
Gene of Creativity: Mapping the Future of Manga and Technology
Mar 27 2026, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Past Event Content
Past Event Details: Gene of Creativity: Mapping the Future of Manga and Technology
As manga continues to shape global entertainment, advances in artificial intelligence are transforming how creative works are produced, distributed, and experienced across borders. This exclusive program brings together visionaries from Japan and San Francisco to explore the intersection of Japanese pop culture and cutting-edge technology.
The evening will feature a keynote conversation with Kyuri Yamada, the acclaimed manga author behind AI no Idenshi (The Gene of AI), which was recently adapted into a popular anime. Yamada will travel from Japan to share his unique perspectives and deeper insights from his works.
The program will also feature two dynamic panel discussions exploring the forces behind manga’s explosive growth in North America, as well as how artificial intelligence is reshaping creativity, localization, and fan engagement in the global Japanese pop culture landscape.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from manga industry insiders and to engage with the ideas and partnerships that will define the next era of global entertainment.
This program is organized by the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, Orange Inc., Digital Garage, and the Japan Society of Northern California.
Venue: Digital Garage | 717 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Date & Time: Friday, March 27th, from 6 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
Transportation:
We strongly recommend taking public transit to this program, as downtown traffic and parking are challenging. The closest BART and Muni stop is Powell Station. If you must drive, we recommend booking a parking spot in advance using a service like SpotHero.
Agenda:
| 5:30-6:00 PM | Doors Open & Registration |
|---|---|
| 6:00-6:05 PM | Opening Remarks The Consul General of Japan in San Francisco | Kotaro Otsuki |
| 6:05-6:35 PM | Keynote featuring Kyuri Yamada, manga author of The Gene of AI and The Catcher in the Binary Moderator: Orange | Nao Kondo, Experiential Marketing Manager |
| 6:35-7:10 PM
|
Panel 1: The Global Expansion of Manga in the U.S. Market Panelists: – Kodansha USA Publishing | Alvin Lu, President and CEO – Viz Media | Andy Nakatani, Senior Director, Online Manga – Kinokuniya Book Stores of America Co., Ltd. | Shingo Nozaki, Regional Manager, Texas |
| 7:10-7:25 PM | Break |
| 7:25-7:55 PM | Panel 2: The Creative Frontier: Japanese Pop Culture x Al Technology Panelists: – Anthropic | Albert Webson, Research Scientist – Orange | Shoko Ugaki, CEO and Founder – Moderator: Machine Cinema | Minh Do, Co-Founder and CEO |
| 7:55-8:00 PM | Closing Remarks Digital Garage | Kengo Naito, Vice President Japan Society of Northern California | Steve Pollock, President |
| 8:00-8:30 PM | Networking Reception |
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