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The International Friend of Habitare in 2017: Masaaki Kanai

Masaaki Kanai, The Chairman and Representative director of Japanese retailer MUJI to be The International Friend of Habitare in 2007. Masaaki Kanai will choose the most exciting products and phenomena at Habitare, and will give a keynote speech at the fair on Wednesday 13 September at 14.30.

– I am delighted to have received the invitation to become the International Friend of Habitare and to come to Finland next autumn. At Habitare, I expect to see a design aesthetic that originates from Finnish nature, as well as many products that bring together traditional culture and modern technology, says Masaaki Kanai.

– I am delighted to have received the invitation to become the International Friend of Habitare and to come to Finland next autumn. At Habitare, I expect to see a design aesthetic that originates from Finnish nature, as well as many products that bring together traditional culture and modern technology, says Masaaki Kanai.

In his keynote speech, Kanai plans to discuss MUJI’s philosophy, its potential for growth, and the visions of better everyday life that are behind the success of the company.

Since 1993, Masaaki Kanai has worked as an executive with Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. which owns MUJI. The official name of the company in Japanese, Mujirushi Ryōhin, means no-brand quality goods. MUJI is known around the world for its affordable, aesthetically minimalist and beautiful everyday objects, clothes, and home appliances, all of which are user-driven, and use high-quality materials and a streamlined manufacturing process.

In Japan, MUJI has branched out into house concepts, selling prefab homes and renovating old apartment buildings. MUJI has 870 shops around the world and has an annual turnover of 2.7 billion euros.

MUJI pop-up shop to come to Habitare

 

 

MUJI  will make its first appearance in Finland at the Habitare fair in Helsinki, from 13 to 17 September. Habitare will host MUJI pop-up shop throughout the fair. MUJI is known around the world for its affordable, aesthetically minimalist and beautiful everyday objects, clothes and home appliances. In Japan, MUJI has branched out into house concepts, selling prefab homes and renovating old apartment buildings.

– We thought that Habitare is one of a most important design fairs in Europe and this would be a good opportunity for us in the marketing and trial of the Finnish market. We recognize Finnish people prefer simple design and avoid unnecessary decoration, which is the same as the MUJI concept. Habitare visitors are mainly Finnish people which has an important meaning for us, says Takuo Nagahara, director of MUJI Europe Holdings, who is responsible for the MUJI pop-up stand at Habitare.

MUJI’s arrival in Finland has been anticipated for years. Until now, for Finns, the nearest stand-alone MUJI shop has been in Berlin. In Sweden, MUJI has a number of shops-in-shop at the Åhléns department stores.

 

Photos: Ryohin Keikaku Co. Ltd / MUJI