of each student's engagement, effort, and demonstrated understanding of the course material throughout the semester.
How to Apply to the Lab
Please watch the video on Pattern Language, read the papers below on Pattern Manga and Pattern Song, and read the quotes in the "Quotes that Resonate with Our Philosophy" section of this syllabus. Then, complete the following entry sheet, and convert the sheet to a PDF file and submit it through the form provided here by July 22nd: https://forms.gle/dcWqBAVHPhaqKnwJ9.
Interviews are scheduled to be held in July 30th and 31st.
[Application Assignment]
- On Pattern Language [Video]
Takashi Iba, “Improving the Quality of Creative Practices with Pattern Languages,” Keynote, The ACM SIGPLAN conference on Systems, Programming, Languages, and Applications: Software for Humanity (SPLASH2022), December, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEozD7nEIRY
- On Pattern Manga [Paper]
Takashi Iba, Hiroaki Tanaka, Sae Adachi, Mizuki Ota, and Urara Tajima, “Pattern Manga: Attractively Expressing Patterns of a Pattern Language in Manga Style,” in the 30th Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs (PLoP 2023), 2023.
http://web.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~iba/papers/PLoP2024_PatternManga.pdf
- On Pattern Song [Paper]
Takashi Iba, Mayu Ueno, and Ayaka Yoshikawa, “Pattern Song: Auditory Expression for Pattern Languages,” in the World Conference on Pursuit of Pattern Languages for Societal Change (PURPLSOC 2017), published in Richard Sickinger, Peter Baumgartner, Tina Gruber-Mücke (eds), Pursuit of Pattern Languages for Societal Change: A Comprehensive Perspective of Current Pattern Research and Practice, Edition Donau-Universitat Krems, 2018, pp.560-579, 2017.
http://web.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~iba/papers/PURPLSOC17_PatternSong.pdf
[Entry Sheet for Iba Lab (Fall 2024)]
Please provide the following details in PDF file.
1. Personal Information: Full Name, Faculty, Current Year of Study, Student ID, Email Address, and a Recent Profile Photo.
2. Self-Introduction: Share your interests, extracurricular activities, and any unique attributes or experiences. (For those who are reapplying from the previous semester, kindly provide a thoughtful reflection on your recent activities and personal development. Additionally, articulate your goals and aspirations for the upcoming semester, detailing what you intend to accomplish or focus on.)
3. Participation Interest: Please let us know which topics from this syllabus interest you: Crafting (1) Pattern Manga, (2) Picture Book, and/or (3) Pattern Song. If you are also interested in participating in a Research Project, please indicate your interest in (A)-(D) as well.
4. Language Proficiency (Speaking): Indicate the languages you speak and your proficiency level in each.
5. Language Proficiency (Reading and Writing): List the languages you can read and write, along with your proficiency level.
6. Courses Attended: List any courses you have taken with Prof. Iba, if applicable.
7. Academic Preferences: Share your favorite courses to date (multiple responses encouraged) and provide details about any research groups (Kenkyukai) you have previously participated in.
8. Motivation for Joining Iba Lab: Explain your reasons for wanting to join Iba Lab, based on the video, papers, and quotes provided in the application assignment.
9. Your Work: Please include samples of your drawings or songs to showcase your style and technique.
Quotes that Resonate with Our Philosophy
The following are ideas that the Iba Lab is exploring and researching, as well as philosophies that we practice ourselves. These are presented as fragmentary quotes, so please try to relate and structure these fragments in your own mind to understand them. This process of constructing systematic knowledge from fragmentary information is precisely what we do daily at the Iba Lab.
“We are moving from an economy and a society built on the logical, linear, computerlike capabilities of the Information Age to an economy and a society built on the inventive, empathic, big-picture capabilities of what’s rising in its place, the Conceptual Age.”
