Someone needs to designate October as "culture month" in Tokyo. Almost every artistic discipline has offered up a major event in the capital this month: Tokyo Fashion Week, Tokyo International Film Festival, Red Bull Music Academy — day planners are full.
Pencil in some time for architecture, art and design, though. From Oct. 25 through Nov. 3, Tokyo Designers Week will pitch its tents within the grounds of Meiji Jingu Gaien Park. The event, organized by the Design Association and supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has grown enormously over its 29-year existence. This year it has invited artists of all genres and from more than 20 different countries to take part.
"Last year was not crazy enough; this year will be even more fun," promises Design Association chair Kenji Kawasaki. "People think that art and design are disparate, but they are intrinsically linked. Design has the most power and is the biggest business, but oddly enough, most of our 14,000 visitors come for the music."