The Asahikawa Furniture Exhibition, held annually in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, has appointed Akio Aoki of MIRU DESIGN as its new creative director. Starting this year, it will be renamed Asahikawa Design Week and run from June 24th to 28th. The exhibition has traditionally been held in Asahikawa every June, bringing together Asahikawa's interior coordinators, buyers, and architects. This year, the 61st edition will bring together factories boasting some of Japan's most advanced furniture manufacturing techniques. Leveraging the network of domestic and international designers built through the Asahikawa International Furniture Design Fair, which has been held since 1990, Asahikawa has been working to revitalize the region with "design" as its keyword. This year, the event has been redesigned to promote furniture and woodworking techniques to the world, including the general public, with 40 participating companies, including Alfrex, Conde House, Time & Style, and Takumi Kogei. Various content will be presented, allowing visitors to experience Asahikawa's manufacturing scene through the styles and new designs of each manufacturer.

At the main venue, Asahikawa Center, a collaboration between Sou Fujimoto, an internationally acclaimed Asahikawa-born architect who won top awards in 2011 for the Betonhara Waterfront Center and Taiwan Tower, and the "Koko no Ki no Kagu Hokkaido Project" will showcase an installation that evokes the breath of furniture born from nature. The Koko no Ki no Kagu Hokkaido Project aims to create furniture from Hokkaido forests, and many products related to the project will be exhibited at the venue.

A "Factory Tour" will also be held, allowing visitors to tour Asahikawa manufacturers' workshops and experience their techniques, skills, and design. Each manufacturer will treat visitors to a food menu unique to Asahikawa, and free taxis will be available for transportation between factories.

In addition, the Chairs Gallery in Asahikawa will host a special exhibition by Kenji Oda, one of the world's leading collectors and chair critics. The exhibit will feature works by Hans J. Wegner, Poge Mogensen, Finn Juhl, and others, focusing on Scandinavian mid-century and later chairs.

On the first day of the event, an official party will be held at the Brick Warehouse, a registered cultural building. Guests will be treated to seasonal Asahikawa delicacies while listening to an original soundtrack featuring a mix of nature sounds recorded in Asahikawa by Sapporo-based sound creator Masato Hatanaka.

In addition, the Hokkaido Garden Show 2015 will be held in the Asahikawa area from May 30 to October 4. The venues include Daisetsuzan National Park, Ueno Farm, and Daisetsu Mori Garden. In addition to the designer gardens created by three invited artists, six competition gardens from over 100 entries from Japan and abroad will be open to the public.


【Event Information】
ASAHIKAWA DESIGN WEEK
Dates: June 24th to 28th, 2015
Location: Asahikawa Furniture Center, manufacturers and shops in Asahikawa City, Higashikawa Town, and Higashikagura Town, etc.
Address: 1-35, Nagayama 2-jo 10-chome, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido