From June 15 (Mon) to July 13 (Mon), 2026, the 1st floor front show windows of Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building will display an installation titled "AQUARIUM," created by Tansan Design Studio (based in Otsu, Shiga). The work is part of Takashimaya's "Feel It! Hear It! Summer Onomatopoeia" promotion, transforming the show windows into a space reminiscent of an aquarium and offering visitors a refreshing summer scene.
Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building Window Display Design: "AQUARIUM — The Circling Sea of Living Things"
Period: June 15 (Mon) – July 13 (Mon), 2026
Location: 1st Floor Front Windows, Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building
"AQUARIUM" — The Circling Sea of Living Things
All life originates in the sea, growing and changing through its gifts, then passing on to the next generation. In a quiet blue world, sea creatures live alongside the great tidal currents. Within their bodies, memories keep circulating — everything they have eaten, absorbed, and encountered along the way.
The cycle of life, inherited over long ages, nurturing and evolving as it flows. This grand story is expressed through the graceful forms of sea creatures swimming in cool blue light.
About the Textile Design
To evoke the feeling of being "inside the ocean" within a show window, the installation combines multiple materials and printing techniques.
The first layer uses a highly transparent mesh fabric printed with gracefully swimming figures via DTF (Direct To Film) printing. The second layer uses semi-transparent organza on which the shadows of sea creatures and ocean currents are rendered through sublimation transfer printing. The third layer uses satin fabric, also printed with sublimation transfer, to convey the depth of the sea.
The layering of these different materials creates a sense of transparency and depth, bringing to life an expansive underwater world within the show window.
In front of and behind the fabric panels, large felt sculptures made from wool are also placed. Each piece is crafted entirely by hand, giving the underwater space a powerful physical presence.
The dyeing process also adopts a production method that reduces water usage, combining new expressive techniques with environmental consideration.
Credits
Art Direction: Tansan Design Studio
Textile Design: Tansan Design Studio
Textile Direction: Tansan Design Studio
Felt Design: Tansan Design Studio
Print Technical Support: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
Construction: Nomura Media Co., Ltd.
Client: Takashimaya Co., Ltd.
