Imagining Circular Futures: transitioning to a circular society through design, technology, and lifestyle —Special open academic session of CIRCULAR STARTUP TOKYO—

As global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource constraints, and increasing security risks and conflicts gain prominence, the transition to a circular economy is becoming an urgent priority worldwide. In response to this trend, there is a growing expectation in Japan for the emergence of startups and innovations to drive this transition. To support these efforts, our company, in collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, has launched CIRCULAR STARTUP TOKYO, a startup support program specializing in the circular economy, starting in April 2024.

While the momentum within industry and policy circles around the concept of the circular economy continues to grow, there is a risk that the term “circular economy” may be overused or misinterpreted without a shared vision of the “desirable future” we aim to achieve. For startups and companies seeking to create new businesses and innovations in this field, clarifying their vision of the future they want to realize is essential.

To address these challenges, we held a special open academic session of CIRCULAR STARTUP TOKYO, inviting three leading researchers and practitioners in the fields of circular economy and circular design in Japan. These experts, who also serve as academic advisors to the program, and seek to explore the possibilities of a desirable future society and economy from the perspectives of circular design, technology, and lifestyle, incorporating critical reflections on the circular economy.

Featured speakers

• Daijirō Mizuno, Professor at Kyoto Institute of Technology, specializing in future design and engineering systems. Known for his book Circular Design: Creating Sustainable Products, Services, and Businesses and as chair of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry’s “Study Group on the Future of Fashion.”
• Hiroya Tanaka, Professor at Keio University’s Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, leader of JST-COI-NEXT’s project “A Symbiotic Upcycled Society Connected by Respect,” and chief architect of the recycled 3D-printed podiums for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
• Ikuho Kochi, Associate Professor at Kanazawa University’s Institute of Transdisciplinary Sciences, researching value systems, behavioral change, and systemic transitions for sustainable societal structures. She serves as the leader of research theme 5 for JST-COI-NEXT’s “Resource Circulation Society Co-Creation Hub with Plant-Based Renewable Polymers.”

Program highlights

In the first half of the session, the three speakers shared insights from their respective research and practices. This was followed by a panel discussion exploring topics under the theme “Transitioning to a Circular Future,” including:

• Innovations in values and perspectives for a circular transition from the citizen and consumer side.
• The role of joyful and harmonious technologies in fostering coexistence among all living beings, including humans.
• Imagining a vision for Japan-specific circular economy, society, and lifestyle that reflects regional diversity, historical culture, and local traditions.
• The role of startups in driving systemic transitions towards a desirable future.

A space for learning and inspiration

This event provided a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs, business professionals, local governments, researchers, and students to gain fresh ideas, diverse perspectives, and practical tips for implementing circular economy initiatives. Together with leading experts and practitioners, we explored the question: What design, technology, and lifestyle innovations do we need to create a desirable future within the circular economy?

We hope to continue fostering dialogue and collaboration to shape a sustainable and inclusive future.

Event Overview

• Date: Friday, January 10
• Time: 6:30–9:30pm
• Format: Online (via Zoom)
• Participants: Unlimited
• Fee: Free

Event Schedule

6:15pm: Zoom room opens

Part 1: Keynote Presentations

• 6:30pm: Opening Remarks (5 min)
• 6:35pm: Guest Talks (40 min each, 3 speakers)
  ◉Radical Circular Design for Transitioning to a Desirable Future
  Speaker: Daijirō Mizuno (Professor at Future Design and Engineering Organization, Kyoto Institute of Technology)
  ◉Community-Based, Circular-Centered Design and Enabling Technologies
  Speaker: Hiroya Tanaka (Professor at the SFC Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University / Director of the Digital Manufacturing and Design Research Center for Emergent Circularity)
  ◉Systemic Design for Transforming Values and Fostering Happiness
  Speaker: Ikuho Kochi (Associate professor at the Transdisciplinary Laboratory of the Institute of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University)
• 7:20pm: Q&A Session (10 min)

Part 2: Panel Discussion

• 8:45pm: Thematic Discussion (40 min) Theme: Transitioning to a Circular Future
  • Key discussion points:
  • Innovations in values and perspectives for a circular future from the citizen’s perspective.
  • Technology that fosters harmonious prosperity for all life forms.
  • A vision for Japan-specific circular design, rooted in regional diversity and cultural heritage.
  • The role of circular startups in systemic transitions.

9:25pm: Closing
9:30pm: Event ends

Featured Guests & Panelists

Daijirō Mizuno

Professor at Future Design and Engineering Organization, Kyoto Institute of Technology
Born in Tokyo in 1979, Mizuno completed his doctoral program in fashion design at the Royal College of Art in 2008, earning a Doctor of Arts (Fashion Design) degree. He joined the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at Keio University in 2012 and became an associate professor in the same department in 2015. He is involved in planning and operating various projects that critically examine the relationship between design and society. He began co-editing the fashion criticism magazine “vanitas” with Hiroshi Ashida and has authored/co-authored numerous books, including “x-DESIGN,” “What is Possible with Fab,” “Inclusive Design,” “Real Anonymous Design,” “Fashion Design for Living,” “What is Critical Design,” and “Circular Design.” He has been a visiting professor at the KYOTO design lab at Kyoto Institute of Technology since 2019, and a professor at the Future Design and Engineering Organization at Kyoto Institute of Technology since 2022, as well as a special invited professor at the Graduate School of Policy and Media at Keio University (concurrently).

Hiroya Tanaka

Professor at the SFC Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University / Director of the Digital Manufacturing and Design Research Center for Emergent Circularity
Graduated from the Faculty of Integrated Human Studies at Kyoto University, the Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies at the same university, and the Department of Social Infrastructure Engineering at the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, with a doctoral degree in engineering. He became a full-time lecturer at the School of Environment and Information Studies (SFC), Keio University in 2005, an associate professor in 2008, and a professor in 2016. In 2010, he became a visiting researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Department of Architecture, and as a major national research project. He is the assistant research leader of the MEXT COI (2013-2021) “A Fab Global Society that Directly Links Sensitivity and Digital Manufacturing to Expand Sei-katsu-sha Creativity,” and the project leader of the MEXT COI-NEXT (2023-). He is also a project leader of the MEXT COI-NEXT (2023-) “Center for Co-creation of ‘Symbiotic Upcycling Society’ Connected by Respect.” He has received numerous awards, including the NISTEP Naive Researcher Award from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Unexplored Software Genius Programmer/Super Creator Award, and the Japan Good Design Award. He is also involved in policy advocacy as a member of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s “New Manufacturing Study Group” and a member of the “New Manufacturing Network Construction Support Project.” For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, he served as the design supervisor for the world’s first podium production using recycled 3D printing.

Ikuho Kochi

Associate professor at the Transdisciplinary Laboratory of the Institute of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University
She holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from Duke University and a Ph.D. in economics from Georgia State University, specializing in environmental economics, educational technology, and cognitive science. She is engaged in research on value, awareness, and behavior change for the construction of sustainable social systems. She is a leader of COI-NEXT “Center for Co-Creation of Resource Recycling Society by Renewable Polysaccharide Plant-Derived Plastics” Research and Development Project 5.

Facilitator

Yu Kato

CEO, Harch Inc. Kato founded Harch in 2015 and leads several sustainability-focused digital media platforms, including IDEAS FOR GOOD and Circular Economy Hub. He collaborates with businesses, governments, and educational institutions to advance sustainability and circular economy initiatives. A graduate of the University of Tokyo, he has completed sustainability programs at the University of Cambridge and obtained B Corp certification for Harch in April 2023.