The Japan Design Committee is pleased to present “The Japanese Wooden Chair that Changed the World ―HIROSHIMA—” the 787th exhibition at Design Gallery 1953.
HIROSHIMA was created in 2008 through the collaboration of product designer Naoto Fukasawa and Maruni Wood Industry in Hiroshima Prefecture. With the motto of “Industrialized Craftsmanship” HIROSHIMA utilizes the manufacturer’s exquisite craftsmanship that has continued since its establishment in 1928, and evokes the warmth and cleanliness of a craft-like hand. Today, the Japanese wooden chair has attracted worldwide attention, with thousands of chairs used at Apple’s headquarters and adopted for the G7 Hiroshima Summit.
This exhibition introduces HIROSHIMA, which continues to spread throughout the world, with full-scale models, parts exhibits, and photos of Maruni Wood Industry’s manufacturing process.
Exhibition Outline
- Title: The 787th Design Gallery 1953 Exhibition “The Japanese Wooden Chair that Changed the World ―HIROSHIMA—”
- Dates: February 21 (Wed) — April 15 (Mon), 2024, 11:00 a.m. — 8:00 p.m.; closing at 5:00 p.m. on the last day; free admission
- Venue: Matsuya Ginza 7th floor, Design Gallery 1953
- Organizer: Japan Design Committee
- Supported by: Maruni Wood Industry Inc.
- Cooperation: Tamotsu Fujii (Head Office view photo), Modern Living
- Exhibition Director: Naoto Fukasawa
• Please refer to the Matsuya Ginza website for the opening hours and other information.
Message from Naoto Fukasawa, Exhibition Director
I have always wanted to design a good wooden chair, but designing a wooden chair is not an easy task. My encounter with Maruni Wood Industry made this desire come true. After experiencing Maruni Wood Industry’s processing technology for carving complicated shapes, I decided to design a craft-like chair made of solid wood that is carved like a sculpture. The HIROSHIMA, the result of the designer’s and the craftsman’s combined thoughts, has become an iconic piece that Maruni and I have a strong emotional attachment to.
