Reinventing Japanese arts & crafts for use in everyday live

The Saga prefecture in Japan has a rich tradition of crafts, such as ceramics and textiles. However, the products of such crafts have often been largely produced from only the perspective of the makers, leading to a divide between the makers and those who use craft products locally. At times these traditional crafts have become something distant, or disjointed from daily life.

The self-initiated ‘New Normal project’ of our Japanese Reach partner Re:public aims to break these isolated routines, initiating new conversations to bridge the conventional gap between makers and users. Taking a co-creation approach, they connect and form teams with makers, users, and collaborative thinkers, catalyzing dynamic interactions and fresh ideas. Through these lively interactions, they aim to co-create an environment where locals can be empowered to creatively incorporate the crafts into everyday life; changing perspectives and kindling a renewed connection with the land.