DESIGN × STORIES

Chiba Prefecture has a long history of exploration by new arrivals. A neighbor of Tokyo, it also has a warm, mild climate and a rich natural landscape. It remains popular with those moving home or looking for a second house. Adaptable and diverse Chiba designs solve problems through local knowledge and communication skills. From a daycare service that's also a community space to a community that's centered on bamboo, local residents are actively engaged in shaping where they live. Join us on a hunt for Chiba's welcoming and open designs.

This time we explore the world of embroidery. It's said to have come to Japan from continental Asia along with Buddhism in the 5th century CE. From being reserved for religion, it was used to ornament kimonos. Delicate, uniquely Japanese designs flourished. Embroidered patterns showed a family's wishes for children to grow up healthy, and the art was part of everyday life. Today it has evolved to take on new meaning and value. Our presenters explore the designs of modern embroidery.

There are design stories behind every one of the household items we use on a daily basis. Various creators have shaped them with care and their designs have a polished practicality developed over many years. As we reevaluate the value of objects amid changing lifestyles and new home environments, buyers and creators are spinning new stories out of the design of lifestyle tools.

Tokyo is still home to many traditional crafts and techniques that have been handed down through generations of artisans. 41 arts have been officially recognized as traditional crafts, including Edo Kiriko glass, Edokomon patterns and woodblock printing. A new generation has inherited these techniques but is updating them for the modern age. Join us on a hunt to explore these stylish, playful designs of historical Tokyo.

As the internet makes it easy to find information, more and more people are trying their hand at new creative endeavors. At the same time, many creative fields including product design, architecture, fashion and hobbies, are letting users make their own choices and shape unique designs. Meet the creatives putting customization front and center, and explore its appeal and potential!

How can designs reveal new perspectives and surprising values in the familiar? Meet an architect bringing new value to existing products through upcycling. A project using AI to bring new perspective to traditional crafts, and artists using collage and other techniques. These creators use a softer aesthetic to move past stereotypes and shape fresh, unique designs. Join us to explore this exciting new world!

Japanese restrooms have won the world's attention for their reflection of larger society. A sweeping new trend is changing the old image of public toilets. The Tokyo Toilet project of "cool and beautiful" restrooms is led by famous Japanese creators. Their designs were the setting for "Perfect Days" by director Wim Wenders, which won Yakusho Koji the best actor award at Cannes. By looking beyond basic function, these new designs showcase public restrooms' role as a place where people gather, and a place to consider the environment. Get ready to explore Japanese restroom design!

The pandemic cut many of us off from relationships with others, giving rise to isolation and loneliness. Remote living has also limited any socializing with colleagues and broader society. As a result, places around Japan have adapted by shaping spaces that connect people and local communities. Shared spaces are encouraging creative communication and shaping new lifestyles. Explore the revolutionary potential of spaces that connect people of all ages and backgrounds, and commercial spaces that showcase residents' skills!

This time we visit Japan's third-largest prefecture, Fukushima. The mild climate and snowy mountains have shaped diverse microclimates and customs, and widely varied crafts. From a sake brewery that's dedicated to the natural environment, to a studio that updates traditional local toys, and even a basketry artisan who uses mountain plants. Natural disasters and local history have played a role in the delicate beauty of Fukushima's designs. Join us on our hunt!

Wajima-nuri is a lacquerware craft from Ishikawa Prefecture, and one of the oldest traditional crafts in Japan. However, the entire region was devastated by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake on New Year's Day, 2024. Many died, and tens of thousands lost the foundations of their lives. The disaster destroyed Wajima-nuri tools and workshops, and many artisans have turned away from their vocation because they see no hope for the future. Yet new projects have begun despite the situation, and they're using design to find solutions. We report on restorative design projects helping veteran artisans ensure the beauty they create has a future.

This time we visit the idyllic mountain landscape and dramatic Sanriku coastline of Iwate Prefecture. From 400-year-old Nambu ironware to regional performing arts that pay homage to nature's diversity. A Nambu ironware studio draws on generations of traditional techniques to create new designs. Otsuchi Sashiko began after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and is now shaping itself into a brand. Our presenters hunt down projects ensuring that local cultural assets survive for future generations to enjoy!

