Theme: Together to an Undiscovered Future

TEDxTohoku will share ideas from subjects such as traditional craft art,
cutting edge technology, design, architecture, education, history from genuine speakers from Tohoku.
TEDxTohoku aim to create new combination of ideas and make our town a
more innovative place.

Tohoku University of Art and Design
山形市上桜田3-4-5
Yamagata, Tohoku, 990-9530
Japan

Sakamoto Daizaburo

Illustrator, Yamabushi (A warrior monk who lives in the mountains) Basing his activities in the Three Mountains of Dewa, Mr. Sakamoto studies and practices traditional arts and cultures to further connect people with nature. As a Yamabushi, he revisits the way of life among the current people – he has pursued this ever since he joined the “Aki-no-Mine-Iri-Shugyo” (Ascetic Ritual of Mountain Climbing in autumn), an advancement training for Yamabushi. This was when he discovered a strong relevance between Yamabushi and the relationship of nature towards traditional creation of the arts. He is the author of “Yamabushi To Boku”(Yamabushi and Me), and “Yamabushi Note”.

Miura Shuichi

Associate Professor at Tohoku University of Art and Design Focusing on architecture and local communities, Mr. Miura’s research domain varies from energy conservation and practical use of natural energy to technical evaluation and policy on global warming countermeasures. He believes energy produced in the rich forests of Tohoku can help the region become a ‘green energy frontier’ - transitioning its energy source from nuclear power to natural energy.

Kawatei Masahiro

CSR Manager, Public Relations Office, Hakuhodo Inc. While working as the CSR Manager at Hakuhodo, he is also active in various other fields, such as being the Representative of CEPA Japan, member of the Japanese Committee of COP10, PR chairman of Global Compact Japan Network, and so on. He was one of the founding members of a popular TV documentary program "Jonetsu Tairiku", and has also successfully made a proposal at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) discussion as the member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Commission on Education and Communication (IUCN-CEC).

Yamauchi Akemi

Cultural Anthropologist Ms. Yamauchi was born in Minami-Sanrikucho, Miyagi prefecture, and is the author of “Kodomo Tohoku-gaku (Study of Tohoku for Children)”. In her book, she reflects on her personal experiences to analyze the modern Tohoku, and sheds light on cherished values of Tohoku and the position of Tohoku within Japan. TEDxTohoku’s slogan, “Together, to an undiscovered future” was also inspired by her work.

Wago Ryoichi

Born in Fukushima city, Fukushima prefecture in 1968. Mr. Wago’s poetry collection AFTER won the 4th Chuya Nakahara Prize, and in 2006, his poetry anthology Chikyu Zunou Shihen (Earth Brain Collection) won the 47th Bansui Prize. He has been hailed by the Japanese newspapers as having “a leading presence among young poets”. Since the March 11th disaster in 2011, he has been presenting the poetry series Shino Tsubute (Pebble Poetry) from Fukushima, the prefecture that experienced the triple earthquake-tsunami-nuclear disaster.

Yoshikawa Yumi

Born in Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture. Representative director of DAHA Planning Work, Cultural Creative Director of Hachinohe Portal Museum Hacchi, Representative of ENVISI. Ms. Yoshikawa is pursuing a way to bring forth the power of local communities by connecting them with culture, art, tourism, medicine, education. From 2010, she has embarked on art projects that re-discover the beauty of Minamisanriku-cho. At the town, which was stricken by the Great East Japan Earthquake, she is developing projects that aim to support restoration through art activities.

Oikawa Kuniko

From Oshu city, Iwate prefecture. Kuniko Oikawa is the fifth president of OIGEN, a traditional ironware production company that was established in 1852, around the time when Perry came to Japan in the Edo period. Based on her original marketing of product development and careful manufacturing, Mrs. Oikawa pursues her daily research to provide products that gratify the five senses in our daily lives. Aside numerous awards, OIGEN possesses a manufacturing patent for its iron cast products with a natural “anti rusting” coat, which is rare among the traditional industries. It is said that the Nanbu Tekki, a traditional cast iron, originated when the lord of the Oshu Fujiwara clan ordered a caster to come from the land of Ohmi to the current Oshu city in Iwate. This is said to have founded the casting industry in the area. OIGEN has received many awards, including: ・Winner of the 2007 Good Design Award. ・Winner of the Prime Minister Award at the National Federation of Small Business Associations exhibition. ・Chosen for the 2007 Vigorous Manufacturing of 300 Small and Medium Enterprises by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. ・Winner of the Chief of Bureau Award and the 2007 Manufacturing Japan Award, by the Tohoku Economic Industrial Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. ・Received Local Commendation for Invention in Tohoku by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation

Ogawa Yu

Born in Yokohama in 1988. Social entrepreneur, innovation educator. Ever since the 3.11 Earthquake, Mr. Ogawa came to recognize the phenomenon of the youth leaving local communities as a serious social issue. Inspired by the innovation education he received at the i.school at the University of Tokyo, he set up i.club in April of 2012, which aims to improve the situation of youth detachment in areas such as Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture and Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima prefecture. Currently, he is in charge of the organization as the managing director. Having many overseas experiences, including his eight-year stay in England during his childhood, he is currently planning projects to partner Japan with the world in creating new values together. Ogawa graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Waseda University in 2010. In 2013, he received his Master’s after completing the International Technology Management Program at the School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. He is also an alumnus of i.school, from the class of 2011. Related link： http://innovationclub.jp/ Yumi Yoshikawa Producer, Director Born in Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture. Representative director of DAHA Planning Work, Cultural Creative Director of Hachinohe Portal Museum

Ishida Hideki

Born in 1953. Previously worked in INAX Corporation until 2004. Professor Ishida reaches out globally for a paradigm shift in manufacturing. From 2004, he has been advocating a new kind of manufacture that cleverly channels the forces of nature, which he calls “Nature Technology.” He envisions the lifestyles of tomorrow as one that applies the artful designs of nature and ancestral wisdom, and has been working to realize that vision. In addition, he has been actively involved in environmental education with both children and adults. He also holds executive positions in non-profit organizations such as Nature Tech Laboratory, Sustainable Solutions, Monozukuri Seimei Bunmei Kiko, and Earthwatch Japan. His expertise lies in geological and mineralogical material science.

Koiwa Shutaro

Born in 1977, from Ichinoseki, Iwate prefecture. Having been handed down the Japanese traditional performing art, Gyozan School Maikawa Shishi-Odori, during elementary school, Mr. Koiwa now works to rediscover and introduce attractive features of the traditional performing arts. He has hosted various workshops regarding such traditional performing art of each region. He also supports the recovery of traditional performing arts in devastated areas since the Great East Japan Earthquake by providing aid and communicating to others about the situation in Tohoku.

Watanabe Satoshi

Born in Tsuruoka city, Yamagata prefecture in 1981. Graduated from Tohoku University of Art and Design. Mr. Watanabe is a director of a film titled “Yomigaeri no Reshipi (The Recipe of Revival)”, which was released in 2011, The film depicts mainly Shonai city, Yamagata prefecture, where he was born. He had wished to make a film that “reminds us the basics of food and agriculture”. The documentary film focuses on “Zairai-Kokumotsu,” or crops originally made in a region. It was officially shown in 2011 at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, and in 2012 at Honk Kong International Film Festival.