From 10 to 12 June 2026, during the next edition of 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, Japanmade Vol.1, a new exhibition dedicated to the best of contemporary Japanese design and Japanese craftsmanship, will debut. The event, hosted at Dampfærgevej 2 in the Nordhavn district, is the result of a collaboration between producer and author Jens H. Jensen and the Danish studio OEO Studio, which has been engaged in a creative dialogue between Scandinavia and Japan for years.
Japanmade’s goal is to create a cultural platform capable of enhancing Japanese brands that continue to produce locally, supporting networks of small and medium-sized specialized artisans and preserving the direct link between designers and master manufacturers. In a landscape dominated by global industrial production, the initiative aims to bring attention back to materials, techniques and processes that focus on quality, durability and authenticity.
According to Jens H. Jensen, who has lived and worked in Japan for over twenty years, the country has an extraordinary wealth of production and design skills that naturally dialogue with Nordic and European sensibilities. The birth of Japanmade therefore represents an opportunity to bring together like-minded brands and offer international visitors a new destination dedicated to Japanese craftsmanship.
For this first edition, OEO Studio has designed an immersive installation of 75 square meters that reflects its aesthetic philosophy made up of minimalism, attention to materials and cultural contamination. The studio, founded in 2003 by Thomas Lykke and Anne-Marie Buemann, is internationally recognized for its approach called “Compelling Minimalism”, a vision that blends Scandinavian rigor with Asian aesthetics.
Among the protagonists of the exhibition stands out New Light Pottery, a lighting studio founded in Nara in 2015 by designers Hiroyuki Nagatomi and Chizu. The brand is known for sculptural lamps that combine traditional techniques and contemporary forms, using materials such as washi paper, glass, ceramics, lacquered brass, and marble. The brand’s creations highlight natural textures and a refined formal simplicity.
MAS, a brand born under the creative direction of Wataru Kumano and linked to Karimoku Furniture, one of the most important Japanese furniture manufacturers, will also be present. MAS explores new expressive possibilities of wood, with particular attention to Hinoki, the Japanese cypress traditionally little used in furniture. Through advanced woodworking techniques, the brand offers furnishings that enhance the natural qualities of wood essences.
Great attention will also be paid to the tradition of artisanal paper thanks to Naowashi, a historic workshop located in Saga prefecture. Led by Gen Taniguchi, the workshop exclusively uses locally grown Kajinoki to produce a thin yet extremely durable washi paper. With over 300 years of history, Naowashi is a living testimony to traditional Japanese craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation.
Alongside these brands, Sekisaka will present objects that reinterpret the ancient tradition of Echizen Urushi lacquering through contemporary materials and an essential aesthetic language. The company, with over three centuries of experience in Fukui Prefecture, continues to enhance historical techniques by adapting them to the needs of modern living.
The exhibition will also include Sheep’s handcrafted candles, made in Nagoya from high-quality soy wax, pure essential oils and cotton wicks. Each product is handmade, with a focus on sustainability and domestic well-being.
One of the central themes of Japanmade 2026 will be material intelligence. Brass, glass, washi paper, ceramics and natural woods are interpreted not only as aesthetic elements, but as living surfaces capable of acquiring character over time. The exhibition thus intends to promote an approach to design based on longevity, tactility and manufacturing quality.
Per OEO Studio, il progetto rappresenta la naturale evoluzione di un rapporto professionale e culturale con il Giappone costruito in oltre vent’anni di collaborazioni. Thomas Lykke sottolinea come l’essenza giapponese sia ormai profondamente radicata nella filosofia dello studio tanto quanto le origini scandinave. Anche Anne-Marie Buemann evidenzia come la passione condivisa per il design e la cultura giapponese sia il motore di questa iniziativa, pensata per raccontare il Giappone attraverso una prospettiva nuova e curata con sensibilità editoriale.
With the debut of Japanmade, Copenhagen is therefore preparing to welcome a project destined to become a recurring appointment within 3daysofdesign. An initiative that promises to strengthen the dialogue between two design cultures united by precision, balance, material research and respect for craftsmanship.
INFO/PHOTO COURTESY: Amber Weir – Tomorrow PR
