INSIDE HEROES

Behind the exhibition lies a wealth of passion, dedication, and individual stories.
Here, we share the voices of the people who bring the Themed Pavilion to life.

President, Yamaju Paper Co., Ltd.

Shinji Kasai

Photo of Shinji Kasai

Breathing Life into Washi

For more than 450 years, Nishijima Washi has been shaped by generations of craftsmanship. Even as demand has declined with the changing times, I have continued to explore new possibilities for washi, determined to carry its skills and traditions into the future.
During this journey, I encountered the idea of embedding plant seeds into recycled paper that had already fulfilled its original purpose, transforming it into washi infused with new life.
Each tiny seed held within a single sheet represents more than the promise of a flower—it is also a symbol of hope for this community's future and its enduring papermaking tradition.

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  • vol.1

    ©LESLIE KEE

    CEO, Shinryoiki Inc. / Art + Tech Producer

    Ou Sugiyama

    Seeking the Landscapes of Tomorrow

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  • vol.2

    Design Director, Kengo Kuma & Associates

    Kai Araki

    Architecture that Breathes with the Landscape

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  • vol.3

    NHK Global Media Services, Inc.　Producer

    Akihiko Uchida

    A Broadcaster’s Challenge: Documentary as Spatial Experience

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  • vol.4

    Site Director of the Themed Pavilion Construction Office

    Shutaro Nakamura

    Craft and Passion Shaping the “Landscape of Tomorrow”

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  • vol.5

    President, SOUP Co., Ltd.

    Setsuko Noguchi

    Passing the Baton Through Blossoms

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  • vol.6

    President, Yamaju Paper Co., Ltd.

    Shinji Kasai

    Carrying a 450-Year Tradition into the Future

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