Dropout Rebel to Student: Japanese YouTuber Yutabon Embraces High School Education because of Metaverse
Extended Reality | Business
2-minute read
Do you remember the Japanese boy who refused to go to school, calling himself a "kid revolutionary"? Born in 2008, Nakamura Yutaka claimed to have had an awakening in third grade. Fearing that continuing education would turn him into a "robot," he led a life of truancy, occasionally attending school just for lunch, which he referred to as "free schooling." In 2019, at the age of 10, he started a YouTube channel under the name "Yutabon," where he famously said, "If you want to go to school, you can go; if you don't want to, you don't have to." He also stated, "Children have the right to go to school, but they are not obliged to," sparking significant discussion at the time.
Today, he has shed his youthful image and evolved into a 15-year-old "teenage revolutionary." And what's more, he has announced his decision to start attending school. Why the change of heart? The answer is—the metaverse.
I believe it's passion, not a surrender to academic credentials! (Source: YouTube)
Last week (4/26), Yutabon shared this pivotal moment on his YouTube channel. He announced, "I've finally become a high school freshman!" He revealed that he had enrolled in Japan Aviation High School, specializing in "Metaverse Engineering."
"I've always been fascinated by the metaverse," he said. He sees it not just as a personal interest but as his ideal career path. He believes, "In the future, everyone might have another identity, that is, a virtual avatar active within the metaverse. In the future, engineers who create virtual spaces will be needed, and these engineers will need not only technical skills but also the humanities to consider the needs of others."
Japan Aviation High School, established in 1932, is Japan's oldest aviation vocational school and just introduced the "Metaverse Engineering" department in April 2024. According to the official curriculum, the program includes courses focusing on digital platforms such as "Fortnite," VRChat, Cluster, Spatial, Vket Cloud, and hopefully VIVERSE will be added too.
For example, first-year high school students will learn IT fundamentals, metaverse-like environment production, UI/UX introduction, design and color theory, Blender 3D modeling, and generative AI tools. In their second year, they will study blockchain, Web3, DAO, NFTs, and learn to operate Unity and Unreal Engine, create VR and AR, and even study social sciences such as economics, psychology, history, and geopolitics. By their third year, they will undertake a comprehensive project called "Parallel Japan," a practical course that recreates their hometown in a virtual world.
Furthermore, the prospectus states that after three years of study, graduates can look forward to bright futures as metaverse creators, game/CG artists, IT engineers, or entrepreneurs.
The recruitment poster was created by generative AI. (Source: Japan Aviation High School)
From a school dropout who lived by the motto "life is an adventure" to now embracing "life is a study," Yutabon's transition into the high school system is indeed a significant change. But let's not forget his bold declaration from the past—"I will create a free world." Perhaps, one day, this dream will be realized within the metaverse, and he may even rise to become an internet celebrity in his own right, much like other Japanese celebrities who have found fame through unconventional paths.
