{
  "id": 8203690,
  "title": "Japanese Craft Meets Contemporary Design at London Design Festival",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/japanese-craft-meets-contemporary-design-at-london-design-festival",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T08:12:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tokyo Weekender",
    "slug": "tokyo-weekender",
    "url": "https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/design/japanese-craft-london-design-festival/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When we consider craft, we often envision a tradition: artisans diligently repeating methods and materials that have remained unchanged for generations. However, contemporary craft in Japan occupies a unique niche, both domestically and internationally. Skilled practitioners are celebrated for their knowledge and refined abilities, yet their mastery is sometimes viewed as a return to the past. Designer and engineer Hideki Yoshimoto established \"Craft x Tech\" in 2024 to challenge this misunderstanding, providing a platform for innovative collaborations that leverage craft expertise. In partnership with design curator Maria Cristina Didero, the initiative matches Japanese traditional craft houses with international contemporary designers, selecting a distinct region in Japan for each cycle where the artists and artisans collaborate on new creations. For the 2026 iteration, the focus was on Tokai, a region renowned for its ceramic, washi paper, and textile heritage, extending across Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures. The resulting pieces are now showcased at the London Design Festival. Yoshimoto views craft as a form of technology, and when the problem-solving skills and knowledge of a maker are valued, remarkable outcomes can emerge. The Tokai Project's outcomes unite diverse design perspectives, while simultaneously compelling both Japanese and international participants to reassess their own practices. British designer Bethan Laura Wood, for instance, collaborated with Nagoya-based shibori artisans Arimatsu Narumi Shibori, encouraging the dyers to experiment with colors and techniques outside their usual boundaries. Murase, the artisan, found the experience \"extremely rewarding.\" Wood remarked that the collaboration opened up a new working dynamic that she hopes to continue. The six displayed works at the V&A Museum span from reimagined paper shoji screens to a modular ceramic furniture and lighting system. These creations collectively exemplify the transformative potential of craft when viewed as a reservoir of knowledge to be explored. The Craft x Tech Tokai Project is currently on view at the V&A Museum in London, situated in the Simon Sainsbury Gallery, Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64b. Admission is free, with daily access from 10am to 5:45pm.",
  "summary": "When we think of craft, we tend to picture tradition: skilled hands patiently repeating techniques and materials that have changed little over time. Contemporary craft in Japan occupies a strange double space, as it does globally. Practitioners earn respect for their deep knowledge and highly refined skills, yet that recognition is often clouded by the […] The post Japanese Craft Meets…",
  "key_points": [
    "Japanese craft meets contemporary design at London Design Festival",
    "Craft x Tech initiative pairs Japanese artisans with international designers",
    "Tokai region's ceramic, washi paper, and textile heritage showcased"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}