This year marks 100 years since Finland became an independent democratic nation. To commemorate this anniversary, a pop-up event called "FIN/100" will be held at Gallery 3 at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Tokyo Midtown from December 6th to 25th, Independence Day, where Finnish brands will come together to celebrate the country's 100 years of independence.

This event will not only be a shop exhibiting and selling Finnish design products, but will also create a neutral space where visitors can exchange information and values about Finland, sparking conversations that foster mutual understanding. Participating brands range from those that have been leading Finnish brands to up-and-coming fresh brands, and under the concept of "SININEN HETKI/BLUE MOMENT," products from eight brands will be displayed in a curated space, as well as three special products developed in collaboration with designers and artists who share a sympathy for the event.


LOKAL, a concept store specializing in art, design, and crafts with the aim of widely showcasing the work of Finnish artists and designers, is releasing a special edition of "FIN/100 BLOCKS" (¥6,500) by graphic designer Hanna Konola, a striking block design that also makes a great interior accent piece. The design incorporates hiragana characters, and when rearranged, the letters "FIN/100" appear.


Artist Company will be selling a limited edition of 300 "SEKAMETSÄHUIVI (FINNISH FOREST SCARF)" (¥2,500), a scarf featuring an original drawing created specifically for this event. This scarf can also be used as gift wrapping.


Designer duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have carefully selected hand-drawn sketches, a process they value in their design, to create limited-edition posters with autographed stickers by the duo. There are five designs, each limited to 20 copies.

In addition, during the event, there will be "100 events," large and small, related to Finland, including workshops by artists invited by the Finnish Institute, and presentations of new designs and projects.


On December 7th, a talk event will be held with Akira Minagawa of minä perhonen. Akira Minagawa will talk about his thoughts on Finland, including his collaboration with Artek, the pop-up store at the Artek Helsinki store, and life and culture in Finland and Japan. Other events include a workshop on the 9th by Kauniste, a textile brand founded in Helsinki; a workshop and talk event titled "Johanna Gullichsen DAY" on the 11th; a talk event by designer Daniel Rybakken on the 15th; a talk event to commemorate the release of the book "A Journey to Kaj Franck: Tracing the Path of the 'Conscience of Finnish Design'" on the 16th; a talk event by MUJI and ELLE DECOR on the 20th; and a workshop on the 22nd to enjoy Kyrö Napue, a gin with an appealing botanical flavor that is rich in Finland's rich nature, in an Iittala glass. Other participating creators and brands include Company, Daniel Rybakken, Johanna Gullichsen, Laura Väinölä, MUSUTA, Riitta Ikonen, Sami Tallberg, Timo Wright, Imamura Reiko, Iwai Kensuke, Iwama Yosuke, IMA, Uehara Kanae, Kauniste, Kawai Masato, Konishi Akiko, Shimazuka Eri, Sekimoto Ryuta, Takahashi Masaaki, Nakabayashi Yuki, Nomura Sorato, Hagiwara Kentaro, Fukasawa Naoto, Fukuda Toshiyuki, Hori Ayako, Maemura Tatsuya, Mori Yuriko, Yamaguchi Taro, Yokoo Kaoru, a fleur, and Wada Naoko. Further details about "100 Events" and application information can be found on the special website (https://www.fin100.jp/).

You'll get a glimpse into the lifestyle and culture that Finland has built over the past 100 years, as well as what Finland will be like in the future.