Smiles of "Japaneseness" bloomed at Tokyo Big Sight! HandMade In Japan Fes' Winter (2026) Exhibition Report

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Smiles of "Japaneseness" bloomed at Tokyo Big Sight! HandMade In Japan Fes' Winter (2026) Exhibition Report

HandMade In Japan Fes' Winter (2026), Japan's largest creator festival, was held at Tokyo Big Sight for two days on January 17th (Sat) and 18th (Sun). Approximately 3,000 creators from all over the country gathered at this event, displaying a wide variety of unique works. This year's event saw the largest number of visitors since its launch in the winter of 2019, and the venue was filled with incredible excitement.

Amidst this excitement, the Hokuryu Town booth (Partner/Sponsor Area H-96 to H-101) became a place of healing and discovery, delivering the brightness of sunflowers and the warmth of the northern land.

"Something you can only find here" shines! The power of Hokuryu Town's creators

This year's exhibitors were creators that Hokuryu Town is proud of (TokaDin, Tsumugi, Shizenka, Hokuryu Town PR, Local Resources PR). Countless works were lined up in the large venue, but the Hokuryu Town booth had a unique personality that you won't find anywhere else.

• A heartwarming piece inspired by sunflowers
• Vibrant crafts made using natural materials from Hokuryu Town
• Delicate handiwork that conveys the kindness of the maker

The "baton of creativity" passed on by local resources

What is particularly noteworthy about this exhibition is that it not only involved the sale of works, but also the creation of interaction through "materials" and "experiences."

• A VR experience that lets you experience Japan's number one sunflower village
• Display of natural materials such as game (deer antlers, etc.) and birch

In particular, the "local resources (materials)" brought in from Hokuryu Town attracted a great deal of attention from the other visiting creators. "If we have these materials, we can make something like this!" was the reaction of people who love making things. The abundant nature of Hokuryu Town sparked inspiration for the urban creators, and it was the moment when the seeds of new "co-creation" were sown.

Impressions from Hokuryu Town exhibitors

"The works of the creators we went to see with us were unlike anything else even in the large venue there, and I think they were all quite unusual for people living in Tokyo. I think that this kind of uniqueness is what gives the creators confidence and motivation to create more.

"We also received frank feedback from exhibitors, who said, "The local resources we brought from Hokuryu Town were in demand mainly among creators, which we thought was interesting and that they hold new possibilities."

The uniqueness of the works from Hokuryu Town stopped city visitors in their tracks, eliciting smiles of amazement. Rather than following trends, these works were created by polishing the treasures they had at their feet, and they have a strong "soul" that moves people's hearts.

Other creator booths

Music & play area, food truck

Heading out into the world with confidence and pride

Throughout the two days, the booth was constantly filled with smiling faces. "Our works and materials can be used all over the world." This solid feeling gave the creators great confidence and ignited the fire of enthusiasm for their next creation.

In today's world where efficiency and speed are essential, the time-consuming "handmade" craftsmanship and the "spirit of Hokuryu" that expresses gratitude for the blessings of nature are the very essence of "comfort" that many people seek. With this "spirit of harmony" and "uniqueness" in mind, as demonstrated at Tokyo Big Sight, Hokuryu will continue to deliver warm emotions to the world.

To everyone who attended, and to all the creators who took on such a wonderful challenge, we share our heartfelt love, gratitude, and prayers for this wonderful and moving moment.

YouTube videos(Thumbnails are taken from Gemini3)

Other photos

Photos (254 photos) from HMJ's "HandMade In Japan Fes' Winter (2026)" at Tokyo Big Sight are here >>

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🖋️ Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi

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