As part of the Denmark - Japan 2017 programme, an exhibition featuring 130 examples of Danish and Japanese crafts and design - "Everyday Life - Signs of Awareness" - is on at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa till 5th November. Denmark and Japan have become design-oriented nations, each following a path that springs from a unique background of history and culture. The countries’ excellent design solutions, inspired by a functional, practical, yet aesthetic approach, are reflections of their cultural identities. Denmark has attracted tremendous attention as one of the most resilient design giants in the fields of architecture, furniture and everyday products since the 1930s. The country established a model for wealthy nations with a highly developed social system with regard to welfare, education and traffic solutions. Japan, on the other hand, is a country which has developed the symbolic design of the time, based on its unique culture and philosophy. The technical expertise required to produce simple and compact shapes and the knowledge and experience to make the most of the material, with a craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation, demonstrate Japan’ s unique position in the global design arena. This exhibition, Everyday Life – Signs of Awareness, showcases the impact of design-minded awareness through the works of designers, architects and artists from Japan and Denmark. It also presents and highlights everyday items that are part of modern life in both countries. 150th Year Anniversary of Japan - Denmark Diplomatic Relations Exhibition