Japanese traditional crafts have a rich history and utilise a wide variety of beautiful materials and techniques. But many Japanese people still perceive traditional crafts as a mere expression of the “classical” culture featured in social studies textbooks, overlooking their contemporary richness and diversity.

Inspired by his visit to a lacquerware workshop in Tohoku where he discovered extraordinary creativity as well as craftmanship, Dr Hideki Yoshimoto, a designer and engineer by profession, has been exploring the intersection of traditional craft and contemporary technology.

In this talk, Dr Yoshimoto will share his perceptions of the current situation for traditional crafts in Tohoku. He will then present his Craft x Tech initiative which explores new horizons for traditional crafts by integrating them with contemporary design and technology, along with unique artworks produced through collaborations between Tohoku’s master craftsmen, artists and designers.

The Craft x Tech Tohoku Project will be featured at the V&A’s Prince Consort Gallery from 14th of September to 13th of October, including artworks by Dr Yoshimoto. Please visit here to learn more.

About the contributors

Dr Hideki Yoshimoto

Dr Hideki Yoshimoto is Designer, Creative Director, and Project Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST). Born in Japan in 1985, Yoshimoto earned an MSc degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Tokyo in 2010 and concluded his doctoral studies in Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art in 2016, concurrently founding the acclaimed design studio Tangent in London. In 2020, he co-founded the Advanced Art Design Lab at RCAST, the University of Tokyo. Yoshimoto specializes in the harmonious integration of design and engineering, crafting an array of innovative designs and concepts for globally renowned luxury brands. He is Founder and Creative Director of the international initiative Craft x Tech.

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