CREATIVE TEAM

日吉屋クラフトラボには国際色豊かなバイヤー、デザイナー、コーディネーターなど優秀な外部ブレーンがおり、プロジェクトや事業者さまにあわせて最適なチームを組み商品開発、海外支援を行なっていますWith the network of talented minds from our buyers, designers, and coordinators both in and out of the country, we create a team, according to each client's goals, for optimal support of product development and overseas business.

DIRECTOR

  • KOTARO NISHIBORI

    KOTARO NISHIBORI

    Director, Hiyoshiya / TCI Laboratory
    After working as a city officer in his hometown of Wakayama, he started his career as a wagasa craftsman, and became the fifth generation chief of his wife’s family business, Hiyoshiya, a maker of traditional wagasa umbrellas.
    He took Hiyoshiya in new directions with projects such as rebranding of traditional wagasa through online shopping and a variety of media, as well as collaborating with designers and artists across genres.
    He has actively worked on various projects at home and abroad toward the goal of becoming a “Global Long-Established Venture Company”.

EXECUTIVE ADVISER

  • MINEAKI SAITO

    MINEAKI SAITO

    Director, Scenery International
    After serving general manager and executive director roles, he was appointed in 1998 to President & CEO of Hermès Japon to pursue the further expansion of the Hermès brand. In 2008, appointed as vice president of Hermès Paris, the headquarters of Hermès, becoming the first foreign individual to serve this role.
    He resigned from the position in 2015 and founded Scenery International.

ART DIRECTOR

  • CHANTAL GRANIER (France)

    CHANTAL GRANIER (France)

    An art manager and consultant for “Art de Vivre” provides development strategy for design collections.
    Achievements include collaborative work with a diverse range of acclaimed international designers and creative professionals.

ADVISER

  • XAVIER LESAGE (France)

    XAVIER LESAGE (France)

    Director, Dilema Conseli
    Runs a consulting firm specialized in business between Japan and France, and owns the company, Dilema Conseli, which imports made-in-Japan products for overseas markets.
    Official advisor of the French government and EU. Serves as an associate professor of international business at a Japanese university.

  • FRANÇOISE SEINCE (France)

    FRANÇOISE SEINCE (France)

    Director, Les Atelier de Paris
    As director of Les Atelier de Paris, the business incubation center in Paris, she has helped nurture many international professionals in fields of craft, fashion, and design. Currently manages three other affiliated incubation facilities and directs various international events and exhibitions six times a year.

  • PETER KAHANE (U.S.A.)

    PETER KAHANE (U.S.A.)

    Founded AMEICO in 1995
    AMEICO has a wide distribution network of upscale design goods and merchandise across the United States. Also runs a directly owned retail shop. Distributes products to over 750 retailers in US, the largest distributor in the industry.

  • TOMOKO TANAKA

    TOMOKO TANAKA

    Director, t-tide
    Began career as a buyer at Mitsukoshi Department Store, engaging in product planning and living products, eventually appointed as general manager of living products sales department. Founded t-tide in May, 2018.
    Business navigator of Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center.

  • KAZUYA SHIMOKAWA

    KAZUYA SHIMOKAWA

    Director / Design Producer / Editor, Ideas & Crafts Lab
    Design director for the Arita ware 400-year anniversary project of Saga Prefecture.
    Director of ARITA VALUE CREATION LAB
    Support member of LEXUS NEW TAKUMI PROJECT

  • AKO SUGIE

    AKO SUGIE

    Editor / Writer, Ideas & Crafts Lab
    After working as a freelance writer in Tokyo and Kansai Regions, in 2008 and 2009, she moved on to editorial work with the magazine, NIKKEI DESIGN. In April, 2014, she founded Ideas & Crafts Lab with Kazuya Shimokawa.

  • HIROYUKI KANAYA

    HIROYUKI KANAYA

    Ichimoku
    Handled product planning and online shopping sales with a wide selection of items such as of crafts and convenient goods at Ichimoku before moving to the planning & sales division, where he helped make connections between producers and sellers. Worked also as a buyer at the mail order company, Senshukai, and is now again at Ichimoku as an executive staff and manager.

DESIGNER

  • GUILLAUME BARDET

    GUILLAUME BARDET

    Has collaborated on projects with various international companies such as Dix heures dix, Vivendi Environnement, Triode, and Louis Vuitton of France; Aquamass of Belgium; and de Vecchi and Livit of Italy.

