Elderly Community Space 'Warakatsu! Cafe' Wins International iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 in Germany
Warakatsu! Cafe, an innovative project for the elderly combining laughter, exercise, and social interaction, was jointly conducted by Sumida City and Chiba University with support from Renaissance Inc. It has been honored with the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 in Germany.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 23:00
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"Warakatsu! Café," a new community space themed around laughter, exercise, and social interaction, conducted jointly by Sumida City and Chiba University with exercise support from Renaissance Inc. in October–November 2025, has won the international design award "iF DESIGN AWARD 2026" in Germany.
### About the iF DESIGN AWARD
Established in Germany in 1953, the iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious international design awards. It is considered one of the three major design awards, along with the IDEA Award (USA) and the Red Dot Design Award (Germany).
In 2026, approximately 11,000 designs were submitted, and about 3,000 projects were awarded following evaluation by 129 international experts in design and sustainability.
Project Details: https://ifdesign.com/ja/winner-ranking/project/warakatsu-cafe-laughter-and-health-campaign/769528
### iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 Overview
- Category: Branding & Communication Design
- Subject: Public Health and Laughter Awareness Campaign
"Warakatsu! Café" is a design-driven public health and awareness campaign that combines laughter, communication, and preventive medicine. Laughter is treated not merely as an emotional expression, but as a new social resource supporting mental and physical health. The award was granted in recognition of its proposal for a new form of health promotion linked to local community connections and cultural activities.
### Implementation Details of Warakatsu! Café
This project is a design-driven regional health promotion initiative for Japan's aging society, conducted collaboratively by Sumida City and Chiba University. The goal is to encourage laughing, exercising, and interacting in daily life.
- Venue: Chiba University Sumida Satellite Campus (1-19-1 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 131-0044)
- Participants: 200 people in total
- Target: Primarily residents of Sumida City aged 65 and older
- Schedule: October-November 2025, total 6 sessions
- Rakugo Support: Enkiku Kokuntei (Shin'uchi), Mataro Kin'reitei (Futatsume), Chiba University Rakugo Research Society
- Exercise Instruction: Renaissance Inc.
### Cooperation
- UDC Sumida
- Sumida Rakugo Nagaya | OFFICE YAO
- Plus Cafe
- Atsumare HUB LAB SUMIDA
### Future Outlook
Moving forward, a new program adding an "eating" element to the three existing factors (laughter, exercise, and interaction) will be developed. Furthermore, as a joint research project with Chiba University's Center for Preventive Medical Sciences / Design Research Institute, an evaluation study on nursing care prevention projects is planned to be conducted.
### About the iF DESIGN AWARD
Established in Germany in 1953, the iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious international design awards. It is considered one of the three major design awards, along with the IDEA Award (USA) and the Red Dot Design Award (Germany).
In 2026, approximately 11,000 designs were submitted, and about 3,000 projects were awarded following evaluation by 129 international experts in design and sustainability.
Project Details: https://ifdesign.com/ja/winner-ranking/project/warakatsu-cafe-laughter-and-health-campaign/769528
### iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 Overview
- Category: Branding & Communication Design
- Subject: Public Health and Laughter Awareness Campaign
"Warakatsu! Café" is a design-driven public health and awareness campaign that combines laughter, communication, and preventive medicine. Laughter is treated not merely as an emotional expression, but as a new social resource supporting mental and physical health. The award was granted in recognition of its proposal for a new form of health promotion linked to local community connections and cultural activities.
### Implementation Details of Warakatsu! Café
This project is a design-driven regional health promotion initiative for Japan's aging society, conducted collaboratively by Sumida City and Chiba University. The goal is to encourage laughing, exercising, and interacting in daily life.
- Venue: Chiba University Sumida Satellite Campus (1-19-1 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 131-0044)
- Participants: 200 people in total
- Target: Primarily residents of Sumida City aged 65 and older
- Schedule: October-November 2025, total 6 sessions
- Rakugo Support: Enkiku Kokuntei (Shin'uchi), Mataro Kin'reitei (Futatsume), Chiba University Rakugo Research Society
- Exercise Instruction: Renaissance Inc.
### Cooperation
- UDC Sumida
- Sumida Rakugo Nagaya | OFFICE YAO
- Plus Cafe
- Atsumare HUB LAB SUMIDA
### Future Outlook
Moving forward, a new program adding an "eating" element to the three existing factors (laughter, exercise, and interaction) will be developed. Furthermore, as a joint research project with Chiba University's Center for Preventive Medical Sciences / Design Research Institute, an evaluation study on nursing care prevention projects is planned to be conducted.