This section introduces design-related events as part of the WDO World Design Assembly Tokyo 2023 sanctioned program. This is an attempt to broaden the range of design and increase the presence of design in Japan and abroad by having many people participate in various events through mutual collaboration. For details on each event, please contact the respective organizer.
(If you are interested in registering for the sanctioned program, please contact us for more information.)
2023/10/24〜10/29
GOOD DESIGN Marunouchi
New International Building 1F, 3-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
What is Design for Anthropocene? Progress in industrial society and capitalism brought about an environmental transformation at a global scale, leading to a notion that we have entered a new geological era, called
Anthropocene. Design, meanwhile, has won wide recognition as a means to connect producers and consumers, technology and people, society and individuals, and so on. Now, what can design do to survive the Anthropocene ? The event invites guests with various backgrounds to discuss this theme, among others. The venue also displays 10 works by the participating designers and architects, as well as 13 recent winners of Good Design Award that are related to 'Design for Anthropocene'.
Organized by Japan Institute of Design Promotion
GOOD DESIGN Marunouchi
gdm@g-mark.org
2023/10/25〜10/29
Tokyo Midtown
9-7-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
The "GOOD DESIGN EXHIBITION 2023" is coming up, showcasing all the awesome winners of this year's Good Design Award. It's been 3 years since all the award-winning designs were last displayed, and this time, the Long Life Design Award winners will be featured too. Expect exhibits on Asian design and a store where you can grab the winning products right on the spot. Lots of cool stuff lined up, so be sure to check it out!
Organized by: GOOD DESIGN AWARD Office, Japan Institute of Design Promotion
info-e@help.g-mark.org
2023/10/29
Auditorium, The National Art Center, Tokyo
7-22-2 Roppongi Minato-ku Tokyo
DESIGN+LIFE Interconnessioni, an international symposium organized by the University of Milan, Italy, will be held at the auditorium of the National Art Center, Tokyo. The event is a spin-off of the "JAPAN DESIGN: Art Beyond Borders" held in Milan in 2022. The event will bring together for the first time Italian and Japanese senior designers and architects, including Giorgetto Giugiaro, Michele De Lucchi, Makio Hasuike, Toshiyuki Kita, Setsu and Shinobu Ito to discuss their life through design and how to design life.
Organized by University of Milan
Co-organized by The National Art Center, Tokyo / Italian Institute of Culture
Special Support : The Ishibashi Foundation
2023/9/9〜11/19
Artizon Museum, 6F Gallery
1-7-1, Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
This Jam Session features Yamaguchi Akira, a painter whose unique approach combines oil painting techniques with traditional Japanese painting styles. In this session, which showcases Yamaguchi's dialogue with works in the Ishibashi Foundation Collection, we rethink the relationship between modernity and Japan. Concurrently with this exhibition, we are also presenting From the Scene of Creation―Artists' Archives in Films and Photographs. In Selections from the Ishibashi Foundation Collection Special Section: Women Reading, visitors will enjoy works thoughtfully depicting women as readers.
Organaized by Artizon Museum, Ishibashi Foundation
Tel. Domestic: 050-5541-8600 International: +81 47-316-2772 (Hello Dial)
2023/10/7〜12/17
Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
4th Floor, Panasonic Tokyo Shiodome Bldg, 1-5-1 Higashi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Costume jewelry was pioneered by Paul Poiret and popularized by Gabrielle Chanel in the early 20th century. Despite not incorporating gems and precious metals, the stunning designs of costume jewelry, carefully coordinated with one’s outfit, became an essential component of the Parisian fashion scene, eventually spreading across the Atlantic to the United States. This will be the first exhibition in Japan to introduce a comprehensive history of costume jewelry, presenting over 400 pieces from one of Japan’s finest collections. It will also focus on the stylistic beauty of each designer’s creations.
Organized by Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art, The Mainichi Newspapers
050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)
11:00 – 19:00
Tokyu Plaza Ginza, 5-2-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061
METoA Ginza is the only experienced-based place that introduces Mitsubishi Electric Group's technology, attempts, and corporate stance.
Visitors can enjoy and think about what people can do for future living and social challenges and their solutions through Mitsubishi Electric Group or other companies’ products and solutions.
The slogan is "Start an Exciting Sustainable Experience Here."
