The International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa 2002, our fifth competition, received 820 entries from all over the world. The triennial competition is now growing as a highly evaluated competition because of its high quality entries. This fact shows that it is very important for competitions to be held continuously in order to receive superior designs.
The judging criteria of the competition were the marketability, originality, quality, social needs, and advancement of local industry. The full-scale mockups which were selected for the main selection process were gathered in Asahikawa, and at first 30 final pieces were chosen. Conclusively award-winning works were selected from among those 30 final pieces.
The work "PIN COAT" won the Gold Leaf due to its unconventionality of usage, originality and marketability. The Silver Leaf was given to the work "Back to Soil Chair" for winning approval for its simple construction and its well throughout.
The works which implied the idea of the future proposal of the worldwide wooden furniture ranked higher, and they also indicated the future to Asahikawa, the producing district taking an active part in domestic markets. In accordance with all of the judges' wishes, six Bronze-Leaf winning works were selected (originally planned for five) from among many excellent final works. The bench which was made by the combination of solid wood and plywood. The screen with a unique idea. The chair which took advantage of the lumber's warmth and the material. The digital clock which took shape of function and fascinating aspect together by using the light looming through fine sliced veneer. The shelf made of aluminum and plywood, which was easily assembled. Finally the bench for three people won the approval for the usage of material, stacking ability and its joints.
The award-winning works in this competition were remarkable for the originality, high quality, sense of beauty, and care for the practical application. Moreover, I found many final pieces which can be put in the market with small modifications. I hope that the achievements of the competition will be a valuable contribution to world furniture as well as the Asahikawa furniture industry.

The fifth competition is reaching the most interesting part. I could find some innovative entries of the 21st century through this competition.
It was very difficult to select award-winning works since the final pieces which cleared the first stage of the main selection process were of a high level of quality and were rich in variety in the field of furniture. After the heated debate, we, as judges, obtained the organizing committee's agreement to add one more Bronze Leaf Award.
We looked very much to the works possessing the idea of connection to the future more than the works which are high quality but similar to the designs in existence. Moreover, we became more severe especially when we examined the chairs. Through the long history of wooden chairs, it is extremely rare to find chairs which catch our attention. We could not find any outstanding works from such perspectives in this competition unfortunately. The "Back to soil chair" which won the Silver Leaf, however, was an absorbing piece for its attempt to indicate the new way of producing although the work still needs further research on amelioration.
In this competition, I saw more than a few works which, with a little improvement, would be able to pass as commercial products. I am now able to anticipate further progress, from this competition and beyond. It seems like Asahikawa furniture is in the process of being disseminated throughout the world.

I can see the furniture design of the 21st century through the award-winning works of the competition. The common characteristics of the award-winning works are the lightness, the organic combination of the materials and the accessible image of lumber which contrast with the inorganic, high-technology material increasing recently. We identify with such things because it holds to our image of the future living environment.
I think that the variety of life styles and the diversity of life would be high-lighted in this century.
In the production-centered industrialized society of the 20th century, the role of humans and the areas they inhabit seemed almost established. However, people noticed that they needed to keep a proper distance from production after experiencing an unexpected change in social structure, international liquidation of the producing district, price collapse, outsourcing and restructuring. Eventually they became wise to the fact that producing is a device, not a purpose. Especially after the modern age began, human beings tried to build their little castles without abandoning each habitat. As a result, their surroundings became uncoordinated, and they started admitting the importance of an ecological viewpoint and the vulnerability of society. Compared to other animals which nest and move freely through nature, contemporary humans are heavily burdened by their possessions.
The designs of the Gold Leaf and Silver Leaf winning entries were marvelously light and simple, allowing for greater freedom and mobility, and the materials were used thoughtfully. Therefore, the works proved to be suitable for nomadic life and its space.
Another characteristic of the award-winning and final pieces of the competition was the well-expressed merit of wood. The works took advantage of the wood's attribute by exquisite combination with other materials such as metals.
I think Asahikawa, the host city of the IFDA, benefited in may ways from this competition. I hope what we obtained through the competition will have a good effect on the regional industry and lifestyle, and I also hope that it will help in building up the reputation of the "Asahikawa Brand" in the 21st century.

The quality of the prize-winning entries of the fifth International Furniture Design Competition is excellent. There is a deep understanding of the design complexity as well as personal expressions of wooden furniture. The ambition to find also new material applications parallel to the traditional ones reflects awareness of the sustainable future.
For me personally it has been a great honor and pleasure to be invited as a jury member.
The organization of the competition has been excellent so that the judges have had the possibility to concentrate on the essential core, the holistic design quality of the entries.
My best congratulations for the prize winners and many thanks to all the competitors. Our hopes were realized through the high quality of your designs.

It has been a great honor for me to join the jury of the International Furniture Design Competition. It was a pleasant surprise for me that the members of jury were so unanimous in selecting the designs during the final phase.
The awarded furniture represent many continents, a lot of types of furniture and international style. Therefore I really hope that producers of furniture will be standing ready to be allowed to produce the new furniture designs. Good luck.

I'm very glad to see many nice designs from all over the world.
After having a heated debate, we finally selected about 30 works from 820 entries. I am looking forward to seeing the prototypes in May. We received many high-level works for the fifth competition, and it was more than we expected. I recognized that it is very important for the competitions to be held continuously in order to receive superior designs. Nowadays "Asahikawa" is widely known among woodworking manufacturers not only in Japan but around the world. I believe that the International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa is gradually becoming more conventional in the world with many high-level entries. I would like to keep a close eye on this competition and development ofAsahikawa wooden furniture as local industry.