Research Program in Yamanashi with Designer Naoto Fukasawa

"Let's create a design museum in Japan!" — Continuing this mission, the nonprofit organization Design-DESIGN MUSEUM will host a special research program, "DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN TOUR in Yamanashi," on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

Founded in 2019, the organization carries forward the 2012 call by Issey Miyake and Masanori Aoyagi to establish a National Design Art Museum. Collaborating with media outlets including NHK, it has worked to build public support for this vision.

This new initiative, DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN TOUR, is a research program that explores Japan’s rich regional cultural assets through the lens of design, connecting them to the future.

This time, the tour will be led by designer Naoto Fukasawa (born in Yamanashi Prefecture), conducting interdisciplinary fieldwork across folk crafts, architecture, and food in Yamanashi.

This is not a simple sightseeing tour. It is an immersive experience to understand the design significance of each location through dialogue with Naoto Fukasawa and local practitioners, as well as interaction among participants. The itinerary includes Fukasawa’s private cabin.

This small-group fieldwork is designed for individuals passionate about design and committed to helping establish Japan’s future design museum. Participants will become members of the ongoing efforts toward the museum’s realization.

The tour series will continue across Japan. The next event, "DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN TOUR in Fukui," led by designer Taku Satoh, is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026.

【Naoto Fukasawa (Participating in this program)】

Designer. Born in Yamanashi Prefecture.

After serving as Director of IDEO Tokyo Studio, he became independent. He is internationally acclaimed for his pursuit of universal design under the theme "Without Thought (Unconscious)." He currently serves as Director of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum and Vice President of Tama Art University.

【Event Overview】

Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Itinerary:

◆ 9:30 AM – Meeting and departure from Kofu Station

◆ 10:30 AM – Asakawa Hakucho & Takumi Brothers Archives (Takane Town)

Explore the legacy of the Asakawa brothers, who introduced the beauty of Korean crafts to the world, together with Naoto Fukasawa, who is also Director of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.

◆ 12:00 PM – Gallery Trax + sun.days.food (Takane Town)

Visit this gallery and café located at the southern foot of Mount Yatsugatake. The space, renovated by designer Jiro Kimura from an old nursery school, inspired the opening of sun.days.food, a café in a nearby cabin, where lunch will be served.

※ Photo shown is an example of the meal

◆ 1:30 PM – Naoto Fukasawa’s Forest and Cabin

Enjoy a recommended snack (apple pie from the southern Yatsugatake highlands) and a talk session in the intimate space created by Fukasawa, who fell in love with the natural surroundings.

◆ 4:00 PM – Shichisen (Shiojiri Town)

The only sake brewery in Hokuto City’s Shiojiri Town. Established in 1750 (Kan'en 3), it was founded by the 7th-generation head of a sake brewing family from Nagano, who recognized the exceptional quality of Shiojiri’s water and established a branch brewery along the Koshu Kaido at Daigahara.

◆ 5:30 PM – YOMU (near Hōfu Station)

A bookstore founded by art director Makoto Tsuchiya, based on the concept of "books that resonate with someone’s heart." It offers a wide range of new publications across genres. Adjacent to the store is a gallery space.

◆ Dismissal at Hōfu Station (Express Azusa departs for Tokyo at 6:25 PM)

As an in-train dinner, we will provide a bento box personally recommended by Naoto Fukasawa, known for its "delicious individual small dishes."

※ In addition to Naoto Fukasawa, Design-DESIGN MUSEUM representatives including CEO Kyoko Kuramori, Directors Daisaku Kawase, Mai Hiroshima, and Mo Ueshima will accompany the tour.

【Features of this program】

This tour will be conducted as a research program with the following elements:

- Cross-disciplinary research across folk crafts, architecture, and food

- On-site observation and documentation of regional cultural resources

- Sharing of unique perspectives from Naoto Fukasawa

- Special access to normally private spaces

- Communication among participants who share a passion for design

【Capacity and Participation Fee】

Capacity: 15 participants

Fee: 55,000 JPY (tax included)

【How to Apply】

Please apply via the following page:

URL: https://tabizen.shop-pro.jp/?pid=192131015

【About Donations】

A portion of the program’s proceeds will be donated to Design-DESIGN MUSEUM and used for activities aimed at establishing the "Japanese Design Museum."

【About Design-DESIGN MUSEUM】

Founded in 2019, Design-DESIGN MUSEUM carries forward the 2012 vision of Issey Miyake and Masanori Aoyagi to establish a "Japanese Design Museum."

Through activities such as symposiums, TV program planning, exhibition curation, and prototyping a design archive, the organization publicly shares the process of exploring "what kind of design museum Japan needs," aiming to build momentum for its establishment.

The goal is to network institutions and organizations across Japan that preserve "design treasures," collectively forming a "Design Museum." This is the proposal that "Japan itself becomes a Design Museum."

By gathering insights from leading creators who support this mission, the organization continues working toward realizing a uniquely Japanese "Design Museum."

"DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN TOUR" has already been conducted in Yamanashi (July) and Yamagata (October) in 2025, exploring regional potentials.

⚫ Advisors
Masanori Aoyagi (President, Tama Art University), Taku Satoh (Designer),

Rika Suzuki (Lawyer), Makiko Nakamori (Certified Public Accountant)

⚫ Committee
Takeshi Okamoto (Graphic Designer), Shinji Kawamura (Creative Director), Tsuyoshi Tane (Architect),

Kenjiro Hoshino (Director, Shiga Prefectural Museum of Art), Ikuko Yokoyama (Lead Curator, Architecture & Design, M+)

⚫ CEO: Kyoko Kuramori

⚫ Directors: Mo Ueshima, Daisaku Kawase, Seiichi Saito, Mai Hiroshima

【Inquiries】

Design-DESIGN MUSEUM

Email: info@designmuseum.jp
Website: https://designmuseum.jp/

Organizer: Design-DESIGN MUSEUM

Co-organizer: Sofurino Niwa Inc.

Travel Planning: Tabizen Inc.