On the 3rd of March, the Ambassador of Japan to Estonia, His Excellency Mr. Koichiro Nakamura, invited the Rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts, Professor Hilkka Hiiop, the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Professor Sille Pihlak, and the Head of the Department of Product Design, Björn Koop, to dinner at his residence to exchange views on the current state of cooperation with Japanese art universities, collaboration between Japan and Estonia, and future prospects between the Academy and the Embassy. The dinner with the Ambassador and his two aides, Mr. Tomoya Usui and Mr. Noriaki Ikeda, proved to be exceptionally warm and enjoyable for both sides. See also here.
“The Faculty of Architecture has had a long-standing interest in Japan, but over the past year this interest has turned into concrete action! We are moving toward joint curricula and increasing student mobility between universities. In the research landscape, we are exploring opportunities to integrate traditional building techniques with contemporary digital competencies to create a better living environment,” comments Sille Pihlak.
Björn Koop adds: “The Department of Product Design has contributed to building contacts with Japan in both the private sector and with other universities. For example, in 2025 third-year students visited the design studio Takram, the architectural office Kengo Kuma, and the University of Tokyo’s Design DLX Lab. This year our students participated in the University of Tokyo Design Lab’s ‘Treasure Hunting’ workshop, during which 12 students developed various design solutions. We plan to continue cooperation both with existing partners and are currently in negotiations for new potential collaborations.”
On March 3, Japan traditionally celebrates the Hina Matsuri festival, which marks girls’ health and happiness and features the display of Hina Ningyō dolls passed down from mother to daughter. The dolls symbolize the Emperor and Empress and their loyal attendants. In our view, these dolls are very important, as they protect girls and bring them happiness. Sometimes Hina dolls are passed down from mother to daughter and then to granddaughter.
Architecture and product design are not the only fields in whose orbit Japan features prominently. Japan, and Asia more broadly, has become one of EKA’s strategic directions for developing cooperation. Hopefully this will expand even further in the future. There is much to learn from the Japanese, and we have much to teach them. But the best results are born in collaboration.