R&D project "material record" with the theme of "material = earth resources" | First product "noon by material record" announced

A new project that plays a part in NOMURA Co.,Ltd. 's efforts toward sustainable concept design.

NOMURA Co.,Ltd. Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo) has launched "material record," a project themed on "materials = Earth's resources," as part of an R&D project that began in 2022. The first product under this project will be released on December 13th, 2024 (Friday). The sound system "noon by material record" (hereinafter referred to as noon) We are pleased to announce this product. Focusing on the various sustainable materials that make up the Earth, this product, which connects "sound" and "materials," is an experiential art piece filled with the creativity of NOMURA Co.,Ltd. Group, which excels in spatial design.

material record is an R&D project by NOMURA Co.,Ltd. Group that focuses on materials as Earth's resources. In the construction and interiors industry, which consumes vast amounts of resources, they are conducting various sustainable research and development projects starting from materials. Their first product, "noon by material record" (hereinafter referred to as "noon"), is a speaker made using sustainable materials such as construction waste, plastic fragments washed ashore on beaches, denim scraps, and fuel tanks that have finished their role in rocket development. It challenges the creation of new values for materials through an acoustic experience.
The first product from this project, which we are announcing today, features a design reminiscent of architectural columns and consists of a layered structure incorporating a total of nine different materials, including six speakers with different frequency ranges and a vacuum tube amplifier. The sound emitted from the enclosure, which contains its own unique story and memories, reflects the characteristics of the materials, creating an opportunity to look beyond the materials themselves and towards the landscapes and resources they represent.

December 13th (Friday) – December 15th (Sunday), 2024
"noon" is installed at the MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB Special Exhibition.
In conjunction with this announcement, a collaboration has been decided with the travel circle "MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB," comprised of actor Taiga Nakano, TV director Ryohei Kamide, and photographer Yusuke Abe. The sound system "noon" will be installed at the book launch event for "MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB 1st BLAZE LANGTANG VALLEY," a book compiling their travel records, which will be released on December 12, 2024. At the event, held from December 13th to 15th, photographs of Nepal taken by "MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB" during their travels will be displays, and ambient sounds created by Ryohei Kamide from sound sources collected during his travels will be played through "noon."

'About MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB
This travel group was formed by Taiga Nakano, Ryohei Kamide, and Yusuke Abe. Their first book, which chronicles their trek through the Langtang Valley in the Himalayas, was published in December 2024. They plan to publish a second book detailing their trip to the Appalachian Mountains in the northeastern United States, and a third book detailing their trip to New Zealand.

◾️ MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB Special Exhibition Event Overview
◇Date and time: Friday, December 13th, 2024 to Sunday, December 15th, 2024, 11:00 to 18:30
◇Location: StandBy
5-11-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyohttps://maps.app.goo.gl/xECxDd2Et5NCxS4e7

Sustainable concept design promoted by NOMURA Co.,Ltd. Ltd. Group
The R&D activities conducted across the entire NOMURA Co.,Ltd. Group are carried out in four activity areas: "Environment," "Culture," "Region," and "People." We aim to create new value by balancing the resolution of social issues with business activities from various angles, such as the preservation of the local environment, the creation of sustainable space creation, coexistence with art, and the revitalization of local communities.
Because interiors building materials have a significant impact on the environment, NOMURA Co.,Ltd. Ltd. Group will continue to focus on sustainable materials and promote their use. In order to deliver joy, inspiration, and happiness to people and society, we will continue to contribute to solving social issues through creative ideas and challenging technological development. The "noon" product announced this time allows for the replacement of the materials that make up the speaker's casing with other materials, and future developments can be expected, such as developing new materials using unused resources and waste materials discharged from local communities and companies.

■ Various sustainable materials that make up "noon"