Kumamon to Appear with Creator Manabu Mizuno! Siam Paragon Selected as Venue for Asian Design & Innovation Festival 'SYNC'
Fourdigit and Nikkei BP announced that the 'SYNC Design & Innovation in SITE 2026' event, to be held in Bangkok on June 26, 2026, will take place at Siam Paragon. The event will feature a special appearance by Kumamon alongside his creator Manabu Mizuno, as well as sessions from top domestic and international creators.
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- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 19:00
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Fourdigit Inc. (Fourdigit), as the planning, production, and co-organizer of the large-scale event 'SYNC Design & Innovation in SITE 2026' hosted by Nikkei BP, will hold the event themed around design and innovation in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 26, 2026, in collaboration with the National Innovation Agency (NIA) of Thailand. We announce that 'Siam Paragon' has been selected as the venue. Additionally, we have pre-released information on key speakers and session topics focusing on the 'fusion of design and business' and 'social issue resolution.'
Event Website: https://syncforum.asia
■ About the Venue
'Siam Paragon,' the event venue, is one of Thailand's leading landmarks located in the heart of Bangkok, directly connected to Siam Station. It provides an optimal environment for interactions between business leaders and designers from inside and outside the country, serving as a hub for new business creation. *A detailed floor map including exhibition areas is scheduled for release at the end of May.
■ Special Guest 'Kumamon' Confirmed to Appear! Including a Special Stage Performance with Manabu Mizuno
'Kumamon,' the sales and happiness manager of Kumamoto Prefecture, will participate as a special guest. Kumamon is also scheduled to make a special appearance and perform on stage during the session hosted by Manabu Mizuno, a leading Japanese creative director known as the creator of Kumamon.
■ Key Speakers and Featured Session Themes (Pre-release)
Top-tier runners who have tackled social issues through the power of design and shared them globally as business models will take the stage.
- 'Design Strategies to Adapt to Climate Change': Eisuke Tachikawa (Representative, NOSIGNER / Board Member, WDO)
- 'How 'Kumamon' Was Born: Connecting Design and Business': Manabu Mizuno (Representative, good design company)
- 'Monozukuri Starting from Small Encounters: The Power of Design to Deliver the Potential of Developing Countries to the World': Eriko Yamaguchi (Representative, Motherhouse)
In addition, speakers such as Kazufumi Nagai, Yoshihiro Yagi, Satoru Yamamoto, and Akio Kazama have been confirmed.
■ Upcoming Information Release Schedule
[3rd Wave] Scheduled for late May: Full program timetable and pre-event highlight guide.
[Event Overview]
- Name: SYNC Design & Innovation in SITE 2026
- Date: June 26, 2026 (Friday)
- Venue: Siam Paragon, 5th Floor
- Organizer: Nikkei BP
- Planning/Production/Co-organizer: Fourdigit Inc., National Innovation Agency (NIA) of Thailand
Event Website: https://syncforum.asia
■ About the Venue
'Siam Paragon,' the event venue, is one of Thailand's leading landmarks located in the heart of Bangkok, directly connected to Siam Station. It provides an optimal environment for interactions between business leaders and designers from inside and outside the country, serving as a hub for new business creation. *A detailed floor map including exhibition areas is scheduled for release at the end of May.
■ Special Guest 'Kumamon' Confirmed to Appear! Including a Special Stage Performance with Manabu Mizuno
'Kumamon,' the sales and happiness manager of Kumamoto Prefecture, will participate as a special guest. Kumamon is also scheduled to make a special appearance and perform on stage during the session hosted by Manabu Mizuno, a leading Japanese creative director known as the creator of Kumamon.
■ Key Speakers and Featured Session Themes (Pre-release)
Top-tier runners who have tackled social issues through the power of design and shared them globally as business models will take the stage.
- 'Design Strategies to Adapt to Climate Change': Eisuke Tachikawa (Representative, NOSIGNER / Board Member, WDO)
- 'How 'Kumamon' Was Born: Connecting Design and Business': Manabu Mizuno (Representative, good design company)
- 'Monozukuri Starting from Small Encounters: The Power of Design to Deliver the Potential of Developing Countries to the World': Eriko Yamaguchi (Representative, Motherhouse)
In addition, speakers such as Kazufumi Nagai, Yoshihiro Yagi, Satoru Yamamoto, and Akio Kazama have been confirmed.
■ Upcoming Information Release Schedule
[3rd Wave] Scheduled for late May: Full program timetable and pre-event highlight guide.
[Event Overview]
- Name: SYNC Design & Innovation in SITE 2026
- Date: June 26, 2026 (Friday)
- Venue: Siam Paragon, 5th Floor
- Organizer: Nikkei BP
- Planning/Production/Co-organizer: Fourdigit Inc., National Innovation Agency (NIA) of Thailand
FAQ
SYNC Design & Innovation in SITE 2026はいつ、どこで開催されますか？
2026年6月26日（金）に、タイ・バンコクのサイアム・パラゴン5階で開催されます。
イベントの主な目的は何ですか？
デザインとイノベーションをテーマに、「デザインとビジネスの融合」や「社会課題解決」を掲げ、国内外のビジネスリーダーやデザイナーの交流と、新たなビジネス創出の場を提供することです。
特別ゲストには誰が参加しますか？
熊本県の営業部長兼しあわせ部長「くまモン」が参加します。また、くまモンの生みの親であるクリエイティブディレクターの水野学氏も登壇し、特別共演が予定されています。
主要な登壇者は誰ですか？
太刀川英輔氏（NOSIGNER代表）、水野学氏（good design company代表）、山口絵理子氏（マザーハウス代表）のほか、永井一史氏、八木義博氏、山本覚氏、風間昭男氏などのクリエイターや企業リーダーが登壇予定です。
イベントの主催者は誰ですか？
主催は株式会社日経BPで、企画制作・共催を株式会社フォーデジットとタイ国家イノベーション庁（NIA）が担っています。