In "International furniture design competition" that faced the 6th this time, the work from the world 43 countries and regions to 909 points applied. As the judges Mr. Toshiyuki Kita (Japan), Mr. Motomi Kawakami (Japan) , Mr. Kunio Shibuya (Japan), Mr. Hans Sandgren Jakobsen (Denmark) Ms. Gunilla Allrard (Sweden), and Mr. Yeoh-Hang Yoon (Korea) strict examinations, the work of winning a prize 10 points and the selected work 20 points were selected. The 6th International Furniture Design Competition had 909 works from all over the world, 43 countries / region. The characteristic of this competition is increase of works of three dimension rendering by computer. In totality, there are a lot of works by plywood, and I feel something missed of handling down of wood feature, traditional skill and conventional works used wood itself. The ten award-winning pieces were selected as the works which have high originality and showed dignity of the world competition. Firstly, SORAHE, the Gold Leaf, has an abundance of originality regarding the structure, assembling, and the beauty, and it was nominated by all the judges. The two lighting works were lead to the Silver Leaf. KINA LIGHT by fusion between craftsmanship and machine technology was drawn attention as new idea. The other Silver Leaf, BESIDE, is the combination between table and lamp. The whole shape is ensured by turning. The combination between the wood texture and the light changes climate of the space. The idea was evaluated highly. KNIT CHAIR, The Bronze Leaf, was highly evaluated the traditional idea and the future possibility of wooden furniture. I would like to give special prominence to add the two works as the Jury Special Prize by suggestion of the judges among many finalists. BUNNY CHAIR, the Jury Special Prize, is made by one plywood and is used as a stacking chair, too. The total thirty winning pieces were evaluated as works that contribute the furniture industry in Asahikawa and the future of the world wooden furniture. I would like to inform that there were some great pieces among even works which fell just short of the prize winning. The works, mainly the award-winning and finalists' works, are discussed with Asahikawa Manufacturers for their practical application from this time, and the products are transmitted to the world. I hope that the works, which give us dream and enrichment for our daily life, are born by this competition. The 6th International Furniture Design Competition in Asahikawa grew up to the exhibition, both in name and reality, which the world pays attention, and it became to have excellent works from Asia region including Korea and Oceania region. This time there were many works of plywood rather than ones of solid materials, unexpectedly all the award -winning works are made in plywood. Although it is ironical tendency for Asahikawa, which leads processing of solid materials, I can tell that social climate of the time, resource saving, and new possibility of molding are included in those technology this time. On the other hand, the few works, which are build in solid materials, are found yet. I see some works, which includes longstanding past entries and wealth of treasures, are be over with advantages of plywood. I think that it is priority that Asahikawa becomes more radical and industrializes the works. In the forefront of this technology, it is very clear that it is the decade of plywood of the three dimensions. SORAHE, the Gold Leaf, is familiar with the structure as shelf, however it projects ample and comfortable stability although it is thinner from bottom to up and delicate balance of slim. And it is very fresh idea to assemble the parts by "Velcro". KINA LIGHT and BESIDE, which are the Silver Leaf, show different joints and construction methods from concept of the conventional methods. The works are close content, and I found that there were some good works which have possibility to be excellent normal furniture only with a little looking after them among works that have missed to be the award-winning. I would like to expect about how they relate to make reality. And it is diversified from only the field of furniture to the field of living ware as the characteristic this time beyond the previous time. My expectation for this competition every times is significant about how applicants include matters, which are necessary today, such as simplicity of use, beautiful shape, technical aggressiveness, and sensitivity of the times. I have never known that there is any other competition that designers challenge to build the design by using wood, which is natural materials, in diverse way. It is hard aspect of our assignment that we think about effective utilization of wood resources. On the other hand, it is soft aspect of our assignment that we think about how we could promote our pleasant life in our living environment that materials of inorganic substance have been increasing overwhelmingly. I can find out the admirable solution against both the hard and soft aspects in the designs of the competition among the award-winning and finalists' works. And it became the characteristic of this competition that a lot of works are getting better to make reality of production while the competitions are continued and the impact is getting stronger. I will pay attention about the variation of furniture this time. The excellent works such as lights and coat hangers have dramatic ability to make the giant leap from the conventional industry of northern island, which has been producing cabinets, to the total interior's industry. Also I expect product commercialization of the works. It is amazing that it for the 6th time is possible to arrange such a well organized and popular Competition in Asahikawa. IFDA has become a well known and recommended institution within the furniture business worldwide. This is a unique opportunity for the furniture producers in the area of Asahikawa. Every 3rd year they get a 1. hand presentation of the new trends within wooden furniture design. Maybe some of the proposals could seem difficult to produce- but face the challenge! The dialog and cooperation with a designer can lead to quite another result than that which was in mind at the beginning. But to me as a designer the teamwork is very important, because here strange and wonderful things can happen during the design process. Young designers will only get better when used by the producers so grab the challenge! This years material-trend, the plywood, which is a part of most of the products, has been refined and joined in many interesting ways, moulded, folded, riveted, tired, glued, taped a.m.m.. This indicates many new inspiring ways of using wood so just grab the challenge and good luck ! The prize-winning entries of the 6th International Furniture Design Competition are very impressive and professional. They are all a result of new, exciting ways of working with wooden material. The prize-winners have presented light, thin and elegant expressions using innovative design solutions in wood and plywood. I am honored having been invited as a jury member and I would like to express my gratitude towards the excellent organization of the competition having made the work of the judges so pleasant and inspiring. My warmest congratulations to the prize-winners and to all competitors. I wish you all the best for the future and I am convinced that the design quality of the future will keep improving owing to your work. First of all, I would like to thank the IFDA representatives for their kind invitation to serve on the judge panel. It is a great honor for me personally. I would also like to express my sincere congratulations to all the awardees as well as the finalists while paying my respect and tribute to all the applicants who, irrespective of the outcome, gave their all with passion and courage. I believe that although there may be some differences in the material and in the manufacturing technique, wooden furniture should fundamentally be practical and beautiful. Through this approach we may truly enjoy life's meaning and values, and furthermore enhance the quality of life by beautifying our environment. I earnestly hope that this fair, which is celebrating its sixth year this year, will continue to flourish in terms of both quality and quantity so that it can firmly establish itself as a respected international competition, serving as a joyous festivity for all those devoted to furniture design around the world. I wish all of you constant health and good luck. Thank you. The preliminary selection process took place on Jan 27 and 28, 2005. There are 909 entries from 41 countries and one region in this competition. We had Mr. Toshiyuki Kita (Japan), Mr. Motomi Kawakami (Japan) , Mr. Kunio Shibuya (Japan), Mr. Hans Sandgren Jakobsen (Denmark) Ms. Gunilla Allrard (Sweden), and Mr. Yeoh-Hang Yoon (Korea) as the judges. And 34 works were selected by their careful examination for the main selection process. The main selection process will be held in May with their actual works.