Saitama Prefecture Holds Design Chair Experience Event Using Crowdfunding
The Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art is holding an event where visitors can experience the "Ball Chair" by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio, newly acquired through crowdfunding via the hometown tax donation system. The museum, known as the "Museum of Chairs," will offer visitors a chance to sit in and experience this iconic design.
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- 📰 Published: April 7, 2026 at 23:00
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The Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art has been collecting design chairs since its opening and is known as the "Museum of Chairs."
Through crowdfunding utilizing the hometown tax donation system, the museum has newly acquired the masterpiece "Ball Chair" by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio. The "Ball Chair" will be on public display at the museum starting today, April 7th (Tuesday), and an event allowing visitors to actually sit in it will be held as follows.
1. Event Overview
(1) Date and Time:
Sunday, April 19, 2026, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
(2) Location:
Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, 1st Floor Entrance
(3) Participation Fee:
Free
(4) Participation Method:
First-come, first-served on the day (no prior application required)
2. Purchased Design Chair
Eero Aarnio (born 1932) is a representative Finnish designer active internationally in the field of furniture design. Since the 1960s, he has focused on exploring new materials such as fiber-reinforced plastic, experimenting with novel and playful designs characterized by curved lines. The "Ball Chair," designed in 1963, is his representative work, characterized by its seemingly floating spherical structure and pop colors. This chair, evoking a utopian near future, aligned with the public's fascination with space travel and science fiction during the 1960s when the US and Soviet Union were advancing space exploration.
Unveiled at the Cologne Furniture Fair in 1966, it received global acclaim and is currently housed in institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum (UK) and the Vitra Design Museum (Germany).
The "Ball Chair" purchased this time is a model manufactured by Adelta, authorized by the designer from 1996 to 2016. It features a white shell and a black seat, said to be Aarnio's preferred color combination.
3. Venue and Access Information
Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
9-30-1 Tokiwa, Urawa-ku, Saitama City, 330-0061
3-minute walk from the West Exit of Kita-Urawa Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line (within Kita-Urawa Park). Approximately 35 minutes to Kita-Urawa Station from JR Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station, respectively.
While the museum does not have its own parking lot, there is a discount on parking fees at the affiliated parking lot "Times Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art East" (300 yen off for viewing special exhibitions, 100 yen off for viewing MOMAS Collection).
Group buses require prior consultation. Business parking is available for visitors with disabilities. However, as the number of spaces is limited, please contact us in advance.
[Reference Information]
Homepage: https://pref.spec.ed.jp/momas/
Official X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/momas_kouhou
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momaspr
Contact Information
Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Education Bureau, Education and Public Relations Section
Phone: 048-824-0110
E-mail: p240111@pref.saitama.lg.jp
Through crowdfunding utilizing the hometown tax donation system, the museum has newly acquired the masterpiece "Ball Chair" by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio. The "Ball Chair" will be on public display at the museum starting today, April 7th (Tuesday), and an event allowing visitors to actually sit in it will be held as follows.
1. Event Overview
(1) Date and Time:
Sunday, April 19, 2026, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
(2) Location:
Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, 1st Floor Entrance
(3) Participation Fee:
Free
(4) Participation Method:
First-come, first-served on the day (no prior application required)
2. Purchased Design Chair
Eero Aarnio (born 1932) is a representative Finnish designer active internationally in the field of furniture design. Since the 1960s, he has focused on exploring new materials such as fiber-reinforced plastic, experimenting with novel and playful designs characterized by curved lines. The "Ball Chair," designed in 1963, is his representative work, characterized by its seemingly floating spherical structure and pop colors. This chair, evoking a utopian near future, aligned with the public's fascination with space travel and science fiction during the 1960s when the US and Soviet Union were advancing space exploration.
Unveiled at the Cologne Furniture Fair in 1966, it received global acclaim and is currently housed in institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum (UK) and the Vitra Design Museum (Germany).
The "Ball Chair" purchased this time is a model manufactured by Adelta, authorized by the designer from 1996 to 2016. It features a white shell and a black seat, said to be Aarnio's preferred color combination.
3. Venue and Access Information
Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
9-30-1 Tokiwa, Urawa-ku, Saitama City, 330-0061
3-minute walk from the West Exit of Kita-Urawa Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line (within Kita-Urawa Park). Approximately 35 minutes to Kita-Urawa Station from JR Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station, respectively.
While the museum does not have its own parking lot, there is a discount on parking fees at the affiliated parking lot "Times Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art East" (300 yen off for viewing special exhibitions, 100 yen off for viewing MOMAS Collection).
Group buses require prior consultation. Business parking is available for visitors with disabilities. However, as the number of spaces is limited, please contact us in advance.
[Reference Information]
Homepage: https://pref.spec.ed.jp/momas/
Official X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/momas_kouhou
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momaspr
Contact Information
Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Education Bureau, Education and Public Relations Section
Phone: 048-824-0110
E-mail: p240111@pref.saitama.lg.jp
FAQ
What is the "Ball Chair"?
The "Ball Chair" is a masterpiece designed by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio in 1963. It is characterized by its spherical structure and pop colors, evoking a sense of the near future. It was first presented at the Cologne Furniture Fair in 1966 and has since gained international recognition.
How was the "Ball Chair" acquired by the museum?
The museum acquired the "Ball Chair" through crowdfunding, utilizing the hometown tax donation system. This allowed the museum to purchase the iconic design chair.
When and where can I experience the "Ball Chair"?
The experience event will be held on two Sundays: April 19, 2026, and April 26, 2026, from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM each day. The location is the 1st Floor Entrance of the Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art.
Is there a fee to participate in the event?
No, participation in the event is free of charge. Visitors can attend on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event, with no prior application required.