Long life design examples with 47 Prefectural product exhibition

The d47 MUSEUM in Shibuya is  exploring the evolution of Japanese design, focusing on how it has shifted from aesthetics to a tool for sustainable, long-lasting solutions. The “LONG LIFE DESIGN 4: Design Products 2025 – The Design of Ingenuity from 47 Prefectures” is organised by the D&DEPARTMENT PROJECT, and is in the form of a Japanese product exhibition.

According to the organisers, the concept of design has expanded significantly in the decade since a similar exhibition was held in 2014. The new event will demonstrate how design has expanded beyond just appearance to become ingenuity and mechanisms that solve problems and show sustainability. The focus is not only on the physical design of products but also on the design of systems, projects, and communication methods that revitalise local regions.

The exhibition will feature 47 curated examples from every prefecture in Japan. These selections will combine the D&DEPARTMENT PROJECT’s long-standing philosophy of “long-lasting local character” with inherent beauty. Visitors will be able to purchase many of the featured items, experiencing the products directly as they learn about the ingenuity behind them.

The exhibition started last Friday, and will run till 19 October 2025. It is located on the 8th floor of the Shibuya Hikarie building, open daily from noon to 8 pm. Note that the exhibition is in Japanese. Entry to the museum will be donation-based. The exhibition will provide locals hints that uses design as a component in products built to last.