“Today, the defining skills of the previous era—the “left brain” capabilities that powered the Information Age—are necessary but no longer sufficient. And the capabilities we once disdained or thought frivolous—the “right-brain” qualities of inventiveness, empathy, joyfulness, and meaning—increasingly will determine who flourishes and who flounders. For individuals, families, and organizations, professional success and personal fulfillment now require a whole new mind.”
“we are entering a new age. It is an age animated by a different form of thinking and a new approach to life — one that prizes aptitudes that I call “high concept” and “high touch.” High concept involves the capacity to detect patterns and opportunities, to create artistic and emotional beauty, to craft a satisfying narrative, and to combine seemingly unrelated ideas into something new. High touch involves the ability to empathize with others, to understand the subtleties of human interaction, to find joy in one’s self and to elicit it in others, and to stretch beyond the quotidian in pursuit of purpose and meaning.”
“the six essential aptitudes—what I call “the six senses”—on which professional success and personal satisfaction increasingly will depend. Design. Story. Symphony. Empathy. Play. Meaning. These are fundamentally human abilities that everyone can master”
“Humans are not ideally set up to understand logic; they are ideally set up to understand stories.”
"Story exists where high concept and high touch intersect. Story is high concept because it sharpens our understanding of one thing by showing it in the context of something else. ... Story is high touch because stories almost always pack an emotional punch. ... The ability to encapsulate, contextualize, and emotionalize has become vastly more important in the Conceptual Age."
"the abilities you’ll need—Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning—are fundamentally human attributes. They are things we do out of a sense of intrinsic motivation. They reside in all of us, and need only be nurtured into being."
“To be creative is, in short, to be human”
“The primary issue that emerges here is the restoration of humanity. In other words, we must begin with the task of making humans more human. This is not achieved by cultivating human qualities through self-cultivation books, but rather by engaging in genuinely human creative acts. Furthermore, these creative acts, whether they be professional endeavors or personal pursuits, are experiences of successfully ‘accomplishing a project.’”
“Individuals with a profound sense of mission are inherently attuned to the broader context in which they find themselves. They perceive the overarching circumstances as a compelling force, urging them to take specific actions, and they respond to this call with a deep sense of obligation.”
“A creative act involves not only the creation of the object itself but also generates change within the individual who is engaging in the creation. In other words, the subject is also being transformed. An act of creation that is done unilaterally is not truly a creative act. The more creative an act is, the more remarkable the transformation of the subject becomes.”
“By producing concrete outputs, the subject ultimately undergoes transformation and shedding, which is the healthy and more natural path. Rather than striving for self-transformation directly, one should focus on creating things and, consequently, experience personal transformation. In essence, people should transform themselves through accomplishing a project that generates value. Believing that one can change oneself by attaining enlightenment and serenity without engaging in any such work is, ultimately, a form of avoidance.”
“At the moment when a person is faced with an act of design, he does not have time to think about it from scratch. He is faced with the need to act, he has to act fast; and the only way of acting fast is to rely on the various rules of thumb which he has accumulated in his mind. In short, each one of us, no matter how humble, or how elevated, has a vast fabric of rules of thumb, in our minds, which tell us what to do when it comes time to act. At the time of any act of design, all we can hope to do is to use the rules of thumb we have collected, in the best way we know how.”
“And all these rules of thumb --- or patterns ---- are part of larger systems which are languages.”
“the system of patterns forms a language. … An ordinary language like English is a system which allows us to create an infinite variety of one-dimensional combinations of words, called sentences. … it not only defines the sentences which make sense in a given situation; it also gives us the apparatus we need to create these sentences. It is, in other words, a generative system, which allows us to generate sentences that are appropriate to any given situation. … Thus, as in the case of natural languages, the pattern language is generative.”
“When a person is faced with an act of design, what he does is governed entirely by the pattern language which he has in his mind at that moment. Of course, the pattern languages in each mind are evolving all the time, as each person’s experience grows. But at the particular moment he has to make a design, he relies entirely on the pattern language he happens to have accumulated up until that moment. His act of design, whether humble, or gigantically complex, is governed entirely by the patterns he has in his mind at that moment, and his ability to combine these patterns to form a new design.”
