We are excited to announce the selected collaborations for the MONO MAKERS PROGRAM 2025, a cross-cultural initiative connecting Japanese manufacturers with Dutch designers to create new value through craft, dialogue, and design. After a careful and thoughtful selection process, the jury has chosen the following two collaborations for their exceptional potential and resonance with the

1. Is there any financial support for the collaboration if we are selected as the Grand Prize winners? Yes. The Dutch designer will receive a design fee of €2,000. While there is no financial reward for the Japanese participant, they will be invited to join a special study tour in the Netherlands. 2. Can we

Tsuyoshi Kato is the founder of kiten.kyoto and the third-generation leader of Katouken Flag Store (加藤健旗店), a Kyoto-based workshop with a history spanning over 70 years. Known for producing traditional flags, noren (暖簾), and happi coats (法被) for festivals, shrines, and public institutions, the studio stands as a quiet yet resilient guardian of Japan’s visual

Meet Laura Luchtman! Laura is the founder and designer behind Kukka Textile & Surface Design. Teaming up with Tsuyoshi Kato of Kiten.kyoto, the duo was awarded the Special Jury Prize in the 2024 MONO MAKERS PROGRAM. Laura started her career in fashion but soon found her true passion in textile design. She founded Kukka, a

The MONO MAKERS PROGRAM (MMP), hosted by MONO JAPAN and NN Life, will continue in 2025, with the Open Call opening on Monday, April 7! This program has consistently yielded impactful results, bringing together Japanese artisans and production specialists and Dutch creators to collaborate on innovative new products that shape the future. Additionally, the program

 Today, we’re excited to share an update on the project by Dutch artist Sigrid Calon and Shohei Kubo from KANMAKI. Together, this creative pair has been exploring innovative ways to merge Sigrid’s distinctive artistic vision with KANMAKI’s expertise, rooted in Japanese tradition. Their journey exemplifies the heart of the MONO MAKERS PROGRAM: celebrating cross-cultural collaboration and

The MONO MAKERS PROGRAM, co-organized by NN Life Japan and MONO JAPAN, is a unique initiative that brings together Japanese craftsmanship and Dutch creative talent. This year, the program’s finalists, Shohei Kubo of Kansai Makitorihaku Co., Ltd., and Sigrid Calon, as well as special award winners Tsuyoshi Kato of Kato Kenki Co., Ltd., and Laura