Small Factory × Creator "YAOKONTON" Exhibition Held at Kyoto University of the Arts on January 31

The " YAOKONTON " project brings together small factories based in Yao City, Osaka Prefecture—a town known for manufacturing—and creators including faculty and students from Kyoto University of the Arts to collaboratively develop products. An event showcasing the project's outcomes will be held on Friday, January 31st, at Kyoto University of the Arts.

Over 10 projects originating from the "YAOKONTON" project have been commercialized and sold to date. These include a miso soup-specific frying pan designed to support women's iron deficiency, ultra-high-end mahjong tiles embodying the dedication of a button manufacturer, and a stuffed animal detergent and picture book set born from a student's realization: "We were taught how to clean in elementary school, but we were never taught how to do laundry."

This exhibition will showcase products and prototypes born from the "YAOKONTON" project, alongside a presentation of achievements by the small factories participating in the project. Visitors can experience the craftsmanship of these factories while also engaging with the creators' innovative ideas. The achievements will be critiqued by neuroscientist Kenichiro Mogi and toy creator Shinpei Takahashi.

[Overview]
Date & Time: January 31 (Fri), 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
　　　*Results Presentation: 1:00 PM -
Venue: Kyoto University of the Arts Entrance Hall
Cost: Free admission
Notes: Come and go as you please, no reservation required

◼️Event details here
 

【Guest Profile】

Kenichiro Mogi
Born October 1962 in Tokyo. Neuroscientist / Doctor of Science. Senior Researcher, Sony Computer Science Laboratories. Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of the University of Tokyo (Collective Intelligence Research Laboratory). Visiting Professor, Graduate School of the University of Tokyo (Interdisciplinary Studies). Principal of Yakushima Oozora High School. After graduating from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Science and Faculty of Law, he completed the Doctoral Program in Physics at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science and earned his Ph.D. in Science. After positions at RIKEN and the University of Cambridge, he assumed his current roles. His research focuses on elucidating the origins of consciousness from brain activity. In 2005, he received the 4th Hideo Kobayashi Prize for "The Brain and the Virtual" (Shinchosha). In 2009, he received the 12th Kuwabara Takeo Academic Award for "From Here to Everywhere Now" (Chikuma Shobo). His recent work includes "Qualia and Artificial Consciousness" (Kodansha). His English works on IKIGAI have been translated and published in 35 countries and over 29 languages. His second English book, "The Way of Nagomi," was published in April 2022.

Shinpei Takahashi
Joined Bandai in 2004. Spent approximately 10 years involved in the planning, development, and marketing of novelty toys, including the "∞ (Mugen) Puchi Puchi," which won the 1st Japan Toy Award and sold a cumulative total of 3.35 million units worldwide. In 2013, he spoke at TEDxTokyo, where his talk on idea generation was broadcast worldwide. He became independent in 2014, founding Usagi Inc. and serving as its CEO. He is currently active in a wide range of activities, including collaborating with various companies on product development, sales, and planning teams for toys, miscellaneous goods, games, and other play-related products.

 

■ About the "YAOKONTON" Project
Yao City in Osaka Prefecture has long thrived on manufacturing. It is home to small factories possessing diverse technologies, ranging from daily necessities like toothbrushes, soap, and frying pans to parts for automobiles and home appliances. Many of these factories primarily focus on subcontracting work for large corporations, such as manufacturing OEM products. To revitalize the development of proprietary products and brands that leverage these small factories' technologies, beyond just subcontracting, Yao City has been providing design innovation support for several years. As part of this effort, the "YAOKONTON" project saw participation from 21 small factories based in Yao City during the 2022-2024 period.
https://yaokonton.jp/

■About Kyoto University of the Arts
Kyoto University of the Arts is Japan's largest comprehensive arts university, with 22,260 students aged 18 to 97 enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs, offered both on-campus and through correspondence courses. With the educational goal of "building a nation through art," the on-campus program emphasizes education that connects society and art, while the correspondence program provides a flexible learning environment free from constraints of time and location. Students of diverse ages and backgrounds deepen their learning toward their individual goals, collectively creating a new future for society through art.
https://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/