d47, a Japan-themed space that focuses on the individuality of Japan's 47 prefectures

Contemporary crafts from the hands of 47 Japanese artisans that embody the character of their hometowns

New craft-related events are springing up all over Japan, and more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of crafts in their daily lives. Meeting a favorite piece of pottery or tool, and having one more item in one's life that bears the face of its creator, will foster a sense of taking care of things, using them for a long time, fixing them when they break, and visiting the local area to meet the artist.

On the other hand, the young and sensitive makers, with their antennae of sensitivity, mix their own creativity with the demands of society in a balanced way and express themselves in the form of vessels and utensils. In their ongoing activities, one discovers a sense of mission for continuity, a lively spirit and a potential that transcends regional and national boundaries. At first glance, this may seem far removed from the "local". However, the artists who live and work in each region have their own reasons for being there, such as the memories of their hometowns as a starting point for their creations, or the environment in which they inherit materials and techniques that have long been part of the local culture.

Please feel the local character and the current state of Japanese craft through the individuality of the 47 artists and their works.　

Discover and give away products born from local issues in the 47 prefectures.

Japanese craftsmanship is attracting attention not only for its high technology and quality, but also for its "circulation," or how it can be passed on to the next generation without undue effort. While the words "sustainable" and "ethical" are spreading in various fields, we will introduce "P to P (Problem to Product)," products that have been created to solve local problems in various regions of Japan through a system of circulation.

For example, juice made from fruit that would otherwise be thrown away, essential oil from forest thinning projects to protect the forest environment, socks made from fallen cotton, and soy sauce made by a brewer who makes his own wooden barrels to preserve the Japanese KIOKE technique. As such, the exhibition was planned with the idea that "active manufacturing" will set the standard for Japanese production in the future.

By presenting "active manufacturing" in the context of real demand for "gifts," we hope that visitors will be able to appreciate not only the appeal of these efforts, but also the products themselves. In this way, we hope to provide visitors with an opportunity to rediscover the long-standing seasonal custom of "gift-giving" and the wonderful act of expressing gratitude to loved ones in the form of a "gift" itself.

The noodles collected in this exhibition are loved and eaten as part of the local food culture, ranging from traditional foods born of the climate and natural environment of the region, to newly developed specialty products as part of regional revitalization efforts, to standard instant noodles sold in local supermarkets. Noodles, which come in such a wide variety of styles and types in different regions, can be said to be part of Japan's unique food culture. This exhibition will allow visitors to learn about and taste the unique characteristics of noodles from each of the 47 prefectures. During the exhibition, d47 Shokudo served a special menu of noodle dishes themed according to each prefecture, with Okado somen (Toyama Prefecture), Awase soba (Okinawa Prefecture) and other exhibited noodles as the main dishes, accompanied by a small bowl of local seasonal ingredients.

To enjoy wine is to enjoy nature, people and culture.

47winetourism selects and introduces wineries in each of Japan's 47 prefectures that are unique to their region, based not only on the wine itself, but also on keywords such as industry, lifestyle, environment, friends, and region from the perspective of wine making. 

[Greetings from the Curator]

Imagine traveling to a wine-producing region.

There are people who grow, harvest, and make wine year-round. Through their winemaking, they preserve local traditions and create local landscapes and culture. They are also creating a region and passing it on to the next generation. How many lives are involved?

Today, wineries are being established in many parts of Japan. This project was planned with the intention of supporting the movement that is taking place in various regions. We are focusing on the relationship between "wineries and local communities" with the cooperation of not only the wineries, but also the people who sell and support their wines on a daily basis in these areas.

To enjoy wine is to enjoy the nature, people and culture of the land.

Not only what is in the bottle, but also a glimpse of the history behind the wine making process, the landscape and atmosphere where it is made, and the aroma of the soil and the wind are felt with all five senses. We hope this project will encourage people to actually visit the land where the wines are made.

Please visit not only the wineries, but also the restaurants and liquor stores that serve wine daily in the area. Let's go on a wine tourism trip while thinking about the region where the wine was made.

Finally, we would like to thank you all for your cooperation in this project.

General Incorporated Association Wine Tourism Takayuki Ohki

The locality through materials and tools

This is the 31st exhibition of d47MUSEUM. Under the theme of handicrafts, we will introduce materials such as cloth and thread, and tools for making homecrafts by hand such as scissors and needles.

In this exhibition, 30 companies were selected under the theme of "handicrafts," from production areas throughout Japan to threads, buttons, sewing needles, and cutting shears. This is an exhibition as a handicraft shop where you can buy it knowing carefully where it was made and by whom and what kind of technology it is used. You can see clothes that are indispensable for the dyeing industry, by-products produced in the production process, and sewing tools that were always used as a matter of course.

Through materials and tools, we hope that you can directly feel the skills and activities of the people who support them through your own hands, deepen your attachment and interest in things, and learn about the people, activities, and local life and culture.

Monozukuri for children in the 47 prefectures

As the rediscovery of Monozukuri (lit. process of creating things or craftsmanship) in Japan and "lifestyle craftwork" gain more attention, we organized this exhibition to see how the power of design and craft in all parts of Japan synergizes with "children." We want to develop a sense of the "kindness" of modern Japan through the ideas and designs of "children's tools" created from the unique crafts of each region, such as wooden bicycles made using the traditional craft of "Mageki (wood bending)," and semi-tailor made children's clothing produced from the development of local textile industry.

