About MONO MAKERS PROGRAM
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Story of MONO JAPAN x NN Life
MONO JAPAN has been realising and supporting collaborations between Dutch creators and Japanese makers for years with a clear vision. Since 2021, MONO JAPAN started supporting the NN Life’s program called “Craft Runways”, which facilitates creative collaborations between these two countries to develop new products for the European market.
The program in 2021 was held with the Dutch designer duo BCXSY and Matsui Kigyo (a silk weaving company), and in 2022 with the designer Carole Baijings and Akira Maeda (a wood sculptor). The program of 2022 has been extended further and they plan to introduce their new products in 2023 at the Japanmuseum SieboldHuis.
In 2023, the program introduced an open-call format under the title MMP 2023. Among the applicants, the Dutch textile designer Mae Engelgeer (Studio Mae Engelgeer) and Japanese washi distributor Yohei Oue (Oue Co.) were awarded the first prize for their outstanding concept and creative synergy. Their collaboration resulted in YORAI – Washi in Motion, an elegant textile and interior project that explores the delicate textures and poetic movement of washi paper in a contemporary context. Their partnership has since evolved into a long-term collaboration. MONO JAPAN and NN Life provided continued support through March 2024 to help realise their project. As part of this support, both Mae and Yohei joined a study tour in the Netherlands hosted by NN Life and showcased YORAI at the MONO JAPAN fair in September 2024.
Read more about YORAI – Washi
A special jury prize was also given to Boaz Cohen (BCXSY) and Hirofumi Fujii of Masuda Kiribako, acknowledging the potential of their idea.
In 2024, two new collaborations were developed through the program. Shohei Kubo from KANMAKI (Kansai Makitori Haku Kogyo Co., Ltd.) teamed up with Dutch artist Sigrid Calon to create the HAKU-HAKU Creative DIY Toolbox, combining pigment foil, washi paper, and folding paper boxes under a refined art direction. Meanwhile, Tsuyoshi Kato, the third-generation owner of Kato Kenhata Shoten and founder of his own brand “kiten.”, worked with Dutch textile designer Laura Luchtman. Together, they developed indoor gowns and bags using traditional dyeing techniques derived from flag-noren making.
Both product lines were unveiled at the Kyoto International Gift Show held on March 12–13, 2025.
WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM OFFER?
Hands-on support for collaborations
Within the online platform, we host the “MONO MAKERS PROGRAM” which will provide hands-on support for the collaboration between makers to create a new product. The members can seek a collaborator and communicate within the platform. When there is a mutual wish to collaborate from two parties, the pair can apply for this hands-on support program.
The focus of this program is to create a new product for the European market, that embodies the quality of Dutch design and Japanese craftsmanship. To achieve this goal, NN Life and MONO JAPAN will give hands-on support to the selected pair during one year, until the end of March 2026.
The pair can present their collaboration in January at the MONO JAPAN fair in 2026, and there will be opportunities to show the outcomes in March 2026 in Japan.
Schedule of MONO MAKERS PROGRAM
Application period: Monday, 7 April 2025 (from 16:00) – Friday, 23 May 2025
Deadline of the open call: 23:59 (Amsterdam, GMT+1), Friday, 23 May 2025
Announcement of the pair: Thursday, 5 June 2025
Hands-on support period: mid-June 2025 – end of March 2026
After the selection, the pair will meet online and further develop their plan (June – September 2025). The Japanese party will then, accompanied by other Japanese members of the MMM community, visit the Netherlands. The pair met in person during the Study Tour in the Netherlands organized by NN Life from October 19 to 25, where they gave a presentation and joined the network meeting for all MMM members.
Following the Study Tour, the pair will continue their collaboration online from November 2025 through March 2026, meeting approximately once every two weeks for one-hour sessions. They are scheduled to present their progress at the MONO JAPAN Fair in January 2026 as an interim showcase, with a final presentation planned in Japan in March 2026.
Introduction of the organisers
NN Life Insurance Company
Since the start of Japan operations in 1986 as the first European life insurance company in
Japan, NN Life Insurance Company has been providing products and services to maintain
and preserve the value of small-to-medium sized companies. As part of our support for the
next generation, we are implementing a program to assist the successors and young
managers who will be the future of Japan’s small and medium-sized companies, Our
“Family Business Innovation Lab” program is being co-hosting with two local NPOs.
Japan Cultural Exchange
Japan Cultural Exchange (JCE) is the owner of the MONO JAPAN fair and the web shop MONO SHOP. The first MONO JAPAN Fair took place in 2016 in the Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam. Since then, more than 70 Japanese participants have exhibited their works with our support, most of them for the first time in Europe, and numerous collaborations between Japan and the Netherlands were born. In November 2019, the owner of JCE established a NPO “Stichting MONO JAPAN” to organise cultural activities and to separate these activities from the MONO JAPAN fair.
MONO MAKERS MEET is supported by the the Embassy of The Kingdom of The Netherlands and NN Life Insurance Company.
