Crop man shaping wood with hand plane in workshop

Local Wisdom Hub

where innovators meet ancestral approaches

About Us

Local Wisdom Hub is a Japan-based initiative for designers and ​cultural practitioners who learn from ancestral knowledge and apply ​it in innovative practices.


We offer SLOW experiences through the School & Studio of Local ​Wisdom. The School delivers transformative learning programs ​across Japan, highlighting craftsmanship rooted in regional climates ​and histories, while the Studio leads pioneering research and ​development projects.


Our aim is to realise a sustainable, decentralised, and culturally ​diverse society by inspiring creative people to leverage vernacular ​materials and techniques, the wisdom of life, and ways of ​harmoniously interacting with nature and other species.

Green Trees and Mountains

We embrace slowness in our fast-paced society,

and take immediate action with innovators.

Our SLOW Experiences

School of LOcal Wisdom

We deliver learning programs as an entry point for ​creative individuals, equipping them with the skills, ​mindsets, and ethics to understand how people have ​innovated local wisdom as society has evolved.

Product designers analysing new product prototype

Studio of LOcal Wisdom

We lead research and development, supporting and ​collaborating with interdisciplinary practitioners and ​researchers, industry clients, and Japanese artisans to ​realise innovative projects.

As more people join our School, local wisdom becomes a springboard for innovation.

Our Studio caters to those who want to delve deeper, and the outcomes of its R&D enrich the School’s programs with innovative case studies.

Together, these two create impactful projects based on local wisdoms, leading to a sustainable, decentralised, and culturally diverse society.

Past Wo​rk

Visit Traditional ​Forestry Village

Students from the Royal College of Art, MA ​Architecture visited the sources of traditional ​building materials, foresters, abandoned houses, ​and joined participatory workshop with local people ​in Kyoto, Japan.


  • Duration: 2 Days
  • Organiser: Tomoki Honma
  • Cooperation: Local Wisdom Hub
  • Photo: Yoshiyuki Sakuragi

Sh​ort Course

Unveil Local Wisdom

and Innovation

Engaging 3-hour workshops, available both offline ​and online, are designed to reveal the depth of local ​wisdom and inspire its application to tackle ​challenges in our changing world.


  • Unlock the potential of 'local wisdom.'
  • Navigate the ecosystems of sustainable craft production.
  • Explore various case studies, where traditional techniques and ​materials meet innovation.
  • Delve into the principles, aesthetics, and mindset that shape ​heritage and contemporary crafts.
Group of women working in the office
Big sewing workshop

Partnership

Founder’s Profile

Natsumi Tabusa has over a decade of experience in experiential ​learning design that emphasises craftsmanship, and she collaborates ​with Japanese traditional craftspeople.


She has visited over 200 artisans across Japan and has led numerous ​projects that spotlight local materials and techniques. Her past ​projects include launching a cultural hub, organising events and ​exhibitions, and developing educational programs.


Born in Osaka, Japan, she studied cultural anthropology at Kobe ​University in Japan with a BA in Intercultural Studies and, graduated ​from the Royal College of Art in the UK with an MA in Service Design.

※The initial research for the launch of this initiative was granted ​by the Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.