The Opening Ceremony of Osaka Metropolitan University Morinomiya Campus was held, attended by President Shinichi Fukushima (Director of our Foundation). 

Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Venue: Osaka Metropolitan University Morinomiya Campus

Commemorative Lecture:

Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, Professor and Honorary Director,

Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University 

Announcement of the 2025 EXPO “UTSUWA Project: Japanese and German Craftsmen's Skills – See! Learn! Experience!” was held.

The event has concluded. Details of the day can be found here. 

Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025, 12:00-18:00 

Venue: TSUBAME German Pavilion Outdoor Stage

Theme: Introducing Japanese and German craftsmanship to the world!

Overview:

a. Assembly of a traditional Japanese room “UTSUWA” on stage

b. Demonstrations of tatami mats, sliding doors, woodworking, and pottery disassembly

c. Chisel carving contest

For more details, click here.

Announcement: The 2025 EXPO “Utsuwa ♡ Namiki-za: Traditional Performing Arts Theater – Enjoy Osaka's Traditional Performing Arts with People from Around the World” was held. 

The event has concluded. Details of the day can be found here. 

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025, 13:00-20:00 

Venue: Pop-Up Stage South

Theme: Japanese Traditional Performing Arts × UTSUWA 1.1

Overview: A collaboration featuring Japanese traditional performing arts on the stage of UTSUWA. Various Japanese traditional performing arts will be showcased throughout the event.

*Co-hosted with Dotonbori Namiki-za

For more details, click here.

Publication of the 33ed issue of the journal "融 Yū"

The latest issue of the Foundation’s journal Yū was published in July 2025.
In addition to introducing our recent activities, this issue features interviews and contributions from key figures across various fields, as well as essays by members of our board.

The main theme is:
“Baroque and Genroku Culture – The Economic Sensibility and Literary World of Osaka People during the Age of the Financial Revolution.”

As a second feature, the issue highlights the future of university cities and the Kansai Innovation East-West Axis

To subscribe to the journal, please contact us here.

Board Meeting and Roundtable Meeting were held 

Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Venue: Kokumin Kaikan
Roundtable: We welcomed a guest speaker from the Planning Division, Planning and Coordination Department of Osaka Prefectural Government, who spoke on the theme of Population Decline in Society.

Japanese Architecture and Manufacturing Study Group Meeting No. 4

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025, 13:00-15:00

Venue: Yamatokamiichi GATEWAY (Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture)

Theme：Yoshino forestry, renovation of old private houses, immigration and two-region residence, etc.

Members: Mitsuo Takada (Professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design, Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University, Director of the Foundation) as the chief coordinator, and members consisting of architects and researchers

Art Salon to be held

Date: Friday, April 11, 2025, 18:00-20:00

Venue: Shitennoji Temple, the head temple of the Japanese sect of Buddhism

Theme: Scenery and Literature of the Uemachi Plateau in the Early Modern Period - The landscape of Shitennoji Temple area crowded with Saikaku and pilgrims

Lecturer: Setsuya Hashizume (Professor Emeritus, Osaka University, Former Director of Osaka University Museum)

Guest: Toshiki Uzawa (Director of Shinrigaku Meiseisha, a general incorporated association)

For more details, click here.

Future University City Osaka Project 7th Working Meeting

Date: Friday, March 21, 2024, 16:30-18:00

Place: Foundation Office

Theme: Formation of a Kansai Innovation East-West Axis

Members: Led by Professor Yukihiro Kakuno, Kwansei Gakuin University (Foundation Director) and other members related to the Foundation

Contemporary Art Event in Uemachi DAICHI

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 10:30-19:00  

Venue: TSUBAME HOUSE HOSTEL (Tamatsukuri Swallow House)

Title: “Spring Traveling with Swallows to the Former Sanadayama Army Cemetery on the Uemachi Plateau and the Stacked Memories of the Town” *Performances will be held twice (11:00/15:00) (reservation required), exhibitions, site walk, etc.

For more details, click here.

Report on vessel project activities in Germany at Sumisho Research Institute Smailon Symposium.

Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 14:00-17:00

Location: Held online/zoom

For more details, click here.

UTSUWA 2024 Report Published

We have produced a pamphlet summarizing the programs of the Utsuwa Project 2024.

Click here for free download.

器UTSUWA #Open Monday

Date: Monday, October 14, 2024, 21:00 - 22:30 (14:00 - 15:30 / German time)

Place: Japanese-German Center Berlin (this event will be held in Japanese and German)

Theme: Japanese-German Craftsman Panel Discussion Utsuwa Dangi II You can watch the Craftsman Talk online from 21:00-22:30 Japan time.

Instructions on how to watch will be posted on the following website before the day of the event.

For more details, click here. 

Enjoying Japanese Spaces and Handicrafts

Date: Monday, October 14, 2024, 14:00-21:00

Place: Japan-German Center Berlin

Program

A: 14:00 - 15:30 Symposium on German-Japanese Craftsmanship (UTSUWA-DANGI-II)

B: 15:45 - 16:45 Lecture on Japanese Hand Tools

C: 17:00 - 20:30 Open Monday x UTSUWA Project 

For more details, click here.

Publication of the 32nd issue of the journal "融 Yū"

The latest issue of “融 Yū,” our journal, was published in July 2024, introducing our business activities and consisting of interviews with and contributions from key persons in various fields, as well as articles by the Foundation's directors.

The theme is “Expo 2025 and Osaka: Legacy of Expo 2025 and Osaka's Urban Development for 2050.

Special Feature 2: Future University City 2050 (Kansai Innovation East-West Axis Initiative and the Osaka Castle Area)

In addition, “Noto Peninsula Earthquake” was featured as an emergency report.

To subscribe to the journal, please contact us here.

器 UTSUWA 2015-2023 Report

We have produced a pamphlet that summarizes the past history of the “器 UTSUWA” project.

Click for download. 

The publication of the list of members appearing in “UTSUWA-DANGI: Online Talk Program with Japanese and German Craftspeople”.

In response to many requests, we have produced a document with details of the performers.

Click for download.

Kansai Innovation East-West Axis Forum II

Date: June 12, 2024 (Wednesday)
Venue: UR former Nishinippon Branch Office Building 1F Hall
Theme: “Co-Creation City of Knowledge and Emotion - Future of Innovation East-West Axis in the GX Era

For more details, click here.

Future University Cities Project 2050, 4th Working Meeting.

Date: March 21, 2024 (Thursday) Venue: Andouji Office, Foundation Secretariat Theme: Industrial Innovation in the Expanded Osaka Castle District and East-West Axis

Published “器 Utsuwa: Illusion and Revenge (Paradigm Shift Group)

This book is a unique work consisting of a reportage on the “器 Utsuwa Project” by writer Junya Nakano and his original play inspired by the reportage.

Based on keywords derived from interviews with craftspeople involved in the creation of the vessels, this stage script would not be possible without the space of the vessels. The work is highly anticipated and awaits an actual performance.

Purchase from here

Published “UTSUWA - Innovation 器 UTSUWA Project 2022 UTSUWA3.0 Presentation Project Report

Download from here

“Japanese-German ‘器 UTSUWA’ Discussion UTSUWA-DANGI - Online Talk Program with Japanese and German Craftspeople about the Present

Date: Friday, February 23, 2024

For more details, click here.

器 UTSUWA 2024 Woodworking Technology Online Live Event in Yoshino - Old Minka Restoration Project - Part 1

For more details, click here.

Performance + Talk event at “SHOTEN-SAN” in Tengachaya, Osaka

For more details, click here.

The 200th Anniversary of the Shopping Town Study Group.

Since this will be the 200th meeting since the foundation was established, the closed workshop will be opened to the public and held as a seminar format.

For more details, click here.

Issuance of the 31st issue of the journal “融 YŪ” in 2023.

The latest issue of the journal “融 YŪ” which introduces our business activities and consists of interviews with and contributions from key persons in various fields, as well as articles by the foundation's directors, is scheduled for publication in July 2023.

Purchase from here