Yokohama City University in Japan is currently testing an anime-style online psychological counseling service. The service is currently in a pilot phase, and 20 participants will experience it from October 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. If it goes well, it is expected to be officially launched to the public in the future.
A report from Japan's "ITMedia News" shows: "'Animation therapy' promotes mental health improvement and self-growth by immersing people in animation and generating empathy. This therapy was proposed by Italian psychiatrist Francesco Panto." This project was carried out by Yokohama City University in cooperation with Dai Nippon Printing Company - the latter is a national company in Japan whose core business covers the fields of information communications, daily and industrial supplies, and electronics.
The service has designed 6 unique characters, each with an exclusive background story. Participants will participate in consultations in the form of visual novels, which help to enhance immersion; the services cover a wide range of psychological issues, including "physical discomfort, interpersonal difficulties and social adaptation pressure".
Those participating in the trial are required to complete a detailed psychological assessment before October 1; after the counseling session is completed, the effectiveness of the service will also be evaluated through follow-up assessments.
Yokohama City University's Minds1020 laboratory is the leader of this project. This project is part of Japan's "COI-NEXT Plan", which sets ambitious goals: to build a healthier society, a healthier environment, and to cultivate healthier individuals. Its official website states: "The OIST COI-NEXT Center is committed to promoting the realization of the concept of 'One World, One Health' on a global scale. The vision is to create a future where mental, physical and environmental health can be collaboratively and sustainably improved."
The core positioning of the Minds1020 laboratory is to carry out research on young people's mental health. The development of this animation-style online psychological counseling service is also centered on this goal. Its target group is young people aged 18 to 29. Although anime appeals to all age groups, it is reasonable to speculate that it is particularly popular among young people - the idea of helping the target group in a more meaningful way by matching their existing interests and hobbies is worthy of recognition in itself.
The official website of Minds1020 Lab succinctly writes: "Everyone will be hurt and depressed at times." "This is especially true for young people who are facing major life changes such as entering higher education and employment. When they are in trouble, what can we do to provide support? Minds1020 Lab is thinking about these social issues and putting ideas into practice."