Creative LIAisons 2026: Droga5 Tokyo’s Rika Honda reflects on a week in Las Vegas

Rika Honda, Creative Planner/Copywriter at Droga5 Tokyo, was one of the near 130 talented young creatives, selected from around the globe, to attend the LIA Creative LIAisons training program that runs concurrently with the LIA judging week at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas. Here, Honda reflects on the key takeaways from the week.

 

After my very first trip to the US and a flight of over 15 hours, I arrived in Las Vegas, where I was about to experience what would turn out to be a truly unforgettable, almost dreamlike week.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who made this experience possible and to all the amazing people I met along the way.

Here’s my story from a week I’ll never forget.

1. What were your expectations coming in to the Creative LIAisons program and did it live up to your expectations?
I came here hoping to learn how some of the world’s best creative minds think, work, and live.

And while the program certainly delivered on that, I found myself equally inspired by the young creatives around me.

Being surrounded by passionate, ambitious creatives from all over the world, I was constantly inspired by their proactive attitudes, endless curiosity, and genuine enthusiasm for what they do.

Their energy was contagious, reminding me how important it is to maintain that same hunger and excitement in my everyday work, even after returning to Tokyo.

2. What were your individual highlights of the Creative LIAisons program?
• You’re On The Jury
One of the most memorable experiences was stepping into the shoes of an LIA juror and judging creative work ourselves.

Having to listen to different perspectives while forming and articulating my own opinions, often under time pressure, was both challenging and fascinating.

It made me realize the responsibility that comes with evaluating work that people have poured their hearts and souls into.

• Horror Stories
Hearing the industry’s creative legend share her horror stories was both entertaining and incredibly inspiring.

What struck me most was her determination to bring her vision to life, despite countless setbacks and challenges.

It reminded me that great creativity isn’t just about coming up with brilliant ideas, but also having the courage and perseverance to fight for them.

• What Can Audio Do That Other Channels Can’t?
As someone who rarely works on audio-focused projects, this session opened my eyes to the possibilities of sound.

I was fascinated by how audio sparks the imagination, creates a unique sense of intimacy, and can still convey a sense of authenticity in an age when the line between real and artificial is increasingly blurred.

It reminded me just how much creative potential there is in a medium I haven’t explored nearly enough.

3. What was it like sitting in the back of the LIA Statue jury discussions? What did you learn?
First of all, I was amazed by how long and intense the discussions were!

But that alone showed how much respect the jurors had for every piece of work they were evaluating.

Despite the hours of discussion, no one seemed to lose focus. I was particularly impressed by the diversity of perspectives and how the jurors managed to keep conversations productive while respecting different opinions.

The debates were so engaging that I occasionally found myself wanting to raise my hand and jump in with my own thoughts. Of course, I managed to resist!

I was also relieved to find that I generally agreed with the final selections, which gave me a little confidence in my own creative judgment.

One personal observation, though, was that I would have loved to hear a few more Asian perspectives, at least in the jury room I observed.

So perhaps that’s another goal for me: to work hard enough to one day be sitting at that jury table myself!

4. You were surrounded by young creatives from around the world. What did you learn from the people around you, and was there a particular conversation or connection that stayed with you?
What impressed me most was everyone’s incredibly proactive attitude.

In Japan, it’s not uncommon for a room to go completely silent when someone asks, “Any questions?” But at Creative LIAisons, there was hardly ever a moment of silence.

People were constantly raising their hands, sharing opinions, and approaching speakers without hesitation. It made me realize that I could, and should, be much more proactive myself.

Rather than one particular conversation, what stayed with me was the experience of connecting with people from so many different backgrounds.

We talked about our ambitions, our futures, and the challenges we face as young creatives.

It was reassuring to discover how many of our struggles were shared, regardless of where we came from, while also realizing just how big the world is and how many different possibilities are out there.

5. What’s your advice to anyone attending next year?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!

Ask questions, speak up, and make as many friends as you can. Everyone is there to learn and connect, so there’s really no reason to feel intimidated.

The week goes by much faster than you expect, so make the most of every opportunity. And definitely exchange contact information so you can stay connected afterward!

Some of us are already planning regular online catch-ups despite living in different parts of the world, which makes me incredibly happy.

Most importantly, have fun and enjoy every second of it.

Trust me, you’ll wish you could do it all over again!

 

Check out more 2026 LIAisons reflections below:

Ginoe Ojoy, Senior Graphic Designer at EON Group Manila.
Su Ann Yip, Copywriter at TBWA\Media Arts Lab Singapore.
Swarangi Joshi, Group Head (Copy) at Enormous Mumbai.
Kristian Pineda, Copywriter at BLKJ Havas Singapore.
Ata Zhao, Creative Director at TBWA\Shanghai.
Seth Low, Senior Creative at McCANN Singapore.
Malik Bernardo, Associate Creative Director at Dentsu Creative Philippines.
Soham Ghosh, Creative Director at Ogilvy Gurgaon.