[“Naniga Umareru? Ten: Japanese Craftsmanship Exhibition” at Omotesando Hills!]

Over three days, from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8, 2026, the exhibition “Naniga Umareru? (What Will Emerge?) Ten” was held at Space O (B3F, Omotesando Hills Main Building), focusing on the refined craftsmanship of master artisans.

The exhibition shone a light on the skills of master artisans by bringing together 43 businesses that uphold the traditional techniques and expertise of Edo-period Tokyo.

The exhibition centered on the craftsmanship of businesses that preserve and pass down techniques and know-how rooted in the traditions of Edo-period Tokyo. The skills of the 43 participating businesses were organized into five themes: “To Sculpt”, “To Dye”, “To Assemble”, “To Depict”, and “To Nurture”.

Within the exhibition space, display areas were organized into five categories: “To Sculpt”, “To Dye”, “To Assemble”, “To Depict”, and “To Nurture”. The installations were interactive, inviting visitors to slide open the drawers and peer inside. The upper drawers presented raw materials, tools, and byproducts from the production process. By first engaging with these elements, visitors were encouraged to imagine ‘what might emerge’ before opening the lower drawers, which revealed the finished works as the crystallization of the artisans’ skills.

【To Sculpt】
To sculpt means
to narrow down to just one thing.
From among infinite possibilities,
shave away all but the most beautiful and most functional form.
Humans know the fear of the point of no return.
Perhaps this is why we are drawn to the gems of these refined skills.

In the “To Sculpt” area near the entrance, installations from five businesses were on display. Using a range of tools and materials, each demonstrated how the act of carving created Tokyo’s unique treasures, eliciting looks of surprise from the visitors.

【To Depict】
What humans love
is not limited to
the perfect and precise.
Even if a straight line is drawn with a ruler,
what pulls us in are the slight bends in that line.
It’s a charm that is beyond explanation or analysis.
Now, in a day when anything can be drawn in an instant,
what do you feel?

In the “To Depict” area located toward the back of the venue, installations from nine businesses were on display. The tools and materials used for drawing, along with the vibrant colors brought to life through the artisans’ masterful techniques, left a vivid impression on visitors.

【To Assemble】
Innovation,
originally meaning
“new combination.”
The act of assembling.
Combining pieces of wood, large and small, to create never-before-seen patterns.
Sewing together carefully selected materials to create a masterpiece that will last a lifetime.
The power of imagination and the skill to make the image a reality.
Even today, artisans continue to innovate.

In the “To Assemble” area along the side of the venue, installations from 13 businesses were on display. The diverse tools and materials on view, along with the finished works brought to life through the artisans’ skill, captivated many visitors.

【To Dye】
There is a color that imparts
a feeling of “Japan-ness”
the moment it hits our eye
This is because it has surrounded us
from the earliest moments of childhood.
Artisans alone preserve this color,
masterfully dyeing fabrics and patterns of all kinds.
Such exquisite textures, difficult to express with words,
form the very memories of this nation.

In the “To Dye” area at the center of the venue, installations from five businesses were on display. Using a range of tools and materials, the distinctly Japanese colors brought forth through dyeing resonated deeply with visitors.

【To Nurture】
There are artisans
who call their works
their children.
24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
they take note of even the smallest changes
in temperature and humidity.
Their work is the very act of nurturing life itself.
Originality resides within the quality of their work,
and just as you and I are different,
no two works ever the same.

In the “To Nurture” area near the entrance, installations from seven businesses were on display. Using the tools and materials presented, the treasures of Tokyo brought forth through this process left a striking impression on visitors.

In addition to the exhibition, the venue hosted programs that allowed visitors to experience master craftsmanship up close. A total of 12 businesses participated, presenting nine live demonstrations and nine workshops. Many visitors gathered to observe firsthand the process of layering colors through meticulous handwork.

In addition, a retail area within the venue allowed visitors to handle and purchase products created through the masterful techniques showcased in the exhibition. Items on display included tenugui, kakishibu (persimmon tannin)-dyed cushions, Edo Senju negi miso (green onion miso), and Edo Kiriko glassware. After learning about the techniques and processes behind these works through the displays and live demonstrations, many visitors were seen engaging with the products firsthand.

The exhibition “Naniga Umareru? Ten” extended beyond the venue to take over the whole of Omotesando Hills, helping raise awareness of the exhibition among visitors to the area. Blessed with favorable weather, the three-day event concluded with great success.

【Statement】
Something only humans can create.
Is there such a thing?
Despite grappling with this mental disquiet,
artisans continue to hone their skills.
They never cave in,
and in the pursuit of creating quality work,
AI is just another tool of the craft.
After all, preserving tradition doesn’t mean stopping time,
because it means evolving with the times.
For over a century, transcending completion,
gems of these skills have been polished.
They are the centerpieces of Tokyo’s treasure,
and we want you to find them.
Something that only humans can create.
We know you’ll surely love them.