Ariake is a furniture brand founded by Legnatec and Hirata Chair, two factories from the furniture producing town of Morodomi in Saga prefecture, Japan. Named after the Ariake Sea in Southern Japan, Ariake means daybreak in Japanese. It symbolizes a new chapter for the two factories as they embark on a collaboration with international designers for the global market.
Ariake is unveiling its latest collection, showcasing innovative designs that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern functionality, inspired by the harmony of Japanese culture and contemporary living.
The Sedai Chair by Christian Haas
The Sedai lounge chair is meant and made to last. Taking on the historical sling chair typology, Christian Haas reinvents a new expression through its structural design and detailing of the leather sling. The result is a contemporary chair with good comfort for casual lounging. The chair has an energetic but understated aura, with layers and details to discover over time. It has a solid wood structure, an upholstered fabric seat pad and a sling made of Japanese saddle leather, that will patinate beautifully and conform to the body over time.
The Hinode Dressing Table by Monica Förster
Hinode, which translates to “sunrise” in Japanese, is a dressing table designed by Monica Förster Design Studio. This piece encapsulates the minimalistic and poetic essence shared by Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics. The round mirror emerges from the surface of the table, reminiscent of the sun rising from the sea. Its proportions delicately balance structural strength with visual lightness, evoking the fluidity of calligraphy in its silhouette.
The Futago Nesting Tables by Gabriel Tan
Futago means “Twins” in Japanese, and is a pair of nesting tables designed by Gabriel Tan. Each table has a primary and secondary surface, with the second surface serving as a low platform for books and magazines whilst acting as a structural component. The smaller table glides seamlessly into and out of the larger one, allowing the user to lengthen one’s coffee table or to use the smaller one as a separate side table. Futago tables are also available in a slimmer depth for compact spaces.
The Koi Chair by Gabriel Tan
The Koi chair is a dining armchair designed by Gabriel Tan. The chair features a generous backrest, with organic armrests shaped like the curved body of a Japanese carp, hence its name. The designer’s vision is a solid wood dining chair that is extremely comfortable, one that showcases the craftsmanship of Ariake and being suitable as both a dining chair and home office chair, as our homes and workspaces have evolved to become more hybridized today.
The Lattice Round Table by Norm Architects
The Lattice Round Table explores the balance between transparency and solidity. Its wooden lattice structure forms the legs, and the natural spacing between them creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. From certain angles, the legs appear as a solid surface, only revealing their intricate construction through the light that filters through, while from others, they seem almost transparent. This design draws inspiration from architectural shutters and covers, which are used to control light flowing into buildings. The calming repetition of the lattice evokes a sense of clarity and order, often seen in the design of traditional Japanese storefronts and restaurants. This year, we’re introducing a round version of the Lattice Table. Its circular shape promotes convivial interaction, and the 150 cm diameter provides seating for 4 to 8 people.
The Braid Chair by Norm Architects
The Braid Chair is a natural extension of the Braid Sofa collection by Norm Architects. Featuring the recognizable paper cord woven armrests and now sweeping around the back to form a crescent-shaped backrest, this versatile chair is perfect for luxurious dining, at the writing desk, or as a compact lounge chair. It is available in two different seat heights, suitable for dining or lounging.
The Nao Cabinet by Keiji Ashizawa
Made of hinoki wood and washi from Saga, the Nao Cabinet is made in collaboration with Nao Washi, a washi mill that has been operating for over 300 years in the mountains of Nao. Washi is a durable material that can last for centuries and has been used in Japanese daily life since ancient times. Keiji Ashizawa wanted to express a new form of traditional Japanese shoji screen through the design of this cabinet. Delicate details, such as the recessed handle and edge hinges, elevate its minimalist design. When one opens its doors, the natural fragrance of hinoki wood can be enjoyed.
The Zabu Chair by Anderssen & Voll
With the Zabu chair, Anderssen & Voll were seeking to create a comfortable lounge chair where a dynamic, laidback and transparent, wooden construction would play the main role. The gesture and the detailing of the cushions are inspired by the Zabuton, a traditional Japanese floor cushion. The belts supporting the cushions are on display along the front and back bars of the seat. Together they create an ornamental rhythm that explains the structure.
The Hoyo Sofa by Francesco Rota
Meaning “embrace” in Japanese, Hoyo is a modular sofa designed by Francesco Rota. Each individual module features a plush seat cushion and backrest cradled or “embraced” by a curved wooden frame. Francesco‘s design is based on a precise and rational approach that makes formal cleanliness its distinctive feature, reducing elements to their essentials for maximum visual impact.
The ends of the wooden runners have been designed and tooled with a 3D-machined cylindrical section to open up the possibility of connecting multiple modules together, providing a recognizable solution of continuity. Originally launched in Milan in 2022 at Cipango: Japan Reimagined, the Hoya Sofa has undergone “kaizen” (good change), and the improved version is now re-launched for market orders and retail sales.
The Kite Cabinet by Gabriel Tan
The Kite cabinet is made of hinoki wood and custom made washi paper from Nao Washi, and is visually light and translucent. Having washi on the doors and in the back lets light into the cabinet and allows the silhouette and shadows of the objects placed within to be seen. The cabinet has an open window in the centre for the display of an object.
The Obi Drawers by Zoë Mowat
The Obi series came from the Japanese practice of honoring and caring for aging trees by buttressing limbs that require support with beautiful wooden structures. Their functional forms merge with nature to create a new whole.Obi’s central storage compartment is propped up by its own support structure and encircled by a belt — or ‘obi’ in Japanese, that reveals itself as a slim, hidden drawer. The versatile dressers are available in a range of sizes and traditional Japanese finishes, including a natural dye derived from Kyushu persimmons.
The Elements Table by Shin Azumi
The Elements Table designed by Shin Azumi is a continuation of the Elements series that started with the Elements Coat Stand. It is a square, compact table for cafes and restaurants or sheltered balconies in the home. Functional and sculptural, the Elements Table shows that even the most utilitarian typology of furniture can be redesigned in an artful way.