BIOGRAPHY
Kensuke Fujishiro. Born 1988 in Chiba, Japan. His work: creating places where harmony (wa) emerges in relationships.
At the Tokyo University of Science he encountered the idea that architecture is philosophy, not building — and chose words, communities, and ways of living as his medium rather than buildings. He studied human-centered experience design at Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD), with an exchange at the Royal College of Art. Since then, one question has been asked in different forms: the invention of the “ba design” profession (prsm), a time-limited community (PROTO), an extended family (Cift), rhythms of daily life (NESTO), and retreats where harmony emerges (Healing Connections).
Based in Hayama, he continues the practice of harmony as co-representative of Healing Connections, while implementing the Campus City concept as CXO of the campus developer U Share. In parallel, he designs retreat-center architecture: JOMON, TORUS, and Reborn.
Timeline
Timeline
Born in Chiba, Japan
Raised in Ichikawa. His father was a designer.
Tokyo University of Science, Department of Architecture
Graduation design NETWORK VILLAGE (“For the World to Become One Village”). Finalist, Sendai Design League 2011.
Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD)
Exchange at the Royal College of Art. Spatial design team director, TEDxTokyo (2012–14).
Founded prsm (–2025)
A design consulting firm translating philosophy into places.
Founded PROTO (–2015)
A six-month community prototyping life, in a whole building in Yutenji, Tokyo.
Kawanokami Hyakuhyokan (Ishinomaki) / World Economic Forum Global Shapers
Good Design Award Best 100 and Recovery Design Award. The following year (2016), curator of Global Shapers Tokyo Hub.
Founded the extended family Cift
A social experiment in family beyond blood ties, on the 13th floor of SHIBUYA CAST. Grown past 200 members and still active and spreading today, even after the leadership was handed over.
Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (The Arts)
Founded NESTO Inc. (Founder & CEO)
“Tuning the rhythms of daily life, together.” Seed round of ¥100M in 2021. Handed over Cift's leadership.
NESTO liquidated — “graduating from the social OS” / toward Healing Connections
Reports published openly; the business closed with gratitude. Dialogue Retreats in earnest.
Co-representative, Healing Connections LLC
The practice of harmony grounded in coherence. Architectural works JOMON and TORUS.
Joined U Share
A reconnection ten years after the Ishinomaki collaboration — the practical side of the return to architecture.
CXO, U Share (May)
Implementing the Campus City concept — a new operating system for the city.
Awards
Awards
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia — The Arts (2018)
- Good Design Award Best 100 / Recovery Design Award (Kawanokami Hyakuhyokan, 2015)
- World Economic Forum Global Shapers (2015)
- Finalist, Sendai Design League 2011 / Fujimura Ryuji Prize, Red Brick Graduation Design Exhibition 2011
Media
Selected Media
- NHK Special (2019) / TV Tokyo BS Nikkei Morning Plus (2019)
- Yomiuri Shimbun (2020) / Asahi Shimbun
- GQ JAPAN (2019) / Sotokoto (2018) / Samgha Japan 35 / Tokyo Calendar (2017)
- Business Insider Japan / HUFFPOST / Forbes JAPAN / greenz.jp / NEUT Magazine / THE BRIDGE, among others