Since ancient times, the Japanese have believed that a life force resides in all creations.

Valuing and caring for the things we use, a "Zero Waste Life."

Pointing the way to better living for a new era.

Before we just throw something away,
I want to show that it can be remade.

South suburban Osaka.

A workshop in a quiet residential area.

Here, a man makes interior items using some rather unique materials.

His name is Doi Kenji.

While employed at a university, he also does this work.

A classroom desk...

...remade as a hanger rack.

A gymnasium vaulting horse made into a low seat.

All the materials used are equipment salvaged in school closures.

Take this desk chair, which had
bent or broken legs.

Cut them off, and it becomes
a very tasteful low chair.

This is a smartphone speaker.

Made by gluing two cutouts from a study table together, it requires no electricity.

When you insert your smartphone,
a cavity inside amplifies the sound.

My phone is playing music now, right?

Placed inside the sound reverberates,
so you can hear it much more clearly.

You also get a vintage school desk vibe.

So, when you listen to a song you
played back in your school days,

it adds an element of nostalgia.
That's why I chose a speaker.

Japan's birthrate is rapidly declining.

Over 300 schools nationwide close each year,

leaving behind large quantities of surplus equipment that must be disposed of.

Including old desks and chairs, the attic above Doi's workshop is filled with such items.

When closing schools, or even
prep schools or cram schools

say they have things to throw away,
we collect and store them here.

Despite long years of use by countless schoolchildren, they have surprisingly little damage.

They're built for long use, and the wood
is really solid, so it's very good material.

I think it's ideally suited to upcycling.

A chair will provide the material for today's build.

First, the backrest is removed.

He drills a hole to install the movement.

The end product: a wall-mounted clock.

As he works, Doi makes an interesting discovery.

There's graffiti on the back.

The kid sitting behind probably scribbled
on the chair of the one in front.

That really takes me back.

Doi has an essential helper in his work.

Mom! Can you come here?

Which one?

Can you put on the hands
and do the finish?

Doi Hiromi has skilled hands.

She carefully paints the clock hands.

I'm sure people will love the color.
The marks add real character too.

I thought the hands might be too dark,
but they stand out pretty well.

- Really nice.
- The base color is light.

- So, will this do?
- It's okay. Thanks.

Glad it's okay.

Instead of buying new materials,
we turn waste into something new.

Saying we give it a second life
may be an exaggeration,

but I like this kind of work.

This is the most fun I've ever had.
And it's all thanks to my son.

Doi has loved making things since childhood.

His choice of material came about because his father once ran a cram school.

As student numbers fell, enrollment shrank,

and the school was forced to close five years ago.

Having been in operation for nearly 40 years,

a large number of chairs and desks were left behind in the former learning space.

It was all sitting there gathering dust,
just waiting to be thrown out.

It seemed like such a sad waste to me.

There must be some use for all this equipment without a home.

Doi cut down the legs of a desk to create a low table.

In all, he made five pieces, and after listing them in an online flea market they quickly sold.

There was more demand than expected.

It turns out many people have fond
memories linked to school desks

or other familiar objects from the past.

Sensing he was on to something,

Doi started looking at equipment from shut-down schools.

A falling birthrate leading to fewer
students and more closing schools.

It was in the news all the time.

Images of rows and rows of desks
and chairs all covered in dust.

They had a real sense of nostalgia.

So far, Doi has produced over 50 different interior items from salvaged school equipment.

We paid a visit to a nearby family who are fans of Doi's work.

The Nonakas hang their coats on this rack.

It was made with water faucets from a school drinking fountain.

When I saw it I just loved the style.
It was perfect for the entryway.

But the design isn't the only thing Nonaka loves about it.

She also has high praise for its simple practicality.

It's solid. There's no wobble at all.

It was made by hand with great care
and attention to every detail.

It feels like it was built to last.

Lately, Doi has been working on something new.

Interior items made from disused school musical instruments.

He's making trumpets into standing lamps.

Selling for just under 80 USD, they're already a very popular item.

Now he's thinking about how to make wall sconces from trumpets as well.

But an issue has arisen.

He's unsure how best to affix them securely to a wall.

He pays a visit to a nearby metal fabricator.

Hello.

Metal fabricator Nishio Koji.

A veteran artisan, he has a wealth of knowledge on durability and safety.

A valuable resource for Doi, who is a self-taught designer.

No matter what I do the trumpets
don't attach well to wood.

It needs to be a little sturdier.

In order to strengthen the connection, they'll use aluminum in place of wood.

A base plate that mounts on the wall surface and a rod to hold the trumpet.

The two pieces are welded together.

Here we go.

The completed mount is inserted into the trumpet and secured with screws.

The prototype trumpet wall sconce is complete.

Great! It's so flat it should
lay on the wall really nicely.

I think so.

- It's really solid.
- Yes, very sturdy I think.

Wow, there's really no give at all.
It's fantastic. Thank you so much.

We really couldn't have done it without
the help of a skilled artisan.

It's great to have a quality product;
something that's really built to last.

Usually I make things from a plan.

But it's more fun to do it on the fly,
and make it up as we go.

I hope I can get your advice
on future projects.

- Well, I'll do what I can.
- You've been a big help.

Beyond school equipment, so many
other things get thrown out too.

I want to use our knowhow and skills
to show people there's another way.

I'd like to promote ideas like upcycling
to the fullest extent that I can.