Studio Umi Reflects on DrupalCon Nara 2025: A Milestone Moment for Japan’s Drupal Community

Studio Umi’s history with Drupal stretches back more than fifteen years, a relationship that began “dating back to the Drupal 4.7 era.” Moriyama described the agency as “one of the longest-standing Drupal agencies in the country,” pointing to its work on major projects and its emphasis on professional certification. “We also hold the highest number of Acquia Certified professionals in Japan,” she said, noting how this reflects the company’s focus on technical strength and consistent quality.

The announcement that DrupalCon would return to Asia, and specifically to Japan, generated genuine excitement inside the company. “When we learned that DrupalCon would be returning to Asia and specifically to Japan our entire team was genuinely excited,” Moriyama said. She added that sponsorship “felt like a natural decision and an ideal way to give back,” explaining that Drupal has shaped their growth and given them many opportunities over the years. In her words, “this sponsorship symbolizes our long-term commitment to supporting and contributing to the Drupal ecosystem.”

DrupalCon Nara also gave Studio Umi a chance to strengthen relationships within both the local tech scene and the global Drupal network. “Because we have the highest number of Acquia Certified professionals in Japan, many developers and organizations, both domestically and internationally, recognize and trust our technical expertise,” Moriyama said. Those connections grew deeper through conversations at the event and through a community activity at their booth. The team set up an interactive board inviting attendees to record their “Drupal experience history,” which created a surprising visual of the community’s range of backgrounds. The moment became especially memorable when the Drupal founder joined in. “Dries Buytaert even added his name to the board, leaving his signature as the earliest Drupal user,” she said, a gesture that delighted booth visitors. Moriyama hopes the company will “continue actively engaging with both domestic and international communities” as part of an ongoing effort to build shared understanding and collaboration.

Studio Umi’s involvement did not stop at sponsorship. Team members volunteered as photographers and served on the contribution committee to help with operations throughout the event. The company also contributed to the program through a technical session delivered by engineer Motoki Kobayashi. Moriyama highlighted the positive reception to his talk, titled “Rediscovering Drupal Module/Theme Debugging Methods.” She described it as “an important opportunity for us to contribute to the community’s collective skill growth.” She added that being a company with the highest number of Acquia Certified professionals in Japan made it natural to support the community in several ways at once, which made participation feel even more meaningful.

The location itself also added depth to the experience. Nara’s role as one of Japan’s ancient capitals, combined with its modern energy, resonated strongly with Studio Umi. Moriyama said, “Nara is a place where rich tradition and natural beauty coexist with modern innovation and new initiatives,” and she felt this matched the spirit of Drupal as a platform that continues to evolve while honoring its beginnings. She emphasized how significant it was that the city government participated so fully. “It was also highly significant that the City of Nara, including the mayor’s office, participated as a sponsor and actively supported the event,” she said, calling it an important step forward for open-source adoption in Japan. She hopes DrupalCon Nara will “serve as a catalyst for continued growth and awareness in the region,” encouraging more people to explore what Drupal can offer.

In the months leading up to the conference, Studio Umi helped spread the word across its professional network. “We actively shared information through our website and social media channels,” Moriyama explained, adding that they reached out to clients and partners directly. Their posts during and after the event drew engagement, especially on X. Some attendees even told them they learned about DrupalCon because of that outreach, something the team found encouraging. Looking ahead, Moriyama said the company plans to “continue increasing touchpoints with the community, both online and offline,” with the goal of expanding awareness and appreciation for Drupal in Japan and beyond.