Japanese Object Makers

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Megathread covering Japanese object makers covering architecture, industrial design, and product design.

Format should follow

Name

Credentials:
From:
Based:
Discipline:

Website:
Instagram:
X:
Other Links:

At least 1 image

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Naoto Fukasawa

Credentials: MA Product Design, Tama Art University
From: Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan
Based: Tokyo, Japan
Discipline: Industrial Design, Furniture

Naoto Fukasawa Design: https://naotofukasawa.com

MUJI Wall-Mounted CD Player

MUJI wall-mounted CD player designed by Naoto Fukasawa, on display at MUJI Times Square, New York

INFOBAR

au INFOBAR A02 "NISHIKIGOI" mobile phone, designed by Naoto Fukasawa for KDDI

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Tokujin Yoshioka

Credentials: Kuwasawa Design School, Tokyo (1986)
From: Saga Prefecture, Japan
Based: Tokyo, Japan
Discipline: Furniture, Lighting, Industrial Design

Tokujin Yoshioka Design: https://www.tokujin.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokujin_yoshioka/
X: https://twitter.com/tokujinyoshioka

Honey-pop

Honey-pop chair (2001) by Tokujin Yoshioka, pleated paper that expands into a self-supporting seat

PANE Chair

PANE chair (2006) by Tokujin Yoshioka

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Toshiyuki Kita

Credentials: Naniwa Junior College (now Osaka University of Arts Junior College), Industrial Design (1962)
From: Osaka, Japan
Based: Osaka, Japan
Discipline: Furniture, Industrial Design

Website: https://www.toshiyukikita.com

Wink

Wink chair (1980) for Cassina, designed by Toshiyuki Kita — in the permanent collection of MoMA

Dodo

Dodo chaise (1998), designed by Toshiyuki Kita

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Oki Sato

Credentials: MA Architecture, Waseda University (2002)
From: Toronto, Canada
Based: Tokyo, Japan
Discipline: Industrial Design, Furniture, Lighting

nendo: https://www.nendo.jp/en/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nendo_official/

Hanabi

Hanabi lamp (2006) by Oki Sato for nendo, first shown at Salone del Mobile Milano

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Cauldron

Tokyo 2020 Olympic cauldron, designed by Oki Sato / nendo

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Shigeru Ban

Credentials: Southern California Institute of Architecture; Cooper Union
From: Tokyo, Japan
Based: Tokyo, Japan
Discipline: Architecture, Furniture

Shigeru Ban Architects: https://shigerubanarchitects.com

Cardboard Cathedral

Cardboard Cathedral (2013), Christchurch, New Zealand, designed by Shigeru Ban using paper-tube structural columns

Centre Pompidou-Metz

Centre Pompidou-Metz (2010), designed by Shigeru Ban with Jean de Gastines

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Kengo Kuma

Credentials: Ph.D. Architecture, Keio University (2006)
Based: Tokyo, Japan
Discipline: Architecture

Kengo Kuma & Associates: https://kkaa.co.jp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kkaa_official

Japan National Stadium

Japan National Stadium (2019), Tokyo, built for the 2020 Olympics, designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates with Taisei/Azusa Sekkei

V&A Dundee

V&A Dundee (2018), Scotland's first design museum, designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates

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Fumie Shibata

Credentials: Professor, Tama Art University
Based: Tokyo, Japan
Discipline: Industrial Design, Furniture

Design Studio S: https://design-ss.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fumie.design/

BONBORI

BONBORI glass lighting series for BROKIS, designed by Fumie Shibata, EDIDA 2021 lighting award winner

vertebra03

vertebra03 office chair for ITOKI, designed by Fumie Shibata

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Jin Kuramoto

Credentials: Kanazawa College of Art (1999)
From: Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Based: Tokyo, Japan
Discipline: Furniture, Industrial Design

JIN KURAMOTO STUDIO: https://www.jinkuramoto.com

FOUR chair

FOUR chair for ACTUS, CondeHouse, and KOKUYO (2022), designed by Jin Kuramoto

Pleats

Pleats tray for Alessi (2025), designed by Jin Kuramoto

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Nao Tamura

Credentials: Parsons School of Design
From: Tokyo, Japan
Based: New York, United States
Discipline: Industrial Design, Furniture, Lighting

Website: https://naotamura.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nownao/