Kiten

Academic Supervision: AMANE LLC.
Art Direction and Design: Ryosuke Harashima



Taking Advantage of Social Distancing.
A New Sign Product placed between people

During the COVID-19 pandemic which occurred since 2020, “Kiten Project” was launched to support cultural activities in museums, libraries and Archives that were facing difficulties in operating and maintaining public spaces. The tree designed with the concept of “planting of culture” is aimed to become “Kiten”, a starting point, of offering people information on academic materials using the vacancy that emerged in public space as a result of social distancing. “Kiten Tree” aims to revitalize a decline in cultural activities. Through its social application, this product seeks to demonstrate the important connection between academic materials, cultural facilities and people.
The name “Kiten” has a double meaning. In Japanese, the phrase “Kiten” means starting point, the place where things begin. Additionally, “Kiten” could also mean “to exhibit a tree”.

Kiten Tree

The “Kiten Tree” was innovated as a tool for carrying positive messages while keeping social distancing, instead of using signages which convey rejection of people, such as “unavailable” or “X” on benches and tables at the facility.

「木」をモチーフにしたソーシャルディスタンスを促すプロダクト。ポジティブな感覚で人と人が距離をとることができる新しいソーシャルツールとして。
A tree motif product that encourages people to keep social distancing. It is a new social tool that allows people to maintain a distance from each other in a positive way.


The creators, together with the curators and librarians of the facilities that hold the academic materials will collaborate through the Kiten Project, and plan to utilize those materials in various facilities such as restaurants, cafes, and hospitals. The project aims to create a safe and secure public space with rich expressions in both academic and design.



Kiten Leaf, Academy and Design

A “Kiten Leaf” hanging from the “Kiten Tree” is produced using content from digital archive of academic materials kept in cultural facilities. By selecting materials that rarely get the chance to be exhibited, the project will offer visitors an opportunity to gain new experiences and valuable insights from a wide range of materials.

キテンの葉デザインフォーマット
A3縦の紙面レイアウトを2枚つなげたA2サイズが「キテンの葉」の基本仕様。傘状に巻いて木に掛け、左右の両側からでも同じ内容を俯瞰できるように配慮しました。

Kiten leaf design format
The basic specification of the “Kiten Leaf” is an A2 size layout, consisting of two A3 vertical sheets joined together. It is being rolled up like an umbrella and hung onto a Kiten Tree. Consideration has been made to allow the same content be viewed from both left and right sides.
  • 「キテンの葉」制作例1:西田幾多郎記念哲学館
    「座る」と「善の研究」をテーマに資料を編集した内容でレイアウトを作成。コロナ禍の影響で展示が難しくなった資料からも素材を選択。

    “Kiten Leaf” Example 1: Ishikawa NISHIDA KITARO Museum of Philosophy
    The layout was based upon materials put together on the theme of “sitting” and “An Inquiry into the Good”. Materials were also selected from subject matters that were difficult to exhibit due to the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
  • 「キテンの葉」制作例2:大阪市立中央図書館
    同図書館所蔵資料から近代建築にまつわるものを編集。同図書館HPでデジタルアーカイブが公開されているため、紙媒体からウェブの流れでより深く資料の情報の検索を行うことができます。

    “Kiten Leaf” Example 2 : OSAKA Municipal Library
    We compiled materials from the library’s collection related to modern architecture. Since the digital archive is available on the library’s website, the reader can easily move from a print to web medium for a more in-depth search on the subject matter.

【キテンプロジェクトに関するお問い合わせ先】
合同会社AMANE
担当:小川、堀井美里
E-mail: kiten@amane-project.jp

【Contact Information for Kiten Project】
E-mail: info@ryosukeharashima.com

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