Asahikawa is known as the “Mecca of furniture.” IFDA is the driving force behind Asahikawa’s design leadership, having connected makers and designers for over 30 years to bring a fresh wave of innovation to the city. The five chairs to be provided to the Expo were selected from award-winning works at the IFDA, made by CondeHouse using hardwood from Hokkaido. Fujita shares his thoughts on the Expo, saying “I would like people to see a fusion of design and manufacturing that is unmatched in the world.”

　One of these is the “Flan Living Easy Chair,” the 2021 winning design by Shuhei Shimozato, a resident of Asahikawa. Although it was hailed as a “beautiful design with potential,” Fujita recommended that “we should collaborate to redesign it since it will be challenging to commercialize it as is.” In order to produce a chair that “allows you to create your own space,” the original backrest, which was so narrow that the user’s head would protrude, was replaced with one that wraps around the occupant and a larger seat that permits the user to easily adjust his/her position. The chair has also been highly acclaimed by users and was selected for the Director General of the Forestry Agency Award at the Wood Design Awards 2023.

　The “KINA LUX” is a piece aimed at making people wonder, “What is this?” “KINA” means a sea urchin in Maori, and it was designed by a New Zealand designer who displayed it at the 2017 “IFDA Commemorative Exhibition.” It has a strong artistic element due to its unique mesh pattern that was produced based on the inspiration drawn from a sea urchin’s shell. It is also sturdy enough to accommodate three adults and doubles as an ottoman. CondeHouse’s proficiency with CNC processing methods and molded plywood allows them to express intricate mesh designs in furniture. The intricate mesh pattern is carved out by computer-controlled processing equipment, and a range of curved surfaces can be accommodated by creating molds from layers of thin sheets and pressing them together. The craftsmen’s strong technical capabilities and precise sensitivities have helped meet the designer’s tough demands.

　The Asahikawa Furniture Industry Cooperative will take the lead in planning an experience-based event and will hold “Meet up Furniture Asahikawa” from Wednesday, June 25 to Sunday, June 29, 2025. The event will take place during Asahikawa Design Week, a local design event which brings together organizations in the fields of furniture, architecture, machinery & metals, and food, and will include an open factory tour where visitors can tour 20 factories. The Asahikawa Design Center will also host a woodworking workshop. Fujita said, “Many of the factories also have showrooms, and we want people to experience the manufacturing process firsthand.” Asahikawa furniture is acclaimed for its outstanding designs born in the northern land blessed with high-quality lumber. Asahikawa furniture will shine even brighter at the Expo.