Hokkaido Information University exhibited for the 16th consecutive year since 2011 at Tokyo Game Show 2026, a gaming festival held at Makuhari Messe from Thursday, September 17 to Sunday, September 20, 2026!
We interviewed Mr. Ishikawa, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Information Media at Hokkaido Information University.
Note: All interviews below have been translated from Japanese.
Exhibiting for 16 Consecutive Years Since 2011! The Hokkaido Information University Booth
Incorporating signature Hokkaido motifs such as snowmen, students at the Hokkaido Information University booth handled not only the game exhibits, but also the booth setup and decorations.
We interviewed Mr. Ishikawa, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Information Media at Hokkaido Information University!
Interview with Fourth-Year Student Mr. Ishikawa from Hokkaido Information University!
― First, please introduce yourself.
Mr. Ishikawa: I am Mr. Ishikawa, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Information Media at Hokkaido Information University.
Nice to meet you!
― Is this your first time exhibiting at Tokyo Game Show?
Mr. Ishikawa: I also exhibited last year when I was a third-year student, making this my second year.
― Could you tell us what is different compared to last year?
Mr. Ishikawa: First, the university holds a selection process, and the selected members get to exhibit at Tokyo Game Show.
Last year I came as one of the selected members, whereas this year I participated at my own expense rather than through the selection.
I successfully made it through the selection last year, though I fell just short this year.
― Please tell us about the game you exhibited.
Mr. Ishikawa: Because we represent Hokkaido Information University, my game this year is Snowman Evolution Theory, a snowman-making game themed around Hokkaido's signature snow.
I created it so that visitors from Tokyo and the Kanto area could experience making snowballs and actually touching snow for themselves.
― That is amazing! How does the interactive setup work?
Mr. Ishikawa: Rolling this physical snowball controller actually moves the snowball on screen, and shifting your weight on the footpad steers the snowball left and right.
As you keep rolling the snowball controller, your speed increases, so you progress through the game by building up speed while avoiding the red obstacles.
You then hit the blue decorations with your snowball, collecting decorations and picking up speed to build your snowman.
― It is a fresh, inventive approach that really captures the spirit of Hokkaido.
Mr. Ishikawa: Winning people over with visual impact is actually our motto.
We built it with the goal of catching people's eyes right away.
― Since you are a fourth-year student and have likely decided on your path after graduation, what industry do you plan to enter?
Mr. Ishikawa: Although I am making games right now, I will be working as a systems engineer in the IT industry rather than the gaming industry.
― Please tell us about the appeal of Hokkaido Information University.
Mr. Ishikawa: At Hokkaido Information University, alongside learning the programming behind game creation systems, being able to study both design and programming is a huge draw.
Another appealing point is that in your third and fourth years, you can choose to specialize in whichever field you prefer—design or programming.
― Please share a message for high school students aspiring to attend Hokkaido Information University!
Mr. Ishikawa: Some students here make games, and you can also learn a wide range of other skills within IT, such as web design and systems development. If you have any interest in computers, design, programming, or IT in general, we would love for you to join us.
We look forward to seeing you take on the challenge!
That concludes our interview with Mr. Ishikawa, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Information Media at Hokkaido Information University!
