Ayaka Yamashita
Researcher/ Educator/ Cultural Producer
Co-founder of EDAYA
Ayaka Yamashita is a Japanese researcher, educator, and cultural producer. She is a co-founder of a crafts and design studio, EDAYA, and a doctoral candidate at Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). Her work intersects the fields of ecology, anthropology, and culture & arts, exploring how new perspectives and experiences of place can provide speculative insights for reimagining future cities and rural environments.
With a transdisciplinary academic foundation, including degrees in agriculture and human ecology from the University of Tokyo and a Master in Design Studies (Risk and Resilience Track) from GSD as a Fulbright scholar, Ayaka integrates theoretical concepts with practical applications in education, community design, and placemaking.
She is currently a Project Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo College of Design, Planning and Coordination Office, where she is also involved in developing a new design curriculum for the next generation.
In 2012, she co-founded EDAYA, a crafts and design studio dedicated to design, education, and community engagement. Through EDAYA, Ayaka has committed over a decade to preserving Kalinga indigenous bamboo musical instruments in the Northern Philippines, reflecting her commitment to cultural, social, and environmental sustainability.
An experienced fieldworker and community organizer, Ayaka has helped on various international development projects, and from 2022 to 2024, she taught BOP/SDGs business (Global Management) at the University of Nagano. She is also a certified Facilitator for Change through ChangemakerXchange. Throughout her journey, she has organized global workshops, events, and exhibitions, furthering her mission to foster collaboration, innovation, and dialogue in diverse communities.
