Design initiative for
innovative
Japanese crafts
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About Craft × Tech
Craft x Tech is an initiative to bridge the gap between traditional Japanese craft and contemporary technology. Our goal is to create a novel and unique body of artworks that express both the history and future potential of these beautiful materials and techniques. With this in mind, we have selected a group of designers and artists whose work we respect and admire and who we believe will bring new and meaningful insights to these centuries-old master crafts traditions.
Collaboration
(Tohoku Project 2024)
The inaugural edition of Craft x Tech Collaboration brought together six prefectures of the Tohoku (north-east) region of Japan and six pairs of creators, resulting in the creation of six fresh art pieces.
01
Yōkan
Kawatsura Shikki x Sabine Marcelis
A series of two tables with a voluminous design and a wall-mounted piece, all lacquered in Kawatsura Shikki's style. Inspired by the interplay of light and materiality, the three distinct objects were crafted, each intersected with a singular gesture that manipulates the light captured on its surface, inviting viewers to explore from every angle. Stripped down to the essentials and punctuated with a single twist or inverted slice, attention is solely drawn to the lacquerware itself.
02
‘Metropolis. I’
Sendai Tansu x Studio SWINE
The traditional and stately Sendai Tansu, originally crafted as a samurai or merchant chest, has acquired a completely new interpretation. It combines a graphical, flat pattern inspired by Ukiyo-e prints. Inspired by the dynamic graphic geometry and flatness of Japanese woodblock prints and 1960's Metabolism, this new Tansu design playfully combines the traditional crafts and the radical architectural movements of Japan in a systematic 'functional decoration’.
03
Artifact #VII
Tsugaru Nuri x Ini Archibong
Tsugaru lacquerware is traditional lacquerware produced in the Tsugaru region and has been known as Tsugaru nuri since 1873.The technique used in Tsugaru nuri is a method in which layers of lacquer are applied and then polished to a smooth surface to create a pattern.This the repetitive process produces a complex and beautiful lacquer pattern and a sturdy, solid feel to the touch.
04
ヌベルニ庵 / Null-Beni-An / Nouvelle Néant
Oitama Tsumugi x Yoichi Ochiai
A tea room made of benibana-dyed Oitama Tsumugi symbolises the resonance of null philosophy, digital nature, and traditional craftsmanship. This tea room has no pillars due to its tensegrity structure and is connected at the top and bottom by natural wood placed in the centre and safflower-dyed strings in the four corners. This mobile tea room centres on the principles of 'Somoku-to' and 'AII sentient beings possess Buddha-nature,' aiming to create a space that symboilses the spirit of the land, history, and DIY culture. It embodies the universal truth of classic Japanese philosophy that all life has Buddha-nature, making it a place that feels the breath of computational life.
05
Blossom Links
Nambu Tekki x Michael Young
Combining identical iron modules through precise calculations creates tables of various sizes and wall-mounted pieces. Its structural system was developed when the designer revisited modularity studies he conducted decades ago, approaching them with fresh eyes and exploring the functional structure within mathematical limitations. The modules are adorned with traditional cherry blossom and unique geometric patterns, realized with 3D printing technology.
06
Rain
Aizu Hongo Yaki x Hideki Yoshimoto
A floor lamp incorporating Aizu-Hongo-Yaki, the oldest pottery in Tohoku, is embedded into a monolithic structure. The large ceramic slate was fired with a unique glaze that evokes the appearance of falling rain. To combine the handmade ceramics, which shrink and warp during firing, with different materials, the fired slate was scanned and converted into digital data. This data was then used to precisely cut resin and metal materials, achieving the final composition.
Academic
At the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, we’re delving into the fusion of traditional crafts and technology. Collaborating with various research labs and partnering with local governments, we’re driving student-led projects and creating cutting-edge artworks. In 2024, we’ll introduce a new course called "Advanced Craft Theory," aimed at all graduate students at the University of Tokyo, offering the only class dedicated to traditional crafts.