We aim to create an exciting space together thus we study together about many kinds of social challenges and solutions and think about them together.
11:00~19:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)
Gran Tokyo SOUTH TOWER 1st floor, 1-9-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
By holding exhibitions, awards, events, etc., we provide opportunities and places for artists and art workers to challenge themselves with all their might. We will also actively work to support careers and improve the working environment in the art industry. There is also the “BUG Cafe” within the space, where you can enjoy collaborative menus from exhibitions.
As a grand opening, Yosuke Amemiya's solo exhibition “A Q & I” is being held from September 20th to October 30th.
9:30-17:00 (Closed: Sundays, Mondays, national holidays, and specified closing days)
2F Lazona Kawasaki Toshiba Bldg., 72-34, Horikawa-Cho, Saiwai-Ku, Kawasaki 212-8585, Japan
Toshiba Science Museum introduces the history of Toshiba, which has changed the way people live through the application of cutting-edge technology, through a History Zone, experiments, and workshops, a Science Zone, in which children can learn science and technology while having fun, and a Future Zone, which allows visitors to come into contact with the future ideal of "smart communities". We hope you will come to visit us, to experience science, and the future before it happens!
Organized by Toshiba Science Museum
11:00~18:30 (Closes on Tuesdays)
7-9-14, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
This is a space for new sound and music experiences on the 1F/2F of the Yamaha Ginza Building. Enjoy relaxing at the café, playing the keyboards and hearing artists' performances. Music is something to be experienced actively and emotionally. Let it guide you toward whatever your heart desires.
*Two types of ‘sustainable keyboards’ made from the rest wood of musical instrument are on display at the Musical Instrument Wood Exhibition on the first floor.
Yamaha Ginza Shop
Tel. Domestic: 03-3572-3171
2023.10.28〜11.5
Tokyo Big Site (3-11-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo)
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. will hold the next Tokyo Motor Show as the new "JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023" from Thursday, October 26 to Sunday, November 5, 2023, mainly at Tokyo Big Sight (Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo), inviting new friends from other industries and start-ups beyond mobility.
Press Day: Wednesday, October 25, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Thursday, October 26
Official Day: Thursday, October 26, 1:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Special Invitational Day/Special Tour Day for disabled persons: Friday, October 27, 9:00 - 18:00
Preview Day: Friday, October 27, 12:30 - 18:00
General Public Days (Mon-Sat, holidays): October 28 (Sat), October 30 (Mon) - November 4 (Sat), 9:00 - 19:00
General Public Days (Sun): October 29 (Sun), November 5 (Sun): 9:00 - 18:00
*Only Early Entry ticket holders may enter on General Public Days from 9:00 to 10:00.
Organaized by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.
2023/10/30
AXIS Gallery
AXIS Building 4th Floor, 5-17-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
In this crosstalk session, three top leaders from the automotive industry will share new insights and approaches toward sustainable mobility design. It will be an opportunity to explore the future of mobility that goes beyond the realm of design, touching on the impact of mobility on society and discussing the concept of "design beyond design." Companies considering making a social impact through design, please join us for this event. Let's collectively envision the future of design and create next-generation businesses together.
Organized by Japan Industrial Design Association/JIDA
AXIS Building 4th Floor, 5-17-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
jidasec@jida.or.jp / 03-3587-6391
2023/10/26
WeWork Marunouchi North Exit
9F Marunouchi North Exit Building, 1-6-5 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0005
Asahikawa, Kobe, and Nagoya are Design Cities part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), and they are jointly organizing the “往来(ourai)|correspondence” conference. This conference will welcome a variety of guests focused on design, and it will include a keynote lecture themed around civic pride by Kaori Ito of the Tokyo University of Science, as well as a talk session about the possibilities and future of design cities through the UCCN. The three organizing cities will use this event as a chance to launch the UNESCO Cities of Design Conference, and strengthen exchanges and collaborations between Design Cities in Japan.
Organized by UNESCO Design City Promotion Committee
2023/10/30〜31
Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
This tour will deepen your understanding of Japanese philosophy, Zen, and traditional crafts, the origins of modern Japanese design, in Kanazawa, one of Japan's leading cultural cities and a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts, only 2.5 hours by bullet train from Tokyo. Together with WDA Chair Kazuo Tanaka, you will visit facilities associated with Sori Yanagi, D.T. Suzuki, and Kitaro Nishida, as well as Kanazawa's historic streetscape. The tour will also offer the opportunity to interact with Kanazawa-based creators and experience cultural activities such as geigi and tea ceremonies.
