Shohei Hishida, a carpenter artist with over 500,000 Instagram followers and a Forbes Japan 'Culturepreneur' honoree, merges Japanese and Belgian building traditions into homes that age beautifully. His new HUIZEN brand goes nationwide as Gen-Z entrepreneur Ryuun Tsukahara advocates for 'keinen-bika'—the philosophy of beauty through aging.
Japanese fashion brand MIYOKO unveils its latest collection in New York during Fashion Week 2026, transforming traditional kimono fabrics—including Yuki-tsumugi, Ojiya-tsumugi, Hon-Shiozawa, and Yuzen—into 14 contemporary garments. Backed by 50 years of craftsmanship, the brand showcases Japanese textile heritage on a global stage at Manhattan's historic St. Bartholomew's Church.
Shigeki Matsuoka, head of Tokyo furniture workshop KOMA, has won 50 international design awards across 8 countries—including all three of the world's top design prizes. Recognized as a "Contemporary Master Craftsman" by Japan's government, his hand-tool philosophy and the concept of "keinen-bika" (beauty through aging) are redefining what Japanese craftsmanship means for the world.
Echizen City in Fukui Prefecture is emerging as a craft tourism destination where visitors can enter real workshops of 1,500-year-old washi paper, nail-free tansu furniture, and hand-forged knives. Artisans share how welcoming tourists is helping preserve traditions, attract new audiences, and revitalize their community—all made more accessible by the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension.
Japan's Jomon-era lacquerware dates back 9,000 years—the world's oldest. Its pottery reaches 16,000 years. The Sannai-Maruyama site's six-pillar structure reveals precision measurement at 4.2m intervals, while Tatara ironmaking produced ultra-pure steel still unmatched today. Discover how DNA analysis, LiDAR, and cutting-edge science are decoding ancient Japan's astonishing lost technologies.
A look back at "Moving Ukiyo-e Exhibition OSAKA," which ran at Grand Front Osaka from January 17 to March 14, 2026. Over 300 prints by Hokusai, Sharaku and others were set in motion with 3DCG and projection mapping across seven immersive spaces. The tour moved on to Hiroshima in summer 2026.