On Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Shizenkan University in Nihombashi, Tokyo, proudly hosted the Circular Futures Design Center Inaugural Forum. This landmark event marked the official launch of the ISL Shizenkan Circular Futures Design Center, an initiative aimed at driving the transition toward a sustainable and regenerative economy. Over 400 participants took part on campus and online, reflecting a strong and growing interest in the circular economy movement.

Mr. Thomas Rau delivered a keynote presentation titled “Material Matters: From Economy to Edonomy” at the inaugural event of the Circular Futures Design Center. Emphasizing the urgency of systemic change, Rau asserted that only circular design has a viable future. “Our thinking shapes the future,” he said, underscoring that the real issue is not waste, but mindset. Sustainability, according to Rau, is about optimizing existing systems, but true transformation comes from rethinking those systems entirely. In a striking summary, he described circular creation as “the mines of tomorrow for yesterday’s prices,” urging the audience to recognize that we must become the solution, not the problem.

Following his presentation, two speakers active in the field of circular innovation joined the panel discussion, moderated by Yu Kato, Co-Director of the Circular Futures Design Center. 

Ms. Sabine Oberhuber, Co-Founder of Turntoo, shared sharp insights on the need to shift business models “from ownership to service-based ecosystems” in order to realize true circularity across society. Ms. Yumiko Noda, Chairperson of Veolia Japan and Chair of the Center’s Advisory Board, who has long championed the circular economy in Japan, introduced various circular economy initiatives in the country. She explained that today, more than 600 organizations, including research institutes and universities, are participating in efforts supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment. She also emphasized the need for collaboration across central and local governments, academia, and the public to achieve a shared goal.

The session concluded with a lively Q&A, where passionate questions from the audience reflected a high level of interest and engagement. As the very first event since the establishment of the Circular Future Design Center, this forum marked a significant and symbolic first step toward future challenges.

It also served as a symbolic platform embodying Shizenkan’s vision of being a central hub for innovation in the field of the circular economy.

Going forward, the Center aims to act as a cross-sector hub connecting academia, industry, government, and civil society, and to become a driving force for accelerating the co-creation of a circular society with diverse stakeholders both in Japan and globally.

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As a follow-up to this event, we are pleased to announce our second event, which will take place on Thursday, May 15, at the ISL Shizenkan Campus. We warmly invite you to join us if your schedule allows.

Also, we welcome the two co-directors of the center to hold an information session about Shizenkan.

We hope you will join us.