  • MATHILDE BREGEON

    MATHILDE BREGEON

    Active as a textile designer with top brands such as HERMES, KENZO, ARMAND VENTILO, DIURN and Pierre Fray. Became an independent designer in 2017.

  • WOLF WAGNER (Germany)

    WOLF WAGNER (Germany)

    Executive Board Member, Deutscher Designer Club
    Engaged in product and interior design for international companies, primarily in Germany, such as Lufthansa, VMpF and Fischer Möbel. Also designs for the Japanese company, MUJI.

  • ARTHUR LEITNER (France)

    ARTHUR LEITNER (France)

    A designer and freelance art director
    After completing a master’s degree in architecture, he began working as a designer, predominantly of furniture.

  • ELISABETH VIDAL(France)

    ELISABETH VIDAL(France)

    Specialty: table & kitchen / everyday goods
    Product designer active in Italy and France. Worked with well-known brands such as Alessi, Guzzinni and Danese.

  • STUDIO SAINT ANTONIE (France)

    STUDIO SAINT ANTONIE (France)

    Specialty: interior design
    Interior designer working with a number of clients such as construction companies and architects, primarily in France and the UK.

  • MATTHEW WALDMAN (U.S.A.)  

    MATTHEW WALDMAN (U.S.A.)  

    Specialty: watches / shoes / apparel
    Has worked with global fashion brands such as FILA. Founded Nooka, a project born on Kickstarter, which received a special exhibition at MoMA. Specializes in technology-centric product design. His designed products are widely distributed in North American markets.

  • BECCA ABBE (U.S.A.)  

    BECCA ABBE (U.S.A.)  

    Specialty: interior / everyday goods / apparel
    Produces excellent design work for Maharam, especially for textile and interior products. Specializes in graphic, textile and interior design. Her design products are widely distributed throughout North America.

  • FRANZ OLIVER (Switzerland)

    FRANZ OLIVER (Switzerland)

    Director, silent / ideel-lab
    With a strong aesthetic sensibility and passion for sustainability, he creates various distinguished art forms at exhibitions. Currently based in Kyoto.

  • KAZUSHIGE MIYAKE

    KAZUSHIGE MIYAKE

    Director, Miyake Design
    Designs products in a range of genres such as electrical appliances, home furniture, living commodities and traditional craft products.
    Part-time lecturer at Tama Art University. Serves as a judge for design awards such as Good Design and iF Design.

  • HARUNA MORITA

    HARUNA MORITA

    At Ryohin Keikaku, engaged in new product projects for interior fabric. Worked on textile-themed projects, such as “Japanese Textiles”, “World Textiles”, and “Indian Textiles” of the Found MUJI project. Currently serves as director at Planning & Design Creation Office, in addition to operating as a freelance designer.

  • SATOSHI UMENO

    SATOSHI UMENO

    Director, UMENODESIGN
    Engages in production and branding on a series of products. Actively working on a variety of design projects including interior, fashion, web, graphic, package design, etc.

PROJECT MANAGER

  • TAKUYA HOTTA

    TAKUYA HOTTA

    Director, Culture Generation Japan
    Started with the project called Tokyo Crafts & Design of Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, he has produced a number of products featuring techniques of traditional crafts, aiming at the overseas markets.

  • AKI ISHIYAMA

    AKI ISHIYAMA

    Project Manager, TCI Laboratory / Atelier Blancs Manteaux
    Primarily engaged in overseas projects.

  • MASATSUGU KUNO

    MASATSUGU KUNO

    Director, Showyou
    Runs total business support services (English language coaching & project management) for overseas business.
    Acts as project manager for various projects in joint product planning and overseas marketing.

  • YOKO MORI

    YOKO MORI

    Producer & Director, myna
    Involved in planning, production and management for projects of web, apps, movie, and installation featuring digital technologies. Also serves as a TCI laboratory project manager.

ACCOUNT MANAGER

  • CHIKA HASEGAWA

    CHIKA HASEGAWA

    Accountant, TCI Laboratory / Hiyoshiya / Atelier Blancs Manteaux

PARTNER

  • LES ATELIERS DE PARIS

    LES ATELIERS DE PARIS

    Designer Atelier in Paris
    A place for new and aspiring designers gather for collaborative conception of creative ideas in crafts, design and fashion. The atelier also features a gallery.