Japanese have a unique appreciation for aging. From the fleeting beauty caused by natural decay to the appreciation of imperfection in an incomplete work. A designer showcases the beauty of rust, while a woodwork artist creates vessels that feature cracks and worm-eaten marks. An architect makes plans for that only come to fruition in a century. Meet the creators using the changes wrought by time in their designs, and explore the beauty and positivity of change!

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, a gallery in Roppongi, Tokyo, held an exhibition titled, "Future Elements: Experimental Laboratory for Prototyping in Science and Design." It features collaborative works by scientists in different specialties, technicians, designers and creatives. Exhibition director Yamanaka Shunji introduces prototypes and design sketches, guiding us through the potential that comes from joining science and design. Discover the fun of imagining our unseen future!

This time we visit Shizuoka Prefecture, blessed by subsoil water flows from Japan's highest peak, Mt. Fuji. Edo-period shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu brought the best artisans across Japan to this region when he built Sumpu Castle. It led to the creation of a unique craft culture. Explore a wooden model kit manufacturer, a project preserving local waterscapes for future generations and traditional handheld fireworks that strengthen local bonds. Our presenters hunt down unique Shizuoka designs that draw on local culture and landscapes.

This time we visit Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture. The site of Japan's capital 800 years ago, this historic city is filled with shrines and temples. Surrounded by mountains and the sea, its typically Japanese landscapes have also made it a popular tourist destination. From an artist who uses flowers to create landscapes with a Japanese aesthetic, to a local firm that runs a shared corporate cafeteria, plus a renovated traditional home that reveals the beauty and values of Kamakura. Our presenters hunt down the best Kamakura designs.

Social change has led to new projects that archive things of value using unique techniques. From storing and displaying architectural models in a warehouse to a photographer who archives their work without any protection, and even a project that digitalizes and distributes regional cultural artifacts. Our presenters visit the sites of these unique archives and learn how sharing designs can help lead to new creations.

Japanese people have some of the shortest average sleep in the world. No wonder people are turning to designs that center the importance of everyday rest. From capsule hotels that offer good-quality sleep and sleep analysis to a cot that was inspired by chimpanzee beds. Other designs include gauze pajamas made with traditional Japanese manufacturing techniques. Our presenters explore the world of designs that promote healthy, soothing sleep.

The rise of digital books has led to massive changes for the printed word. So when you pick up a physical book in a store, its cover is designed to appeal through texture and even fragrance. From a book designer who works on a hundred books a year, to a manga artist focused on cover art and illustrations, and an artisan who inherited the techniques of watoji, a traditional binding technique that flourished in the Edo period. Book design transcends the written word to speak to our souls – join us as we find out more.

We are all part of a vast, natural ecosystem. Today, circular design is making waves because it prioritizes our resources, while minimizing waste and pollution. From buildings that can be dismantled and moved, to conceptual artwork that follows the natural cycle of flowers blossoming and decaying, and technology that keeps tradition thriving. Explore the beauty of designs that emulate the natural cycle.

Creators have always been inspired by powerful natural phenomena that lie beyond our control. One design unit pours the discoveries and emotions roused by these phenomena into their unique work. An architect designs kindergartens around the concept of playing with nature, digging into regional climates for his ideas. An artist paints the plants that grow in areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Dive into a world of design inspired by nature's might.

Renovation usually means hollowing out an old building and adding a new interior. Yet this approach is starting to change. A historic florist uses new technology to retain its history and create a throughline to the modern day. A creator uses industrial waste for interior art on the theme of rebuilding. Meanwhile a business is experimenting with new office spaces that foster closer connections to its neighborhood. Explore the changing tide of renovations.

Located in central Japan, Nagano Prefecture has long been a hub that connects east and west Japan. The Northern Alps Art Festival explores the region's culture and traditions, while its history can be experienced in the old buildings of a former post town. Visit an origami artist famed in Japan and abroad for their work, and dive into the art and designs fostered by Nagano's powerful natural landscape.