My Tokyo Map Wins the xTool × Creema Design Competition 2026
Oh wow! Thank you, thank you to everyone who voted for my work at HandMade In Japan Fes on July 11–12. My Tokyo Wooden Layered Map received the highest number of visitor votes!
Three of my maps were selected as finalists in the xTool × Creema Design Competition and exhibited at HandMade In Japan Fes 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight.
Visitors to the event were invited to vote for their favourite works, and I am absolutely delighted to share that my Tokyo Wooden Layered Map was selected as one of the five winning works — receiving the highest number of public votes.
I honestly couldn't be happier. Thank you to everyone who stopped to look at my maps, spoke to me during the weekend and took the time to vote.
Photo: Tokyo Wooden Layered Map displayed in the xTool × Creema finalist exhibition
The Winning Tokyo Map
My winning piece was my Tokyo Wooden Layered Map, created using my xTool S1 and individually finished by hand in my workshop in Kanagawa, Japan.
This is how my work was described on the official Creema competition page:
東京 木製レイヤーマップ｜立体地図アート
神奈川県の工房で一点ずつ手作りする、木製レイヤー構造の東京地図アートです。レーザー加工で緻密な道路網や河川を再現し、手作業のグラデーション塗装と研磨で美しい奥行きと質感を表現しました。単なる地図ではなく、東京の記憶や物語を街の形として残すモダンなウォールアートです。
English translation:
Tokyo Wooden Layered Map | 3D Map Art
A handcrafted layered wooden map of Tokyo, individually made in a workshop in Kanagawa. Detailed road networks and rivers are recreated using laser cutting, while hand-painted gradients and sanding create beautiful depth and texture. More than simply a map, it is modern wall art designed to preserve memories and stories of Tokyo through the shape of the city.
Results: https://event.lp.creema.jp/page/xtool-collabo-results
One of Five Winning Designs
The final exhibition brought together an incredible variety of work created using materials including wood, acrylic, leather and Japanese washi paper.
Visitors to HandMade In Japan Fes voted for their favourite pieces, with five works ultimately selected for the top award.
Each of the five winners received a ¥100,000 prize, which makes the result even more extraordinary for me.
Thank You!
Only a short time ago I was preparing for my first-ever in-person event, wondering how people would react to seeing my maps in person.
During the weekend, one of the most rewarding experiences was simply listening to people talking about my work, answering their questions and seeing them stop to examine the details in the maps.
Finding out afterwards that the Tokyo map had received the highest number of visitor votes made the whole experience even more special.
Thank you again to everyone who voted, visited my booth, spoke to me during the weekend or has supported The Magic Crayons online.
This one means a lot. 🏆
