On Design Hunts, Andy and Shaula search for designs rooted in regional history and climates. This time they visit Iwate Prefecture whose harsh yet rich natural environment has shaped a unique worldview and given rise to refined designs in ironware and Urushi lacquerware. The region was deeply scarred by the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Explore how Iwate's designs cultivate centuries-old techniques while looking toward the future.

The kimono is famous around the world as Japan's most famous item of traditional clothing. It offers far more than fashionable beauty; its history has deep roots in Japanese aesthetics and playfulness. New approaches to this item have thrown a spotlight on 21st-century values. Artist Takahashi Hiroko explores the potential of kimono design through the lenses of gender, diversity and sustainability.

Textiles are a ubiquitous material that bring warmth, comfort and color to our everyday lives. As people everywhere reassess their values in the ongoing pandemic, new and playful designs have emerged that draw on the beauty of textiles. Textile designer Himuro Yuri explores designs that are shaping new relationships with fabrics.