MORI KOUGEI Open Factory2026｜KITE MITE MII TOKUSHIMA
KITE MITE MII TOKUSHIMA 2026, an event that opens the doors to Tokushima’s manufacturing workshops and factories, will take place from Tuesday, November 10 to Saturday, November 14, 2026.
Now in its fourth year, KITE MITE MII TOKUSHIMA invites visitors into factories across Tokushima to discover where products are made, experience the techniques behind them, and meet the people who bring them to life.
During the event, MORI KOUGEI will host guided demonstrations and a Rays Pattern Tray Workshop.
Materials, tools, and the hands of craftspeople usually remain behind the finished product. This is an opportunity to experience the processes and stories that cannot be understood by looking at the finished piece alone.
Wood Sliced as Thin as Paper: Veneer
MORI KOUGEI specializes in applying wood veneer—natural wood sliced as thin as paper.
Since our founding in 1953, we have produced decorative plywood for furniture, fittings, interiors, and architecture. Today, we also use the skills cultivated through this work to create MORI KOUGEI products featuring marquetry, the Rays pattern, indigo dyeing, and other techniques.
Although veneer is exceptionally thin, it retains the time held within the original tree, together with the distinctive color, grain, and luster of each species.
No two pieces have exactly the same character, even when they come from the same species. The way the surface changes with the direction of the light and the viewing angle is another quality unique to natural wood.
See How Decorative Plywood Is Made
During the guided demonstration, we will introduce the characteristics of wood veneer, explain the machinery used at MORI KOUGEI, and show how decorative plywood is produced.
The process involves selecting the wood, examining its grain, joining veneer to the required dimensions, applying adhesive, and pressing it onto a substrate. What may sound like the simple act of “applying veneer” is actually a series of careful decisions based on the condition and grain of each material.
Through a live demonstration, our craftspeople will explain how decorative plywood is made and what they look for at each stage of the process.
This program is intended not only for professionals in architecture, interior design, furniture, and product design, but also for anyone interested in natural wood and making.
Guided Demonstration
Fee: Free
Capacity: 10 participants per session
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Tuesday, November 10, 1:00 p.m. — For business visitors
Thursday, November 12, 1:00 p.m. — For business visitors
Saturday, November 14, 1:00 p.m. — For the general public
Choose Your Colors and Grain: Rays Pattern Tray Workshop
On Saturday, November 14, we will host a workshop where participants can create a tray using the Rays pattern.
The Rays pattern is created by arranging narrow pieces of veneer radially from the center, forming a design that resembles expanding rays of light. In MORI KOUGEI’s RAYS series, continuous grain from a single wood species is used to create a geometric pattern.
For this workshop, participants can choose from veneers with a variety of colors and grain patterns and combine them freely to create their own Rays design.
During the workshop, you will create the Rays pattern for the base of a rectangular tray. Afterward, MORI KOUGEI will attach the frame and apply the finish. The completed tray will be delivered to you at a later date.
The wood you select will become an object you can use in everyday life. Experience the character of natural wood and the pleasure of choosing and combining different veneers.
Works created by participants in last year’s workshop
Rays Pattern Tray Workshop
Date and time: Saturday, November 14, 2:00 p.m.
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Fee: JPY 15,000, including materials and shipping within Japan
Capacity: 8 participants
*International shipping is available at an additional cost.
Explore MORI KOUGEI Products in Our Second-Floor Gallery
On the event dates, visitors can explore MORI KOUGEI products in the gallery on the second floor of our factory.
The exhibition includes products created to explore the possibilities of veneer through the Rays pattern, marquetry, indigo dyeing, urushi lacquer, and other techniques. See and touch the products in person to experience the luster, texture, and delicate grain of natural wood—qualities that are difficult to convey online.
Visitors who do not require a guided explanation are also welcome to visit the gallery between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. on the event dates listed above. As parking is limited, please contact us before visiting.
Five Days to Explore Making in Tokushima
KITE MITE MII offers the opportunity to experience not only MORI KOUGEI, but also the wider culture of making in Tokushima.
Tokushima has long nurtured a wide range of woodworking skills, including veneer application, traditional joinery, parquetry, bentwood, molded plywood, and upholstery.
During the event, woodworking manufacturers and other participating makers—including companies joining for the first time this year—will open their factories and workplaces. Through exhibitions, demonstrations, and workshops, visitors can discover where products are made, learn about the techniques behind them, and hear directly from the makers.
Even within woodworking, every company works with different materials, equipment, techniques, and processes. Visiting this year’s new participants will also reveal how Tokushima’s culture of making extends beyond wood.
A finished product alone cannot reveal all the materials, processes, tools, and skills behind it. By visiting several factories, you can experience the depth of Tokushima as a manufacturing region.
Opening times and programs vary by venue. Please visit the official KITE MITE MII TOKUSHIMA website for the latest information.
KITE MITE MII TOKUSHIMA 2026 Event Overview
Dates:
For business visitors: Tuesday, November 10–Friday, November 13
For the general public: Saturday, November 14
Planned programs:
Open factories
Exhibitions, demonstrations, and workshops
Talk events, receptions, and more
*Dates, program details, and registration methods vary by participating company and venue.
MORI KOUGEI Venue
MORI KOUGEI CO., LTD.
3-5-34 Suehiro, Tokushima, 770-0866, Japan
Tel: +81-88-653-7518
Parking is limited. Please contact us before visiting and share a vehicle whenever possible. Please do not park on the surrounding streets.
Registration
Advance registration is required for both the Guided Demonstration and the Rays Pattern Tray Workshop.
Registration will close when each session reaches capacity. We encourage you to register early.
International visitors are very welcome. If you require an English interpreter, please register by September 30 to allow time for arrangements. For registrations submitted in October or later, we may not be able to secure an interpreter. In that case, we will communicate using a translation app on a smartphone.
Touch the materials. See the techniques. Meet the makers.
Step inside the workshop and experience the expressive possibilities of wood veneer through a process that is usually hidden from view.
We look forward to welcoming you to MORI KOUGEI.