“Each pattern is a three-part rule, which express a relation between a certain context, a problem, and a solution.”
“patterns in our minds are dynamic. They have force. They are generative. They tell us what to do; they tell us how we shall, or may, generate them; and they tell us too, that under certain circumstances, we must create them.”
“Your mind is a medium within which the creative spark that jumps between the pattern and the world can happen. You yourself are only the medium for this creative spark, not its originator.”
“All great inventions emerge from a long sequence of small sparks; the first idea often isn't all that good, but thanks to collaboration it later sparks another idea, or it's reinterpreted in an unexpected way. Collaboration brings small sparks together to generate break through innovation.”
A pattern language is the very source of creative power in the individuals who use it, and without a language they could create nothing. It is the language they could create nothing. It is the language which makes them creative.”
“Gradually, by hard work, it is possible to discover many patterns which are deep, and which can help to bring a building or a town to life. ... it is possible to discover them, and to write them down so that they can be shared."
“Language and art both serve to represent the world to us in ways that are not exactly the world itself, but which allow us to preserve essential features of the world in our own minds, and to convey what our minds perceive to others.”
“Ubiquitous also in every culture are the kinds of knowledge songs that encode information vital to the survival of every member of the group, not just warnings about crocodile aggression, but day-to-day guides such as how to cook certain dark green leaves so that they are less bitter, or where to get fresh drinking water without invading the territory of a neighboring tribe.”
"Manga can infinitely deform time and space."
“As a novelist, as a person who writes fiction, I believe in the power of good stories. When you read a good story, you enter into it. At that moment, you are immersed in the truth within the story... as long as you focus on reading. It’s a wonderful thing to try putting your feet into someone else’s shoes. You can feel as if you are that person. It's a sense of empathy and sympathy. A good story takes you to another place, and there you can feel as if you've become someone else.”
"There are countless different shapes and sizes of shoes in the world. And by putting your feet into those shoes, you see the world through someone else's eyes. Through good stories, through serious stories, you gradually learn something within the world."
“If the story being told has power, the protagonist, the writer, and the reader can all reach a ‘world that is not here.’ It is the original world, yet it is a world that is somehow different from the past.”
“A good story should evoke positive feelings in everyone. A good story should inspire, arouse, shake the human heart, and make one believe that love is something very important.”
“I believe that by reading and writing good stories, we can change the world.”
“Isn’t literature the work of carefully cultivating flowers in your small garden and giving them one by one to passersby? This is originally a saying by Kunio Yanagita. Since I started writing novels, this saying has always been in my mind. ... I dream of being able to write short stories in this state. To casually offer something fun, happy, and good-hearted like a single flower. It would be nice if something I wrote while playing around could encourage someone who is feeling down."
“I want to start moving something... I want the readers to experience something. For example, I want them to experience a process that starts moving together with the readers themselves.”
“All experiences of art are experiences of evidence, which means 'something that is directly understood without the need for proof.' And no one can explain what evidence is... It is to experience that 'this can only be this way and absolutely cannot be any other way.'”
“When a good poem is written, a tree will be planted somewhere else. In other words, it is planted within us. Also, a tree is planted not only because it is useful or bears apples, but because we want the tree to be there without any reason; it is necessary. The same goes for a good poem. The question is not whether it is useful or not, but whether it enriches our inner workings.”
“In the case of YOASOBI, we are clearly doing it as a 'unit that turns novels into music'... I think stories are the backbone of YOASOBI... The answer to 'What are stories to YOASOBI' is... 'The beginning of everything.'... For YOASOBI, it absolutely starts with a story, so in that sense, it's 'the beginning of everything.' It's not wrong to say it's the core, but I think beginning is closer. It's a big deal that it doesn't start without it, and that's what makes us decisively different from other artists.”
