Maker Faire Tokyo 2025 Report: A Playground for Makers of All Ages
The 13th annual "Maker Faire Tokyo 2025" was held at Tokyo Big Sight for two days, October 4th (Sat) and 5th (Sun)! This year, a whopping 280 exhibitors gathered. As a "manufacturing festival" where technology, art, craft, and science intersect, the entire venue was filled with excitement and creativity.
This year, the organizer was changed to Impress Corporation, and there was a special flyer distribution for book sales by the Impress Group.
The following is reported by EMKO, a writer for AICU media!
I was immediately wondering where to start, faced with the scenery spread out before me. I decided to go around counterclockwise from the B Design & Craft Zone, following my preferred route.
Yolni, a service created to solve the problem of "being scared of walking at night." It notifies your family of your current location via LINE. Products under development are also on display, and you can see the evolution from prototypes to the current product shape. Crowdfunding is being conducted until 10/31. Yolni
Eye-con, a robot that changes its facial expression according to the atmosphere (sound). It was developed during breaks from work. The unique idea of the Japanese is interesting. futaba nozoe
A keychain made by miniaturizing an electronic paper display to keychain size. You can send your favorite photos or characters via communication and carry it around as a keychain with changes. An AI art frame is also on display as a stationary item. AI Drawing Art Frame - MANO MONO
Robotics zone. A large robot that stood out. It directly reflects the movements of a human arm.
A strange feeling of robots popping out as you walk down the street. The R2 series is also evident.
Other legged walking that moves with only one motor and mechanism without using a microcomputer. It's so mysterious that you'll be captivated. Imae Science | Maker Faire Tokyo 2024 | Make: Japan
There are plenty of experiences that not only adults but also children can get hooked on. Being able to immediately race the miniature cars you made on the spot is incredibly exciting. The sight of children being genuinely frustrated when their miniature cars fall off the rails was impressive.
There were many university exhibits this year, and they were bustling. The competitive Othello game Minoth teaches you how to win the next move while playing Othello, and why you lost if you lose. I was excited about Othello, which is not about deciding whether you win or lose, but about learning while experiencing it. Tsukuba University Entertainment Computing Laboratory | Maker Faire Tokyo 2025 | Make: Japan
Embroidery magnets made by a student who will become a music teacher next year. She creates original embroidery with the desire to have people learn about world music. Being able to talk directly with the creators of the works was also one of the highlights of the event. Her ideas are very flexible, and she creates works that I would never think of, so when you hear her talk, you can feel the creator's thoughts even more.
A high-speed rotating perpetual night bell. When you put in a donation, a wooden mallet strikes the bell. (The fact that it's a bell that doesn't make a sound was surreal.) The black part next to it vibrates when the motor buzzes, and the hairy part vibrates, representing a real insect. All of the works were laugh-inducing, and they said they were "aiming for a comedy routine." Kansai University Electrical Communication Engineering Research Group/Information Processing Research Department | Maker Faire Tokyo 2025 | Make: Japan
A healing robot developed by students from Joshibi University of Art and Design. When you tap the belly of the taiyaki, its tail jumps in response. When you press the belly of the pink bear, its ears wiggle, and when you pull out the leaves on the head of the daikon radish, it makes a sound. It's a collaborative work with Aica Kogyo, and they create various characters every year. Joshibi Robot Research Project :: About the Project
The exhibition with a live venue surrounded by black curtains was particularly eye-catching. The movement of the lights, like otaku dancing, is assembled using advanced mathematical models. At first, they move separately, but after a certain amount of time, their movements become synchronized. Watching it makes you feel like you're at a real live venue. I'd like to liven up my favorite idol's live performance like this! Recreating the penlight waving at an idol's live venue with a microcomputer - Interview with Tengu Kobo, winner of the Cemedine Award at Maker Faire 2023 | CEMEDINE Style | Cemedine Co., Ltd.
The Yamaha Motor corporate booth had a long line. The experiential installation "e-plegona" is a musical game-type installation work that simulates excitement. It was also presented at SXSW2023 and won the Red Dot Design Award 2024. A trial of "Collaborative HMI Research" that recreates excitement with art and science | Yamaha Motor
I thought that if there was a bulletin board like this in the city, the problem-solving of problems in the world would progress... Open Agritech. Hints of ideas were written on sticky notes.
If you're hungry, grab a bite to eat. It was fun just watching the process of a crepe being baked and then flowing out on a roller when it was finished.
There were many other exhibits, and it was impossible to see everything in just two hours. The venue was filled with people who genuinely enjoyed manufacturing, and it was a venue full of smiles from adults to children.
Next year, it will be moved forward by one month and will be held for two days from September 5th (Sat) to 6th (Sun), 2026. If you couldn't make it this year, please save the date for next year!
And according to Impress Group, Maker Faire will be held in various parts of Japan other than Tokyo! ? I'm looking forward to it.
That's all from EMKO, a writer for AICU media. If you thought this article was "good!", please like, follow, and recommend it! EMKO
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