#Takashimaya #Bunkyo Gakuin #Edo Komon

Innovating Tradition: The Edo Komon Revival Project

Bunkyo Gakuin University, under the direction of President Ben Fuku, has teamed up with Takashimaya Co., Ltd., led by President Yoshihiro Murata, to embark on an ambitious initiative. This new collaboration is aimed at revitalizing traditional Edo Komon (a style of Japanese textile dyeing) through the coexistence of human artisans and artificial intelligence (AI) in what they have termed the 'Human x AI Coexistence Project for Regional Industry Revitalization.' The partnership, formalized with an agreement signed on September 22, 2025, symbolizes a merging of academic research and commercial enterprise, aimed at fostering growth in local industries and preserving traditional crafts.

Background of the Collaboration

The project originates from the design management research seminar at Bunkyo Gakuin University’s Business School, led by Professor Hitoshi Kawagoe. Their research has successfully analyzed historical examples of Edo Komon designs to reveal essential marketing insights. By April 2022, they created a systematic theory of design production, which was previously only tacit knowledge among artisans. Additionally, they developed a unique algorithm to address one of the main challenges in the design process—the random placement of patterns. This innovative AI generation program has drastically improved efficiency, reducing the time artisans spend on these tasks. In May 2024, the program was utilized to launch a new textile design titled 'Sweets Komon,' marking a significant advancement in the integration of AI with traditional craft.

Moving forward into 2025, the project will focus on building a motif dotting AI system that will analyze, formalize, and validate the skills of artisans in Edo Komon production—skills that are increasingly difficult to pass down. Combining data science and design thinking will be key to revitalizing this traditional craft.

Takashimaya recognizes the alignment of this initiative with its goals, and thus the 'Human x AI Coexistence Project' was officially initiated. The collaboration aims not just to enhance the Edo Komon products but explore innovative applications beyond traditional textiles as well.

The Current State of Edo Komon

However, the current landscape of the kimono market reveals challenges. Particularly, designs referred to as