The organizers of Any Tokyo want you to know that objects should do more than just look good.
From Oct. 25 through Nov. 3, Any Tokyo will get the chance to make its case during an exhibition that will be held at Zojoji Temple in the capital's Minato Ward. The 600-year-old temple is the final resting place for six members of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1600 to 1867, and should make for a striking backdrop to showcase some of today's design talents.
Any Tokyo debuted last year and drew over 9,000 visitors. The event has some ties to the now-defunct Design Tide, and takes place on the same weekend as the larger Tokyo Designers' Week event, but whereas TDW caters to a broad audience, Any Tokyo is more for the design connoisseur. This year's theme is "next field," a nod to the unorthodox venue and the merging of practices in art and design.