{"rewrite":{"id":"r_09134e5e50e78cdc9549cb92","clusterId":"c_633e1193577dc61ca8c544ad","slug":"ves-japan-section-launches-japan-academy-prize-adds-vfx-award","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"VES Japan Section Launches, Japan Academy Prize Adds VFX Award","summary":"The Visual Effects Society has launched its Japan chapter, VES Japan Section. The founding event was held July 31, 2026, at Tokyo Polytechnic University's Nakano Campus, combining a declaration of the chapter's founding with a celebration of the newly established Japan Academy Prize VFX Award. VES headquarters approved the chapter in January 2026, and a 12-member Board of Managers was elected with Masaru Suzuki of Shirogumi as the first Section Chair.","whyItMatters":"The launch gives Japanese VFX professionals a direct connection to the global VES network of roughly 5,600 members, and coincides with the Japan Academy Prize adding a dedicated VFX Award, marking two milestones for the industry in Japan.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eVES Japan Section is not a separately incorporated entity in Japan. It operates as a section of VES headquarters, and details of systems and activities will be shared through online and offline channels. The listed areas of activity include screenings, membership, communications, social media, event planning, sponsorship, outreach, and education.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFuture initiatives mentioned at the event include support for VES Awards submissions, use of member screening systems, and information sharing in Japanese. The event opened with a VES Awards showreel and a video message from VES headquarters President Kim Davidson welcoming the Japan chapter.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMasaru Suzuki\u003c/strong\u003e: Section Chair, from Shirogumi\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRen Kikuchi\u003c/strong\u003e: Inaugural BOM member\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRumiko Kinoshita\u003c/strong\u003e: Inaugural BOM member\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKoichi Nobuta\u003c/strong\u003e: Inaugural BOM member\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTakayuki Ueki\u003c/strong\u003e: Wants to convey voices from the field to VES\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSatoshi Yamaguchi\u003c/strong\u003e: Wants to develop VFX as an industry\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHideki Takemura\u003c/strong\u003e: Touched on promoting participation among younger members\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMei Hanawa\u003c/strong\u003e: Wants to use social media operations to reach members\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTakahiko Akiyama\u003c/strong\u003e: Inaugural BOM member\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKoji Matsunaga\u003c/strong\u003e: Inaugural BOM member\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssei Oda\u003c/strong\u003e: Inaugural BOM member\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJeffrey Dellinger\u003c/strong\u003e: Inaugural BOM member\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","blueskyPost":"VES Japan Section's first Chair, Masaru Suzuki of Shirogumi, leads a 12-member board. The timing with the new Japan Academy Prize VFX Award gives the chapter institutional weight from day one.","twitterPost":"Masaru Suzuki of Shirogumi chairs VES Japan Section's 12-member board. The chapter launches alongside the new Japan Academy Prize VFX Award.","threadsPost":"VES Japan Section starts with Masaru Suzuki of Shirogumi as Chair and a 12-member board. Launching the same period as the Japan Academy Prize's new VFX Award, the chapter gains a formal stage for recognition that Japanese VFX lacked.","newsletterBlurb":"The Visual Effects Society has launched VES Japan Section, its Japan chapter, approved by US headquarters in January 2026. The founding event also celebrated the Japan Academy Prize's new VFX Award. Masaru Suzuki of Shirogumi chairs the 12-member board.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"GameBusiness.jp\",\"url\":\"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/08/25/27784.html\",\"title\":\"VES Japan Section, the Japan Chapter of the World's Largest VFX Industry Organization, Officially Launches-Also Celebrates New Japan Academy Prize 'VFX Award'\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4605,"outputTokens":933,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1788001795,"createdAt":"2026-08-29T11:01:27.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-29T11:01:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-29T11:01:27.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_633e1193577dc61ca8c544ad","canonicalTitle":"世界最大のVFX業界団体VESの日本支部「VES Japan Section」が正式始動——日本アカデミー賞「VFX賞」新設も祝福","representativeArticleId":"a_9285f88fd2ae133f706a2e22","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"industry\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-24T23:30:03.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-24T23:30:03.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-29T11:01:46.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"GameBusiness.jp","url":"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/08/25/27784.html","title":"世界最大のVFX業界団体VESの日本支部「VES Japan Section」が正式始動——日本アカデミー賞「VFX賞」新設も祝福"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"industry","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}