MONO MAKERS PROGRAM
Find your next collaborator and develop new products
To stimulate collaboration between Japan and the Netherlands, NN Life and MONO JAPAN joined hands together to start up the new programme “MONO MAKERS PROGRAM (MMP)”. The focus of this programme is to create a new product for the European market, that embodies the quality of Dutch design and Japanese craftsmanship.
Announcement of Selected Collaborations for MONO MAKERS PROGRAM 2026
We are pleased to announce the selected collaborations for the MONO MAKERS PROGRAM 2026. After a highly competitive open call and careful review by our jury, the following two pairs have been selected:
Grand Prize
Tatsumi Wooden Handle Manufacturing Co. × Aldo Bakker Studio
This collaboration was selected for its exceptional potential and the remarkable compatibility between the maker and designer. The jury was particularly impressed by the strong mutual motivation demonstrated throughout the application process and by the shared curiosity that forms the foundation of this partnership.
The proposal reflects a deep commitment to exploration and exchange, bringing together Tatsumi Wooden Handle Manufacturing Co.’s expertise in craftsmanship and Aldo Bakker’s distinctive design approach. The jury believes that this collaboration has the potential to generate outcomes that neither party could achieve independently, resulting in a meaningful and inspiring dialogue between tradition, material knowledge, and contemporary design.
Left: Aldo Bakker (Aldo Bakker Studio) / Right: Hiroyasu Tatsumi (Tatsumi Wooden Handle Manufacturing Co. )
Jury’s Special Prize
Studio Wieki Somers × Yamagishi Washi Inc.
This collaboration was recognized for the strength of its proposal and the exciting possibilities it presents for the future. Throughout the selection process, the jury engaged in extensive discussions about the project and was highly impressed by the creative potential emerging from the combination of Studio Wieki Somers’ artistic vision and Yamagishi Washi’s expertise in papermaking.
The proposal demonstrated a thoughtful and ambitious approach, with the potential to create new perspectives on materiality and craftsmanship through international collaboration. The jury appreciated the project’s capacity to inspire future developments while maintaining a strong connection to traditional knowledge and techniques.
One consideration during this year’s selection process was the overall direction of the MONO MAKERS PROGRAM. In previous editions, the programme has already featured several collaborations involving washi. For MMP 2026, the jury hoped to create opportunities for projects exploring a broader range of materials and fields of craftsmanship. While this was an important consideration, the strength and quality of the proposal from Studio Wieki Somers and Yamagishi Washi ultimately convinced the jury that it deserved special recognition.
Left: Wieki Somers (Studio Wieki Somers) / right: Yasuki Yamagishi (Yamagishi Washi Inc.)
Program Schedule
Application period
Friday, 3 April 2026 (from 16:00 in Japan / from 09:00 in the Netherlands) – Friday, 29 May 2026 (extended)
Announcement of the selected pair
Thursday, 11 June 2026
Hands-on support period
Mid-June 2026 – End of March 2027
The program selection committee will review and discuss all applications and project proposals. The selected pair will be announced on this website and through our social media channels.
Please note that the committee will not provide individual feedback, comments, or reasons regarding the application results.
About MONO MAKERS PROGRAM
Hands-on support for collaborations
Within the online platform, we host the “MONO MAKERS PROGRAM (MMP)” which will provide hands-on support for the collaboration between makers to create a new product. The members can seek a collaborator and communicate within the platform. When there is a mutual wish to collaborate between two parties, the pair can apply for this hands-on support program.
The focus of this program is to create a new product for the European market, that embodies the quality of Dutch design and Japanese craftsmanship. To achieve this goal, NN Life and MONO JAPAN will give hands-on support to the selected pair for one year, until the end of March 2026.
MONO MAKERS PROGRAM is co-organized by NN Life Insurance Company.
MMP 2024 Outcomes
In 2024, two unique collaborations were selected as part of the MONO MAKERS PROGRAM.
Shohei Kubo (KANMAKI / Kansai Makitori Haku Co., Ltd.) & Sigrid Calon
Shohei Kubo, known for manufacturing and selling pigment foil, collaborated with Dutch artist Sigrid Calon to develop a new line of paper stationery. By combining pigment foil, washi paper, and paper boxes, they created a visually striking stationery collection guided by Sigrid’s art direction.
2. Tsuyoshi Kato (Kato Ken Hata Flag Shop / kiten.Kyoto) & Laura Luchtman
Tsuyoshi Kato, the third-generation owner of a Kyoto-based flag maker and founder of the brand kiten.Kyoto, worked with Dutch textile designer Laura Luchtman to design indoor garments and bags. These items use traditional dyeing techniques originally developed for flag noren, reimagined into contemporary textile products.
Both collaborations were presented at the Kyoto International Gift Show held on March 12–13, 2025, and also featured at MONO JAPAN 2024 in Rotterdam.
MMP 2023 Highlight: YŌRAI WASHI
Selected through the 2023 MONO MAKERS PROGRAM, the partnership between Yohei Ooue of washi distributor Ooue Co., Ltd. and Dutch designer Mae Engelgeer explored the potential of washi beyond traditional uses. Together, they developed a new material using recycled washi—made from production offcuts by Inshu washi craftsmen—and dyed with ethical plant-based dyes by Kyoto artisans. The project aimed to position washi as a vegan leather alternative and create sustainable interior items.
In March 2024, they premiered four cushion cover prototypes at the Kyoto Gift Show. Their brand, YŌRAI WASHI, redefines washi through the lens of contemporary design, honoring Japanese craftsmanship while offering timeless products suited to modern interiors. The collection includes the Duo cushion series, placemats, storage boxes, and small trays—each showcasing the soft, inviting texture of washi and subtly elegant plant-dyed tones.
Their collaboration continues and will be officially presented at MONO JAPAN Fair 2024 in September.
Organisers
NN Life Insurance Company
Since the start of Japan operations in 1986 as the first European life insurance company in Japan, NN Life Insurance Company has been providing products and services to maintain and preserve the value of small-to-medium sized companies. As part of our support for the next generation, we are implementing a program to assist the successors and young managers who will be the future of Japan’s small and medium-sized companies, Our “Family Business Innovation Lab” program is being co-hosted with two local NPOs.
Japan Cultural Exchange
Japan Cultural Exchange (JCE) is the owner of the MONO JAPAN fair and the web shop MONO SHOP. The first MONO JAPAN Fair took place in 2016 in the Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam. Since then, more than 70 Japanese participants have exhibited their works with our support, most of them for the first time in Europe, and numerous collaborations between Japan and the Netherlands were born. In November 2019, the owner of JCE established an NPO “Stichting MONO JAPAN” to organize cultural activities and to separate these activities from the MONO JAPAN fair.