2023/10/15〜10/29
Tama Art University Bureau (5F Midtown Tower, 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Our society is faced with highly complex and difficult challenges, such as environmental problems and declining community strength. This exhibition introduces Systemic Design that approaches wicked problems from a relational perspective. The basic perspectives and methods of Systemic Design will be described based on Japanese case studies.
Organaized by Design Rethinkers / Tama Art University Bureau
2023/10/28
Chiba University Sumida Satellite Campus
1-19-1 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, 131-0044 Japan
In conjunction with the "World Design Assembly," held in Japan for the first time in 34 years, a film screening and post-talk event themed "Public and Design" will take place on October 28th (Sat) at one of the venues, Chiba University Sumida Campus. WDO World Design Assembly Tokyo 2023 aims to shift away from the previous emphasis on economic growth, focusing on designing for a sustainable world on a global scale. Through three films documenting civil engineering efforts for the long-term co-existence of nature and humans and dialogues with the creators involved in their design, we'll explore the role of shared assets (commons) and their design in modern society. This event provides a chance to engage with practical examples of how individuals can contribute to the larger design of towns and cities to envision the future. It's an inviting opportunity for those interested in community development, regional design, and civic pride to participate.
Organized by GOOD DESIGN Marunouchi
2023/7/14〜11/5
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 1 & 2
Most of the objects we encounter in our everyday lives were designed in some way or another. The processes by which objects are made include processes by which raw materials, which did not have a particular meaning beforehand, is assigned meaning relating it to an object and becomes a medium for the purpose of creation. From the perspectives of art, design, and cultural-anthropology, this exhibition seeks to rediscover and reinterpret the human and other living things' relationship to raw material. We also identify how to revive our sensitivity towards raw materials using recent developments in technology and material science.
Organized by 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, THE MIYAKE ISSEY FOUNDATION
Special Supported by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
info@2121designsight.jp
2023/10/18〜2024/3/31
Mori Art Museum (53F, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower)
The exhibit scrutinizes the urgent environmental crisis, showcasing art that explores human impact since the Industrial Revolution, comparable to tens of thousands of years of geological shifts. Structured in four parts, it discusses the intricate link between the environment and human activities, re-evaluates Japan's past environmental pollution, highlights the repercussions of over-exploiting Earth's resources while presenting a glimmer of "hope," and envisions future possibilities through modern technology and ancient wisdom. Moving beyond anthropocentrism, it proposes a diversified outlook on Earth's ecosystems, encouraging a reevaluation of our engagement with the environment through sustainable exhibition practices.
2023/10/11〜12/3 (closed Tuesdays)
Suntory Museum of Art
9-7-4, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
This exhibition explores the compelling work of a wealth of talented painters during the Bakumatsu years of turmoil, as Japan transitioned from the Edo to the Meiji period.
2023/9/20〜12/11
The National Art Center, Tokyo
7-22-2 Roppongi Minato-ku Tokyo
This is the first major retrospective exhibition of Yves Saint Laurent's work to be held in Japan since his death, with the full cooperation of the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris. The exhibition will cover the 40-year history of Yves Saint Laurent, from his brilliant debut at age 21 to the success of his first collection under his own brand to the establishment of his unique style, influenced by artworks, performing arts, and even Japan. The exhibition is divided into 12 chapters and presents a complete history of the brand's 40-year history, including 110 looks, accessories, drawings, and photographs.
Organaized by The National Art Center, Tokyo; The Sankei Shimbun; TBS; Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
In partnership with Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris
(+81)47-316-2772 (Hello Dial)
2023/9/1〜11/26 (closed Mondays)
National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno Park, Tokyo)
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, which caused extensive damage to the Kanto region. This exhibition introduces the Great Kanto Earthquake and its reconstruction, earthquake disaster prevention research over the past 100 years, and current disaster countermeasures and their challenges. The exhibition considers the relationship between people, nature, science, and technology and the importance of learning from the past and passing it on to the future.
Organized by National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo
050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)