11th "Miratap Design Award 2026" Accepting Submissions

Miratap Co., Ltd. (Location: Osaka City), which sells housing equipment online, will hold the "Miratap Design Award 2026." This award, now in its 11th year, is accepting submissions in two categories: the "Construction Examples Division" for photos and videos of construction cases using our products, and the "Product Design Division" for ideas related to housing equipment and building materials.

This year, to further expand the range of spatial proposals using our products, we have newly established the "Non-Residential Award" in the Construction Examples Division. Additionally, for the Product Design Division, we are pleased to welcome product designer Yoshiki Matsuyama as a new judge.

Applications will be accepted from July 1, 2026 (Wed.) on a special website.

Background of the Award

The "Miratap Design Award" is an initiative to support architects and designers who share our spirit of challenge. By providing a platform for free challenge regardless of age or nationality, we aim to contribute to the further revitalization of the architecture and design industries. For us, who advocate "Making Life Fun and Beautiful," this award will also broaden the possibilities for new spatial values and product development.

Special Website: https://info.miratap.co.jp/designaward/

【Construction Examples Division】 Theme: Construction examples (photos or videos) of spaces using Miratap products

Under the concept, "We provide spaces, not just products," we are seeking photos and videos of construction examples of spaces that showcase the possibilities achievable with our products.

Chief Judge: Yasuhiro Yamashita (Architect)

Born in Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture. After completing his graduate studies at Shibaura Institute of Technology, he established "Atelier Tekuto" in 1991. As an architect addressing social issues through "materials, structure, and construction methods," he has received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix for the ar+d award (London) International Emerging Architect Award in 2004, the Nikjiren Architectural Award Excellence Prize, JIA Architectural Award, and Architectural Institute of Japan Prize in 2014, the ACI (American Concrete Institute) Project Award (Overall and Low-Rise Category Grand Prize) in 2017, and the fib (International Federation for Structural Concrete) Award of Excellence in 2018. Since 2016, he has been involved in town development projects based in his hometown with "Denpaku + Magun Plaza," and in 2020, he won both the Japan Tourism Award Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Prize and the UNWTO Ethics Award.

Judge: Kentaro Yamazaki (Architect)

Representative Director of Yamazaki Kentaro Design Workshop, Professor at Kogakuin University. Born in 1976. Completed graduate studies at Kogakuin University in 2002. After working at Irie Miyake Architects, he established Yamazaki Kentaro Design Workshop in 2008. Major works include "Itoman Fishing Port Restaurant" (2013), "Haku Sui Nursery School" (2014), "New Fuji Hospice" (2020), and "52-ken Engawa" (2022). Major awards include the Architectural Institute of Japan Prize (Work) (2024), JIA Grand Prize for Japanese Architecture (2023), Good Design Grand Prize Prime Minister's Award (2023), JIA Award for Excellence in Architecture (2021), iF DESIGN AWARD Gold Award (2017), and Architectural Institute of Japan Award for Emerging Architects (Work) (2015), among others.

【Product Design Division】 Theme: "Respect" - Thinking of the User and Society.

Beyond design, there are "users." And around them, there is "society." Aging, isolation, the environment, diversifying families and work styles. Housing and architecture are always connected to various societal issues. Housing equipment and building materials that we create are closest to our daily lives, and therefore, they should be able to support users and gently influence the society beyond them. "For whom do we create?" "What kind of society do we want to leave behind?" Starting from respect for users and society, we will respond to societal issues through design. We are seeking new ideas for housing equipment and building materials that only Miratap can offer.

Chief Judge: Ryota Yokozeki (Product Designer)

Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1985. Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, Department of Product Design. Worked at Sony Corporation's Creative Center from 2008 to 2017. Established RYOTA YOKOZEKI STUDIO in 2017. He values designs that enhance experiential value by embracing the diversification of lifestyles, and engages in product design and creative direction for various domestic and international projects, including furniture, home appliances, and daily goods. His "AIZOME chair" is permanently housed in the Vitra Design Museum. He has received numerous awards, including the iF Design Award and Good Design Award.

Judge: Yoshiki Matsuyama (Product Designer)

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1987. Completed graduate studies at Hosei University, Graduate School of Design Engineering. Has been active as Atelier Yoshiki Matsuyama since 2011. Based on contexts spun from elements such as society, daily life, and the beauty of nature, he handles diverse projects through quiet, warm, and symbolic forms of expression. In parallel, since 2012, he has worked at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation's Design Research Laboratory (now Integrated Design Laboratory), primarily responsible for creative direction in product design for home appliances. He also works as an adjunct lecturer at Hosei University. He has received numerous awards, including the Lexus Design Award and Good Design Award.

Judges and Awards

【Construction Examples Division】

Chief Judge: Yasuhiro Yamashita (Architect)

Judges: Kentaro Yamazaki (Architect), Taro Yamane (President, Miratap Co., Ltd.), Koichi Tsusaki (Vice President, Miratap Co., Ltd.), Atsushi Aida (General Manager, Housing Business Division, Miratap Co., Ltd.)

Awards: Grand Prize (1 winner) with a prize of 1 million yen, etc.

* Award-winning works are scheduled to be published in "Shinkenchiku" magazine.

【Product Design Division】

Chief Judge: Ryota Yokozeki (Product Designer)

Judges: Yoshiki Matsuyama (Product Designer), Taro Yamane (President, Miratap Co., Ltd.), Koichi Tsusaki (Vice President, Miratap Co., Ltd.), Atsushi Aida (General Manager, Housing Business Division, Miratap Co., Ltd.)

Awards: Grand Prize (1 winner) with a prize of 1 million yen, etc.

* Award-winning works are scheduled to be published in "Casa BRUTUS" magazine, and there is a possibility of commercialization for award-winning works.

Award Schedule

Submission Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed.) - October 31, 2025 (Sat.)

First Screening: Scheduled for November 2026

Final Screening: Scheduled for December 2026

Awards Ceremony: Scheduled for February 2027

Last Year's Award-Winning Works

Last year, we received a total of 427 submissions across the Construction Examples Division and the Product Design Division.

Construction Examples Division Grand Prize Winner "Pino" Kiriko Design Office LLC Kokuto Uemori Construction Examples Division Grand Prize Winner "House TW" Shoichi Ishikawa Architecture Design Office Shoichi Ishikawa

Product Design Division Miratap Award Winner "Handrail flat" CS Corporation Co., Ltd. Takumi Honma Product Design Division CasaBRUTUS Award Winner "Stack pebble" Akira Mabuchi