Exhibition Period: September 19, 2026 (Sat) - November 23, 2026 (Mon) Celebrating Life: "Your Chair" - 21 Years of Providing a Place to Belong - at the Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art
"Your Chair" - Celebrating Life - 21 Years of Providing a Place to Belong
Toru Asakura (designer of "Your Chair" in 2023) attended the ceremony at the Hokkaido Prefectural Asahikawa Museum of Art on September 19, 2026, to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the "Your Chair Project" in Hokkaido, and witnessed the 21-year journey of Your Chair.
(Asakura will only be present on the first day.)
"Celebrating Life: 'Your Chair' - Delivering a Place to Belong for 21 Years"
"Your Chair," which started in 2006, is a project that gives a wooden chair to every newborn child, and will be celebrating its 21st year in 2026.
This exhibition showcases the chairs created to date, along with the words of those involved in the project.
(From the Hokkaido Prefectural Asahikawa Museum of Art website)
Exhibition Period: September 19, 2026 (Sat) - November 23, 2026 (Mon)
Exhibition Period: September 19, 2026 (Sat) - November 23, 2026 (Mon) at the Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art. Celebrating Life: "Your Chair" - 21 Years of Providing a Place to Belong - Poster
"Your Chair" - Celebrating Life - 21 Years of Providing a Place to Belong
I have been supporting them all this time.
Kenichi Isoda, representative of the "Your Chair Project," and Kaori Suzuki of the Hokkaido Cultural Foundation.
21 years.
"Life-Saving Chair Newsletter"
A booklet like that is published every year.
"From the members of your chair club"
In the section at the end of the book containing excerpts from letters,
They always say, "Truth is stranger than fiction," but
It contains information on a wide variety of topics.
It conveys that each and every chair has its own background and story.
This is quoted from the "Your Chair Project" website.
Participation in "Your Chair"
Participation in the "Your Chair Project"
The "Your Chair" project currently involves 13 municipalities: Higashikawa Town , Kenbuchi Town , Aibetsu Town , Higashikagura Town , Atsuma Town, Makari Village , Rusutsu Village , Tomari Village , Kaminai Village , Nakatonbetsu Town , Chichibetsu Town , and Hamatonbetsu Town in Hokkaido, and Katsurao Village in Fukushima Prefecture .
Starting in Higashikawa Town in 2006, the program expanded to Kenbuchi Town in 2007, Aibetsu Town in 2010, Higashikagura Town in 2012, Katsurao Village and Atsuma Town from 2018, Makari Village, Rusutsu Village, Tomari Village, Kaminai Village and Nakatonbetsu Town in 2022, and Chichibetsu Town and Hamatonbetsu Town in 2025, bringing the total number of new members to approximately 2,800. The number of people who own "Your Chair" will continue to grow little by little.
Municipalities, neighborhood associations, local groups, and other community groups that agree with the project's vision and wish to participate in this initiative should contact the secretariat.
Participation in "Your Chair Club"
Those wishing to participate individually should join the "Your Chair Club." Information and an application form for the "Your Chair Club" will be sent to you by the secretariat; please request them using the link below. We also accept applications by phone. (From the "Your Chair Project Homepage")
For those who would like to learn more about the "Your Chair" project,
Here are two books published in 2014, long before Asakura Woodworking became involved with your chair in 2023.
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The book "Your Chair," published in 2014, was in its ninth year of publication at the time. (By 2026, it will be in its 21st year.)
"Your Chair" Story Bunka Publishing Bureau (Author), "Your Chair" Project (Supervised by) Format: Paperback
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There's also a project called "Your Chair of Hope."
There's a book that compiles records of how each child born on the day of the earthquake was interviewed, given a "chair for you," and written accounts of that day. It vividly records the babies born amidst the earthquake, including the lights in the operating room falling during delivery, and the people helping each other. Reading this book made me feel the reality of the situation firsthand for the first time. (Published in 2014)
"To You Who Were Born on 3/11" - Compiled by the "Your Chair Project" - Published by four Hokkaido regional newspaper companies.
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↓You can also see the actual "Your Chair 2023 Model" at the Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworking Showroom.
They adjust the sizing every year, so the size should be a good reference. You can also see the name and birthday branded on the back of the chair.
Even if you live outside of the participating municipalities, there is a system called "Your Chair Club" that allows you to participate in "Your Chair" and donate chairs to your children, grandchildren, or the children of acquaintances.
There are many different ways people give gifts to their nephews: from several siblings together, from grandparents, from parents, from friends, and so on.
Children born in 2023 will receive the 2023 model of "Your Chair."
The 2023 models were announced in April, and if you order them, they will be delivered sequentially.
If you give this as a gift to a child born in 2026, it will become your chair with a 2026 design.
If you learned about your chair this year but want to give it as a gift to a child born last year,
Please contact the secretariat.
In the case of "Your Chair" in 2023, applications were accepted until the end of 2024. (This depends on the availability of chair components, so please contact the "Your Chair" office for details.)
Toru Asakura , designer for "Your Chair 2023 " (View Profile)
Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworking Instagram
Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworking
Representative: Toru Asakura (2023 Your Chair Designer)
23-3 Sumiyamadōnomoto, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture 601-1395
TEL: 0774-39-8095
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Weekends and public holidays: By appointment only (same-day reservations can be made by phone)
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Date Published: 2023/12/11
Date Modified: 2024/8/12
Date Modified: 2026/9/19
Author: Reina Asakura
Publisher: Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworking
Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Mokkou
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