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Explore the rich legacy and evolution of diverse designs across Japan. DESIGN x STORIES digs into their origins and how they inspire creators today.
2023
The Jomon period began around 15,000 years ago and lasted for over ten thousand years. In recent years a host of Jomon-themed exhibitions have been held in Japan and elsewhere. A key feature of Jomon culture is that people lived in fixed settlements, coexisting with nature over millennia. They produced astonishingly beautiful objects, and mysterious, primitive designs. These have inspired many creators today, forming a well of creative energy. Our presenters Andy and Shaula visit these people at work, explore the world of Jomon designs and discover how they lasted for ten thousand years!
Our relationship with nature has been changed by our experiences during the pandemic. Many feel a strong desire to bring the natural world into their everyday lives. Interest has risen in designs that are more than shallow ornamentation, offering coexistence with nature, and conservation of our environment. Such designs shape our living spaces and architecture. Our presenters visit gardener and green director Saito Taichi on his plant farm where they experience his designs that bring people and nature closer together, and explore their potential!
Fukui Prefecture lies on the coast of the Sea of Japan, in the central area of Japan's main island. A wide array of projects are building communities, and promoting regional craftsmanship. We visit the foot of Zen mountain temple Eihei-ji Temple, and coastal scenic spot Wakasa to explore the unique creative work in both locations. Presenters Andy and Shaula are on the scene to learn how Fukui designs are bringing tradition into the future.
Fukui Prefecture lies on the coast of the Sea of Japan, in the central area of Japan's main island. 90% of Japan's eyeglasses are made here, along with Echizen lacquerware, which has a 1500-year history. It's also the home of Echizen washi paper, one of Japan's three major washi varieties. This is a hub for Japanese craftsmanship, and it's drawn a group of next-generation designers eager to respect tradition while adding value to new items. In Part 2, learn how tradition is leveraged to shape a creative region and join us on a design hunt in Fukui Prefecture!
Falling birth rates have left much of the world grappling with the problem of isolation. Community hubs play a vital role in the mental and physical health of local residents. They draw a wide array of people, encouraging casual visits, and allow people to get involved in and to build unique, vibrant communities. Explore spaces and projects designed around unique new connections, and discover the community designs bringing life and beauty to local areas.
This time we're visiting Amami Oshima, which lies midway between Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures. Recognized as a Natural World Heritage site in 2021, the island has one of Japan's richest natural landscapes. Most of the land is covered in subtropical forest, home to many endangered and endemic species, while coral reefs bring beauty to its waters. This extraordinary environment has shaped Amami Oshima's unique culture and traditions. From folk songs, music, kimono and dyes, Amami's designs reflect centuries of living alongside the island's forests, ocean, animals and plants. Join us on a design hunt for the gentle aesthetics that shaped Amami design.
Displaying historical artifacts and artworks, museums are temples of knowledge, respected as arbiters of culture and the arts. This image is reinforced by forbidding, majestic buildings. But in recent years, many museums and galleries are undergoing an evolution. They're leveraging design to become spaces that feel both fresh and intimate, bringing visitors much closer to their exhibits. Our presenters set out to learn more about this bold strategy. They visit a museum that's undergone a renovation to become a place for public relaxation, and another using the latest tech to change the relationship between viewer and object. Explore new ways to examine history and art, and discover the latest museum designs and what lies ahead!
This time we're visiting Kyoto Prefecture. It flourished as Japan's capital for a thousand years, evolving a unique culture, and shaping many delicate traditional industries. Kyoto is the foundation of Japanese culture today. But modern lifestyle changes have led to lower demand and fewer heirs for traditional crafts, which are also grappling with the effects of the pandemic, and some are in a precarious state. We meet creators who are taking an unusual approach to ensuring their chosen crafts survive. Our presenters visit the workshops in question, and explore the world of Kyoto design!
Increasing digitalization has led to fears about paper books, and a reappraisal of the value of picture books. Unlike reading for information, picture books use their physical attributes to surprise or delight – turning the page is always a true experience. A single picture book draws on image and graphic design, visual direction and design, as well as the product design of covers, bookbinding and printing. It's a treasure trove of different designs to explore. Our presenters visit picture book authors and designers at work, and explore the charm and potential of picture books from a design perspective.
The Japanese custom of snack time led to regular Japanese creating a unique culture around sweets. Since late 1800s, the mixture of western culture and Japanese sensibilities has led to an incredible variety of treats. Today, flavor, form and packaging all reflect deeply original designs, and many items are popular abroad. Dagashi stores that offer cheap sweets are much loved places for children to gather. Explore Japan's wonderful world of snack-time designs!
This Design Hunt takes us to Fukuoka prefecture in the north of the island of Kyushu. With urban hubs, a coastline and mountains, the local culture draws on the natural world and city sophistication. Long a key trade junction, it flourished through its connections to Asia, and was often the first place to accept new ideas and inventions from other countries. Join us on a design hunt for the many cutting-edge, original designs of Fukuoka.