Through uncovering the connections between "children's tools" and "producing district," we hope that adults can gain a sense of happiness from knowing that there is a homerown for the tools that we are all using. Furthermore, it would give us tremendous pleasure if this becomes an inspiration to take a trip with your child to the place of production one day.

A totally new type of convenience store featuring specialties from Japan’s 47 prefectures!

d47 MUSEUM’s 15th special exhibition will be based on the ubiquitous, 24-hour “convenience store.” Japan currently boasts over 50,000 convenience stores, which over 1.2 billion customers visit monthly to purchase various necessities. The amenity offered by these stores, where one can purchase what one wants at anytime and virtually any place, has become indispensable to our lives. At the same time, as a model of consumption based on efficiency rather than careful selection, it represents a kind of “making do” and goes against the current re-evaluation of long-term, mindful use of well-made goods.

For this exhibition, D&DEPARTMENT reexamined the products typically sold at convenience stores from the perspectives of “local color” and “long-life design” and stocked a “convenience store” with thoughtfully made goods from all of Japan’s prefectures. In terms of cost, distribution, and supply stability, this is, of course, an impractical concept. We believe, however, that in consideration of Japan’s future, an alternate evaluation of distribution speed and efficiency may be viable.

Unraveling the Diversity of Japan's Local Culture through Fermentation Culture

[Greetings from the Curator]

Japanese food culture is now attracting attention from around the world. The secret of its uniqueness lies in the existence of fermented foods that harness the power of local microorganisms.

When we think of fermented foods in Japanese cuisine, familiar items such as sake, miso, soy sauce, and natto come to mind, but in fact a wide variety of local fermented cultures that do not fit into these categories have taken root in various regions of Japan. There is a rich variety of pickles and condiments rooted in local climate and history, unclassifiable Galapagos foods, and mysterious root foods that have inherited ancient history and continental culture without people knowing it.

The sea, mountains, rivers, and remote islands... even a small village of a few thousand people may have inherited a unique fermentation culture that is unprecedented in the world. By systematizing the local fermentation culture that has been handed down from east to west, north to south, and from one place to another, we can deeply understand the diversity of threats to Japan's food culture and local culture.

From the perspective of microorganisms, this exhibition invites you on a "fermentation journey" to rediscover the dynamic historical change and people's lives rooted in the local climate.

Curator Hiraku Ogura

Exhibition supported by CALPIS

Recently, more and more people have been attracted to "local craftsmanship," a new type of craftsmanship that specializes in creating accessories influenced by traditional crafts and local industries. These jewelry and accessory items, made using unique local techniques and materials, have evolved to meet the needs of today's lifestyles. A variety of accessories from all 47 prefectures in Japan are available for exhibition and sale, showcasing the continued evolution of local craftsmanship.

We collected pieces that show how craftsmanship has developed over time. They can transmit not only the history of the product, including stories of production areas and high-tech elements, but also provide solutions to manufacturing's challenges, such as succession problems due to an aging population, decreased production from changing demand, and low-priced competition from overseas, using unique techniques and materials from their region.

We hope that our collection of 47 jewelry and accessory items, which are adapting to our evolving daily lives and meeting real demand as familiar items, will provide a glimpse into the potential of "local craftsmanship" in the future.

The "47 People of NIPPON 2013 CRAFT" exhibit traveled to JAPAN HOUSE locations in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Los Angeles, USA during 2019. 

JAPAN HOUSE, a center created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, featured the exhibit. The center combines an exhibit area, a multipurpose hall that serves as a theater, product sales, food and drinks, and a book/web/café. It presents traditional futures, popular culture passions, high technology strengths, and assorted food appeals to a broad audience, including those who have not previously shown an interest in Japan.

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For the traveling exhibition JAPAN 47 ARTISANS, D&DEPARTMENT has curated works by 47 young artisans selected from each prefecture who bring a fresh twist to the traditional crafts of their hometown. Some are continuing a long family lineage – such as Maki Morisawa, a 4th-generation paper artisan (tosa washi) from Kochi Prefecture, who learned her techniques from her grandmother. Others are trying to innovate by demystifying their practice – like Iwate Prefecture’s Jun Tashiro, who wants to make lacquerware more fun and accessible for the public. All are bringing to life their craft heritage for today and tomorrow.

Through these 47 artisans’ works, visitors will experience the rich individuality and distinct culture of 47 regions, as well as the vibrant energy of Japan’s contemporary craft scene as a whole. In today’s rapidly changing world, JAPAN 47 ARTISANS seeks to inspire us all to adopt the principles of “Long-Life Design”, creating a better life through enduring and meaningful design.

Excerpts from Japan House website

https://www.japanhousela.com/exhibitions/japan-47-artisans

Noodles from Japan’s 47 prefectures

The very first exhibition of d47 MUSEUM in Taiwan will be launched, by showing stories of noodles from Japan’s 47 prefectures.

OR House opened in 1934. It was the most trendy department store in the area then. However, It has been closed for nearly 20 years. "OR", which is a brand deeply involved in cultural activities in the Hsinchu area, became the recent owner of this building. OR House was re-used and positioned as a living room of Hsinchu, focusing on “Cuisine” “Cooking” and “Social.”  

Located in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, D&DEPARTMENT PROJECT runs d47 which is a museum with a store, and a restaurant that functions as a platform to rediscover the character of Japan. It is a collection of the enduring local identities and flavors of each of the country's 47 prefectures. This year we will host theour exhibition “Japan 47 noodles” in Taiwan for the first time, as an special event for OR House in Hsinchu, Taiwan. 

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