The international B2B trade fair "IFFT/Interior Lifestyle Living" kicked off at Tokyo Big Sight on November 6th. This year, 329 companies from 12 countries and regions around the world are exhibiting. The final day, on the 8th, will close at 5pm.

The venue will feature woodworking manufacturers from Asahikawa and Hida, Japan's two major furniture production areas. Hida Sangyo, which is exhibiting as a group for the first time in about 10 years, will be unveiling its new "Cobrina" series, designed by Torafu Architects. Twelve companies from Asahikawa, including Takumi Kogei, Interior Nasu, and Kato Mokko, are exhibiting newly developed products. Additionally, there will be a rich selection of masterpieces on display, including works by world-renowned woodworking furniture designer George Nakashima, the collection of researcher Noritsugu Oda, which owns over 1,200 classic chairs, the "Dream Chair" designed by architect Tadao Ando (Carl Hansen & Son Japan), and a reproduction chair by Danish designer Verner Panton. Also on display will be a wide variety of interior and lifestyle goods that are garnering global attention. Karimoku New Standard, a brand developed by Aichi Prefecture-based Karimoku Furniture in collaboration with top global creators, will be showcasing products created in collaboration with design studios SCHOLTEN & BAIJINGS and BIG-GAME. France's Ligne Roset will be unveiling its "Vanity Shelf," a mirrored shelf designed by the internationally acclaimed Outofstock, for the first time in Japan. Other exhibits include new fabrics from Christian Lacroix, who designed the suites at the Hôtel du Petit Moulin in Paris, and the "TAG Stool" designed by Ichiro Iwasaki from Milan-based brand DISCIPLINE. Exhibiting by overseas manufacturers from Thailand, China, Taiwan, and elsewhere is also on the rise. A special exhibition, "CREATIVE RESOURCE," produced by architect Keiji Ashizawa, will be held. This exhibition, featuring resources for creative activities, such as design materials, parts, and techniques, will feature three themes. The booth of Jo Nagasaka and Keiji Ashizawa, principals of Schemata Architects, will explore design starting from everyday materials. The "ColoRing" furniture series, created using the traditional Japanese woodworking technique of "udukuri," will be on display, along with its components. The series is made up of polished boards layered with three colors of paint, resembling layers of earth. Other highlights included a "white"-themed exhibit by interior design magazine Confort and R Real Estate, as well as the "Hikari" exhibition by 9lass, a group of nine creators and glass studios, including Jin Kuramoto, Drill Design, Izumi Okayasu, Mikiya Kobayashi, Ryohei Yoshiyuki, and Yasuji Fujimori. "Originally a furniture-focused trade fair organized by the Japan Furniture Foundation, it expanded in scale as an international trade fair for the interior design market in 2008 with the addition of Germany's Mesago Messe Frankfurt and the addition of the concept of the international consumer goods trade fair Interior Lifestyle, held annually in June. Recently, interest in the event has grown not only among manufacturers but also among young creators. For this reason, we wanted to create an exhibition that not only showcases finished products, but also showcases the manufacturing process, including materials and techniques," said Akio Aoki, one of the exhibition's creative directors.

When asked why Ashizawa was asked to produce this event, he explained, "Ashizawa has a track record of hosting prototype exhibitions, and above all, he has excellent communication skills. We thought he was someone who could bring out the best in artisans and creators, so we asked him to produce the special exhibition."

For the first time this fall, there will be support programs for young designers, including "TALENTS," where young designers under the age of 35 will present pre-commercial prototypes, and "NEXT," where young entrepreneurs will present new brands that have been commercialized. Talk shows and workshops will also be held every day. On the first day, the closing time was extended by one hour to allow for a cocktail hour, allowing makers and creators to interact across boundaries.