This time we visit the "Material, or" exhibition at design institute 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Roppongi, Tokyo. Humans have worked with countless raw materials and adapted them using designs. The exhibition reexamines that relationship, and explores how it feels to make something from scratch. Exhibition director and designer Yoshiizumi Satoshi shows us some of the ways we connect to materials, and opens up a new world of design!
This time we visit the "Material, or" exhibition at design institute 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Roppongi, Tokyo. Humans have worked with countless raw materials and adapted them using designs. The exhibition reexamines that relationship, and explores how it feels to make something from scratch. We accompany exhibition director and designer Yoshiizumi Satoshi on visits to some of the featured artists, exploring how designs arise from nature's abundance, as well as a world of designs deeply rooted in their materials!
This time we visit Aichi Prefecture, a national hub with connections that stretch east and west across Japan. A focal point for culture and technology from other regions, Aichi has developed its own unique culture. Explore deeply original traditional foods, astonishingly precise mechanical dolls and a cocktail shaker born from the processing technology used to manufacture car parts. Join us on a design hunt in Aichi where exceptional traditional skills are paired with flexible creativity to shape wonderfully original designs.
As fewer children are born in Japan, educational approaches are starting to change. Traditional competitive and uniform policies are shifting to a focus on nurturing individual growth. Architects Tezuka Takaharu and Yui have designed many buildings focused on children's education. Their spatial designs focus on distance, responsibility and compassion, and have received domestic and international attention. Presenter Andy visits the Tezukas' home to discuss their unique ideas about raising children, and to explore the potential in architecture that prioritizes children's emotional growth.
Since ancient times wood has been used to produce sound and music. Whether by striking, blowing or through resonance, each approach has evolved and grown over many centuries. The reason lies in how many of us feel a deep pleasure and comfort in the sounds produced by this natural material. So how are modern creators producing sound from wood? Examine their mechanisms and designs in an episode dedicated to sound designs in wood, and explore our relationship with them both.
Books from all eras provide us with knowledge, inspiring emotional reactions that bring color to our lives. Yet as the internet grows, bookstores and shelves are vanishing from our streets and homes. Modern creators are bringing new ideas to bookshops and libraries. From a library run by local residents, to a store that provides in-depth background to a single volume, and even a library that revolves around the local landscape. Discover the myriad new designs that shape spaces around books. Explore the many facets of our relationship with books.
2024
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.
2026
Today's theme: Design Hunting in Tottori. On the Sea of Japan coast, the Tottori Sand Dunes create unique, everchanging views. Our design hunt explores a culture with deep roots in the natural world.
Today's theme: Evolved Kawaii Design. An iconic facet of Japanese pop culture, Kawaii design charms people across borders. Explore the people and designs of a new dimension to a Japanese phenomenon.
Today's theme: Reimagining Analog Design. Analog is making a comeback, offering a human appeal to our five senses that digital lacks. Explore designs that reveal the charm and potential of analog.
Today's theme: Bodies. As AI, digital and virtual spaces take over, thinking about physical bodies is more important than ever. Explore the role of designs which are rooted in human physicality.
Today's theme: Vanishing Tools. As the rising age of artisans puts the survival of certain crafts at risk, we shine a light on the vanishing tools used to keep them alive, and their anonymous designs.
Today's theme: Astonishing Stairs. Creators have taken a simple structure that lets us climb, and imbued it with new significance. Explore the surprising beauty of stairs through architecture and art.
Today's theme: Parody. In an era of overwhelming, and often fake, information, parody dissects its subject through humor, and breathes new value into the familiar. Explore design through parody.
Today's theme: Designing for Portability. The spotlight is on portable and mobile designs. From lighting to houses and transport, explore the appeal and potential of designing for portability.
Today's theme: Design Hunting in Shiga. This central prefecture is home to Lake Biwa and rich water resources led to a unique regional culture. Our design hunt explores modern updates on tradition.
Today's theme: Designing for Touch. Information today comes from devices, but creatives in various fields are recentering the human sensation of touch. Explore the potential of designing for touch.
Today's theme: A New Look at Shadows. Japanese have long found beauty in shadows, but new discoveries still astonish us in art and design. Discover how these designs can change how we see the world.
Today's theme: Design Hunting in Yamaguchi. Lying at the western edge of Japan's main island, Yamaguchi is home to arts and crafts which draw on its rich natural landscape. Join us on a design hunt!
Today's theme: Bringing Dolls to Life. To ward off evil, to celebrate a birth, or simply to comfort and entertain - dolls have a long history in Japan. We meet creators bringing those dolls to life.
Today's theme: Guruguru Designs. Nature's spirals, circles, and swirls are reflected in "guruguru" designs. From prehistoric pottery to modern art and fashion, these shapes still fascinate us today.
Today's theme: The New Era of Japanese Modern Design. A fusion of rational Western Modernism and traditional Japanese materials and skills. Explore the beauty and potential of Japanese Modern Design.
