Japanese Urban Everyday Life & Design

Date and time: 19th July 2014 14:00〜17:00
Location: Aoyama Gakuin University, Astudio Hall
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＊No reservation required, event is free
　
　
Many specialists have noted that as Japanese society became economically mature at the beginning of 21st century, the envisaged goals of future visions and growth started disappearing under the burgeoning development of consumer society and media. However, this state was disrupted by the Tohoku earthquake and these new unexpected conditions that resulted in halted decisions left us alerted towards the fragility of temporary structures of growth and wealth, and cultural and technological progress.
Three years have passed and life in the cities returned more or less to normal, yet the unsettling feeling of anxiety and suspicion remained present in the society and some people even feel embarrassed when looking back at their blind believe in superficial wealth in the period prior to the earthquake.
Prompted by this new understanding of the current state and shift in our value system, we shall reconsider the implications of rich variety within the city life, connections between Japanese approach to design and society and finally, how specific or even unique this approach is.
The first part of the symposium will present three presenters and their views that share the same point of departure which is Kon Wajiro’s Modernologio, a concept that resulted from Kon’s exploration of post-1923 earthquake development of consumer society. The second section will be devoted to discussion of ides presented between the speakers and the audience.

Part 1
Narumi Hiroshi (Professor, Kyoto Women’s University)
Potential for Slow Fashion ?

Kuroishi Izumi (Professor, Aoyama Gakuin University)
Design of cosiness

Makabe Tomoharu (Project developer)
Theory of kawai　　　　

Part 2 Panel discussion
Moderator: Kuroishi Izumi