MONO MAKERS MEET

Online platform of trusted community between JP & NL

MONO MAKERS MEET (hereinafter called MMM) is an online platform hosted by MONO JAPAN together with NN Life Insurance Company in Japan. It is a place where Dutch designers and Japanese makers, such as craftspeople and manufacturers, can meet virtually in order to find interesting counterparts that can bring new knowledge, expertise and inspiration into the business.
All the members of MMM come from the trusted network of MONO JAPAN and NN Life, and they take part in this program mainly upon our invitation. This platform can be used free of charge for one year. With this experimental platform, MONO JAPAN aims to find an alternative way to contribute to the stimulation of the industries through international collaborations, using modern technologies.
This online platform is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tokyo and NN Life Insurance Company.

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“MONO MAKERS PROGRAM”

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 2024. The pair can present their collaboration in September at the MONO JAPAN fair in 2023, and there will be opportunities to show the outcomes in March 2024 in Tokyo and also in September 2024 in Amsterdam. 

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 programme called “Craft Runways”, which facilitates creative collaborations between these two countries to develop new products for the European market. The programme in 2021 was held with the Dutch designer duo BCXSY and Matsui Kigyo (silk weaving company) and in 2022 with the designer Carole Baijings and Akira Maeda (wood sculptor). The programme of 2022 has been extended further and they plan to introduce their new products in 2023 at the Japanmuseum SieboldHuis and the MONO JAPAN fair, and in April 2024 in Milan.

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WHO WE ARE

Organisers of MONO MAKERS MEET

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 programme 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” programme is being co-hosting with two local NPOs.