Today's theme: Design Hunting in Aichi. Lying at the heart of Japan's main island, this storied prefecture has many local industries that are entwined with its history. Join us on a design hunt!
Today's theme: Shaping Memories. Memories bring back emotions as well as events. As vast amounts of data are exchanged in our digital society, new designs focus on how to capture and recall memories.
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Andrea Pompilio
Self - Presenter
Shaula Vogue
Self - Presenter
2025
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Tokyo's Roppongi is currently showing a "pooploop" exhibition. Our presenters chat with exhibition directors Satoh Taku and Takemura Shinichi about cycles of waste and excrement around the planet, and explore the potential of environmental design.
Lying by the Sea of Japan, Toyama Prefecture is home to wood carving, glasswork and Takaoka bronze casting that has over 400 years of history behind it. Such crafts are alive and well here as exceptional artisans use design to create items to suit modern lifestyles. From a workshop that's made Buddhist orin bells for generations to an up-and-coming glass artist. Meanwhile in Inami, famed for its wood carving, we visit accommodations that showcase the beauty of this craft.
The idea of sharing with others is a common-sense approach that also strengthens our relationships and enriches our mental health. It's also an idea that's currently in the spotlight. From an architect who draws on personal principle to create a diverse array of shared spaces, to another who turns dead space into shared spaces that encourage new connections. We also explore a unique project at a fabrication lab that specializes in self-help devices. Dive into a world of designs that look toward – and shape – our shared future.
Ishikawa Prefecture is home to a diverse array of arts and crafts, and has a thriving traditional culture. The Kaga region is home to Kutani ware, one of Japan's top porcelain styles. We visit one of the top-rated studios, and visit a 400-year-old sweet shop in Kanazawa. Nanao lies in the heart of the Noto peninsula and an architect there is leveraging a UNESCO intangible heritage festival to promote recovery efforts. Join us on a design hunt in Ishikawa Prefecture as it works to recover from disaster.
In a complex, unpredictable world, we can learn a great deal about ways to live from how children play. From a playground where kids take the lead in playing with unused items from local workshops, to equipment that offers children in medical care rare opportunities to play, and even old and new games which guide us to learn about what matters in life through simulations or vicarious experiences. Dive into the world of designs that showcase learning through play.
Today's theme: Designing Neighborhoods. Architects and artists work with landowners and local government to shape appealing neighborhoods with strong character. Explore this next-generation approach.
Today's theme: Design Hunting in Hiroshima. Explore the ravages of war and a call for peace at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Join a hunt for new designs born from traditional, regional crafts.
Today's theme: Wrapping. In Japan the art of wrapping and tying is a culture displaying beauty and thoughtfulness. It elevates the content and shows care. Join us for a rediscovery of wrapping design.
Today's theme: Design Hunting in Osaka. A thriving trade and economic hub with a unique culture. Join us on a hunt for regional designs that prioritize human connection in the welcoming city of Osaka.
Today's theme: Reviving Lost Traditions. Many traditional arts have been lost to time. We meet creators who have reevaluated their value, and are passionate about reviving these lost traditions.
Today's theme: Shifting Perspectives. A growing trend offers new perspectives to spark new discoveries and realizations. Discover a host of designs that remind us that shifting perspectives matters.
One of the most striking aspects of EXPO 2025, OSAKA, KANSAI, JAPAN is the cutting-edge architectural thinking on display. Several of Japan's most innovative architects and designers have created distinctive and compelling pieces based on the expo's central theme: Designing Future Society for Our Lives. In this program we focus on both the visual elements and the deeper message behind some of these works.
Today's theme: EXPO 2025 Part 2: Challenging the Future. A 2-part series on EXPO 2025 and its theme, Designing Future Society for Our Lives. Meet the people taking on challenges for a better future.
Today's theme: Lighting Everyday Life. From a design to add light to an enclosed lot, cozy lamps with a dim glow, to a project for those with light sensitivities. Explore an array of lighting designs.
Today's theme: Hodgepodge. Japan has a long tradition of collecting and displaying items based on their aesthetic appeal to their owner. Explore how new designs leverage this hodgepodge approach.
Today's theme: Compact. This is the key to comfort in limited space, giving rise to designs that fold, layer, and enclose. Explore the beauty and potential in Japan's wide variety of compact designs.
Today's theme: Line Designs. These are evolving in many fields across Japan, from the traditional art of calligraphy to furniture, and architecture. Explore a truly diverse world of line designs.
Today's theme: Design Hunting in Oita. Oita prefecture in Kyushu is famed for its hot springs. Meet a dyer who uses that water, explore 300-year-old folk pottery, and see how art revitalizes a town.
Today's theme: Playful Everyday Fabric. Textiles are everywhere in our lives. From bold patterns and vivid colors to updated designs for traditional cloth. Explore a world of playful fabric designs.
Today's theme: Cleaning. More than a chore, it's a way to calm the mind. Spaces, products, and system designs to encourage cleaning - explore a unique Japanese aesthetic and the potential of cleaning.