japan– tag –

The ball pit is a classic Japanese childhood memory, especially from the old rooftop department store playgrounds. We created an elevated version using high-quality hardwood waste from our furniture production. Here is the delightful irony: The balls are imperfectly round to cut costs, but this inefficiency created an unexpected secondary effect—the irregular shapes grant the pit significantly higher fluidity, resulting in a superior play experience. While we aim for 100% wood utilization (joining pieces longer than 150 mm), the smallest offcuts remain a challenge. We seek ambitious consumers who see a sophisticated future for our beautiful, durable wooden balls after the kids "leave the nest."

A deep, often humorous analysis of Japan's "floor life" culture. We examine the architectural wisdom of tatami, the ritual of removing shoes, and the political reasons why the most comfortable sofa still can't beat the floor. As a furniture maker, I discuss this cultural paradox and introduce the design philosophy behind our MOLA sofa—a personal hideout designed for true, unrestricted relaxation.

【Massive change UNIQLO made】 Most of you would have visited UNIQLO shops, I believe. At the moment, they have more than 800 shops only in Japan; about 1500 shops in more than 20 countries. I'm not UNIQLO-native. It is around after grad...

Did you know "Pan" is Portuguese? From the accidental arrival of bread and guns to the 16th-century arms race that terrified colonial empires, join me as I explore Japan's "improvisational genius" and how we’re using that same spirit to take our Hokkaido furniture to the global stage.

Being from Hokkaido is a conversational superpower, unlike the "handicap" of being from Northern Kanto. But while our seafood is world-class, our design has often been "stuck in the 80s." Explore how architect Sou Fujimoto is changing Hokkaido's image—and why I need you to buy Tsuboya’s sweets so they can eventually buy our furniture!

We shared the kind of misery that forges a very Japanese, unbreakable bond. I subjected my Chairman to the cheapest hotels worldwide—often in rooms where you couldn't open a suitcase. Now, the new Royal Park Canvas in Sapporo offers a blueprint for sustainable travel, built with the quality and consciousness that finally won his approval.

An Italian spends the world's last day with a lover; a Japanese person finishes work. We analyze the Ferrari Paradox. Discover the secret articulated by Ferrari designer Ken Okuyama, who sketched a history-making concept in just 15 minutes: "What looks simple is not simple. It’s designed to look simple."

【More choices make us less happy】 I can always make prompt decisions. This is one of the few things I'm proud of in my abilities. The trick is always trying to narrow down choices. Some people (who love fashion, for example) may say "W...

Last year, a bear in Hokkaido didn't just attack—it hunted. Join me as I explore the disturbing shift in bear behavior, the collapse of Japan’s "buffer zones," and why the act of making furniture is a vital defense against the deadly consequences of leaving nature alone.

【Trick-or-treating in Hokkaido】 Did you know that the history of trick-or-treating at Halloween in North America was not so long? It started about in 1930, while Halloween itself has a long history of more than 2000 years. As you may k...