From June 18 to 20, Interior Lifestyle Tokyo, an international exhibition encompassing the entire interior design industry, was held at the Tokyo Big Sight. Established manufacturers and independent artists alike showcased revolutionary designs in tableware, furniture, home accessories, and textiles. Buyers from a wide variety of sectors were eager to determine the quality of products by touching, trying on, and even sitting upon them before conducting business negotiations. Furthermore, Interior Lifestyle Tokyo featured an abundance of international exhibitors, many of which congregated at the Italy and Latvia pavilions, as well as others from South and Southeast Asia. Japan’s leading MICE news outlet POP Inc. spoke exhibitors to discover the latest trends.
Okubo Enterprise Inc. introduced its new “Ishitote” line of decorative art pieces made from Aji stone, which is only found in a small, mountainous area of eastern Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. The mines on these lands have been owned and operated by the family of current CEO Kazuhiko Okubo for the past 400 years. Historically, Aji stone has mainly been used to sculpt gravestones and traditional stone lanterns, due to its resistance to weathering and its aptitude for delicate detailing.
Recently, CEO Okubo has been striving to communicate his passion for the Aji stone to a wider audience with the release of Ishitote. Ishitote stones serve no purpose, says Okubo, but they are pleasant to look at and calming to hold. Okubo hopes that the stones can make “loneliness a little lighter and joy a little brighter.” Participating as a designer at a trade fair for the first time, CEO Okubo was originally nervous about exhibiting at Interior Lifestyle Tokyo 2025, but he was elated to have received many positive reactions from attendees.
Okubo Enterprise homepage: http://www.oochouba.jp/index.html
Tadayasu Co., Ltd. was promoting its Samurai Bottle Helmet. As the name implies, the bottle cap-sized traditional kabuto helmets are modelled after famous Japanese historical figures, such as Oda Nobunaga, that turn any bottle into a fierce samurai. While on the surface, Bottle Helmets may simply seem like fun novelty items, Tadayasu pays great attention to detail to accurately depict each aspect of the armor while honoring the long history of Japanese craftsmanship. The great love and care dedicated to each helmet is unmistakable when viewed up close.
Tadayasu exhibited at Interior Lifestyle Tokyo as part of the TOKYO Teshigoto pavilion. TOKYO Teshigoto gathers artisans from the Kanto region who handmake original designs of traditional Japanese crafts and connects them with business partners who support distribution. This year’s pavilion featured over 30 manufacturers, who create everything from to sandals to kitchen knives to umbrellas.
Tadayasu Co., Ltd. homepage: https://www.tadayasu.shop/en/
Ame Art Products is produced by renowned flower artist Norihiko Kamei. The lineup features miniature “spot gardens” that are designed with the use of preserved flowers and represent fantastic mountain sceneries which “bring a sense of enrichment to the heart.” One popular variety at Interior Lifestyle is the “Keshifuku” flower arrangement, which is set inside a metamorphic rock that fits in the palm of your hand. Each Keshifuku style is paired with an aroma oil that acts as a diffuser. The aromas are intended to reproduce the fragrance of the wind as it blows across the tiny landscape.
Norihiko Kamei’s homepage: https://www.kameinorihiko.jp/en
Dates for the next edition of Interior Lifestyle Tokyo have yet to be announced at this time.