"I hope that when people listen to this song on mornings when they feel a little down or hesitate to do something, they'll feel like 'I'll try my best a little more.' I want them to have a good day with this song."
References
Takashi Iba, Hiroaki Tanaka, Sae Adachi, Mizuki Ota, and Urara Tajima, “Pattern Manga: Attractively Expressing Patterns of a Pattern Language in Manga Style,” in the 30th Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs (PLoP 2023), 2023.
Takashi Iba, Mayu Ueno, and Ayaka Yoshikawa, “Pattern Song: Auditory Expression for Pattern Languages,” in the World Conference on Pursuit of Pattern Languages for Societal Change (PURPLSOC 2017), published in Richard Sickinger, Peter Baumgartner, Tina Gruber-Mücke (eds), Pursuit of Pattern Languages for Societal Change: A Comprehensive Perspective of Current Pattern Research and Practice, Edition Donau-Universitat Krems, 2018, pp.560-579, 2017.
Takashi Iba, Mizuki Ota, Urara Tajima, “Communication Using Manga Expressions: The ‘Exhibition by Manga’ Pattern and a Case Study,” in the 10th Asian Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs, People, and Practices (AsianPLoP 2024), 2024.
Takashi Iba, Kiyoka Hayashi, Kazuki Hioki, and Sae Adachi, “Visualizing Future Visions: A Pattern and Case Study on Image Generation with Generative AI,” in the 10th Asian Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs, People, and Practices (AsianPLoP 2024), 2024.
Takashi Iba & Fumio Kajiwara, translated by Ayaka Yoshikawa, Project Design Patterns: 32 Patterns of Practical Knowledge for Producers, Project Managers, and Those Involved in Launching New Businesses, CreativeShift, 2019
Takashi Iba with Iba Lab, Learning Patterns: A Pattern Language for Creative Learning, CreativeShift, 2014
Takashi Iba with Iba Lab, Presentation Patterns: A Pattern Language for Creative Presentations, CreativeShift, 2014
Takashi Iba with Iba Lab, Collaboration Patterns: A Pattern Language for Creative Collaborations, CreativeShift, 2014
Takashi Iba & Makoto Okada (eds), Iba Lab., and Dementia Friendly Japan Initiative, Words for a Journey: The Art of Being with Dementia, CreativeShift, 2015
Tomoki Furukawazono & Takashi Iba, Survival Language Project, Survival Language: A Pattern Language for Surviving Earthquakes, CreativeShift, 2015
Mary Lynn Manns and Linda Rising, Fearless Change: Patterns for Introducing New Ideas, Addison-Wesley, 2004
Mary Lynn Manns and Linda Rising, More Fearless Change: Strategies for Making Your Ideas Happen, Addison-Wesley, 2015
Christopher Alexander, The Timeless Way of Building, Oxford University Press, 1979
Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, and Murray Silverstein, A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction, Oxford University Press, 1977
Christopher Alexander, The Nature of Order, Book One: The Phenomenon of Life, The Center for Environmental Structure, 2002
Beuys, J. & Ende, M., Kunst und Politik Ein Gespräch, FIU-Verlag, 1989.
Jiro Kawakita, Sozo to Dento: Ningen no Shino to Minshushugi no Kongen wo Saguru [Creation and Tradition: Search for Foundation of Human and Democracy], in Japanese, Shodensha, 1993.
Munesuke Mita, Gendai Shakai ha Dokoni Mukauka [Where is Modern Society Heading], in Japanese, Iwanami Shoten, 2018.
Daniel H. Pink, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, Riverhead Books, Reprint, Updated, 2006
Keith Sawyer, Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration, 2nd edition, Basic Books, 2017.
Roberto Verganti, Overcrowded: Designing Meaningful Products in a World Awash with Ideas, The MIT Press, 2017
Hayao Miyazaki, Starting Point: 1979-1996, VIZ Media, 2006
Haruki Murakami, Novelist as a Vocation, Knopf,2022
Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Scribner, 2000