News Release

HighChem Company Limited (Headquarters: Minato-Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Ushio Taka hereinafter referred to as HighChem) is a new initiative promoting "Craft x Tech 2024" that connects traditional Japanese crafts and modern technology, promoted by the University of Tokyo and others. We have signed a sponsorship agreement with Tangent Japan Co., Ltd., which operates "Craft Tech 2024". As part of this activity, HighChem's Director Yuichi Taka will be attending a special public lecture on "Craft x Tech" titled "Yoichi Ochiai x Oitama Tsumugi" to be held on Friday, February 9th.



Craft x Tech (https://www.craft-x-tech.com/) is a new attempt to connect traditional Japanese crafts and modern technology, promoted by the University of Tokyo's Advanced Science and Technology Research Center. By producing collaborations between traditional craft production areas and internationally active designers/artists, we are aiming to bring new discoveries to crafts that sometimes have a history of hundreds of years. Craft x Tech 2023 will feature a collaboration between six Tohoku prefectures' traditional crafts and six creators.

In the third of the special lecture series to be held on February 9th, Yoichi Ochiai (a researcher, media artist, and entrepreneur) and Gentaro Nitta, Representative Director and President of Nitta Co., Ltd., (a maker of Oitama Tsumugi, a traditional textile from Yamagata Prefecture.) will both be speaking. In addition, A lecture will be given by Yuichi Taka (Director of HighChem, which is a trading company specializing in chemicals and which promotes the development of new technologies in the textile field such as Corn-derived PLA fiber and CO2-derived polyester) will also take the stage to discuss the future of the textile industry.

What is Oitama Tsumugi?  
A textile made in the Oitama region of Yamagata Prefecture. The Oitama region, which has been shipping "Aoso" since the early Edo period, later developed as a textile production area. Although the techniques differ depending on the region, they all have one thing in common: yarn dyeing, in which the threads are dyed first, and a plain weave, which takes time and effort to finish.

Date and time: February 9, 2024 (Friday). Lectures start at 18:00 (Registration starts at 17:30)
Place: ENEOS Hall, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo
1st floor, South Building, Building 3, Advanced Science and Technology Research Center, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Participation application form: https://craft-x-tech-lecture2023-vol3.peatix.com/view

17:30 Doors open for registration
18:00 Lecture opening
18:00 - 18:10 Introducing of Craft x Tech (Hideki Yoshimoto)
18:10 - 18:30 Mr. Gentaro Nitta lecture
18:30 - 18:50 Yoichi Ochiai lecture
18:50 - 19:10 Dialogue between Mr. Nitta and Mr. Ochiai
19:10 - 19:30Discussion with Mr. Nitta, Mr. Ochiai, and Mr. Taka
19:30 End

Yoichi Ochiai
Media artist. Born in 1987, began his career as a writer around 2010. His works are based on the motif of objectification, transformation, and aspiration for mass in border areas. Associate professor at the University of Tsukuba and specially appointed professor at Digital Hollywood University. Producer of the 2025 Japan World Expo (Osaka/Kansai Expo) theme project.
Recent exhibitions include “A Small Heart for You (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, 2020),” “Kitakyushu Future Creative Arts Festival ART for SDGs (Kitakyushu, 2021),” “Ars Electronica (Austria, 2021),” and “Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival (Osaka, 2022),” “Ubiquitous Bodies, Intersecting Time and Space (Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum, 2022),” and many others. He has also collaborated in various fields, such as directing the ``Yoichi Ochiai x Japan Philharmonic Project.''

Gentaro Nitta
Born in 1980 in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. In 2003, he studied kimono and weaving at a long-established obi shop in Kyoto. Joined Nitta Co., Ltd. in 2005. He has won the Newcomer's Award at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, the Association Award from the Yonezawa Arts and Culture Association, the Newcomer's Award at the MOA Okada Mokichi Award, the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the Japanese Crafts Dyeing and Weaving Exhibition, and many others. LEXUS NEWTAKUMI PROJECT 2017 Yamagata Prefecture representative. 2017: Appointed Representative Director and President of Nitta Co., Ltd. (5th generation). Regular member of the Japan Crafts Association, a public interest incorporated association.

Yuichi Taka
Born in March 1986. After graduating from Fudan University in China, he worked for Ube Industries (currently UBE) before joining HighChem in 2014. January 2022: Appointed Director and Head Sustainability & Innovation Div. at HighChem Co., Ltd.
HighChem is a Chemicals trading company, and at the same time focuses on developing new technologies. The company will also begin development of PLA fibers Corn-derived and CCU technology for manufacturing Chemicals using CO2.

Hideki Yoshimoto
Specially appointed associate professor, Advanced Art Design Department, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. Founder of design studio TANGENT. He has released a variety of works using a method that combines design and technology, and has provided many designs to world-class brands. He is the founder and general producer of "Craft x Tech" and is also one of the participating creators.

​
If you would like to attend, please apply using the participation form.

Interview application form
https://forms.gle/bfvTJgJenBGmp2Ch8

For further inquiries, please contact:
HighChem Co., Ltd.　Public Relations
Contact: Ms. Kuroiwa (090-6539-4213)   TEL: 03-5251-8580    E-mail: koho@highchem.co.jp