GK recently had the pleasure of speaking with Keiko Fukusawa, the president of Kotobuki Seating. She explained how sustainability is having an impact on her lineup, as well as how Japanese products are finding their place on the world market.
What do you believe gives Japan a competitive advantage versus that of regional competitors?
Since I am living in New York, I am seeing how Japanese products are being perceived outside of Japan. One of the incredible facets of Japanese society, in general, is the continuous innovation and questioning throughout the whole manufacturing process. We work very closely with architects and construction companies, and we have seen dramatic changes over time in terms of work and regulations.
This has affected the way we work at Kotobuki, and together with our kaizen (continuous improvement) philosophy and innovation, we can keep our pioneering spirit and deliver what our customers desire. As a manufacturer, we have an obligation to continually innovate and meet the needs of customers.
How does Kotobuki strike a balance between fashion and function, particularly for venues with a distinct heritage?
In countries like Japan, the US and Europe, the majority of seating projects are about renovation of existing, and often time historical, venues, whilst the new construction is happening in the broader Asia and the Middle East. We recognize that, in the US, there is an important need to preserve the history, and even in Japan, there are many renovation projects where the customers are telling the story of the theater, venue or community. We find this very exciting and inspiring.
In a world with fast-fashion and a throwaway society, it is wonderful to work on projects that will be enjoyed for generations. Preservation may differ from country to country due to cultural aspects and regulations, but we always strive to meet the needs. Recently, we have been working on such a project in the US, and it is important for us to understand the story they want to tell in order to support them in the best way possible. Globally, Japanese companies are known for their precision engineering and cutting-edge technology, which is something that the customers in Japan require. We find the same tasks and challenges around the world, and that is where we can apply our strengths to our advantage.
With the rise of AI and the pandemic in mind, the interaction between people and buildings can decrease. For example, doors and windows can open themselves, which means that the chairs are the only part of the building we end up actually touching. This was something we discussed during the pandemic to explore future possibilities. Venues and theaters are important meeting places for people where we go for special occasions, and we want to contribute to making those occasions more enjoyable, sustainable, and exciting.
How else is Kotobuki Seating working toward a more sustainable, SDG-aligned future?
For many places in the world, and especially the US or Western countries, it is hard to put the SDGs into action. We see fast fashion and the ‘disposable’ culture often at the forefront, although we are trying to change. The UN is asking architects to make their buildings sustainable, but we often need to ask ourselves what it really means. EVs are sometimes considered sustainable and sometimes not, depending on what is taken into account and how it is measured.
For our company, we have responded to such needs for a long time by providing high durability and longevity of our products. Instead of replacing a product within 5 years, we should all aim to make products last for much longer, in addition to offering repair services. Japan has a high level of recycling and separating materials to make new products. This is very much a part of the Japanese DNA where we renovate and replace items. We believe that this is one of the most important points to focus on when it comes to sustainability.
