Rikuo Takata
IROCO Design Japan attended part in Design Tide Tokyo, a vibrant exhibition held in Nihonbashi that brought together the best in product design, architecture, fashion, and digital...
IROCO Design Japan attended part in Design Tide Tokyo, a vibrant exhibition held in Nihonbashi that brought together the best in product design, architecture, fashion, and digital art. As a leading furniture sourcing company in Japan, IROCO joined fellow creatives and industry leaders to explore how design continues to evolve at the intersection of tradition, technology, and innovation.
Among the standout talents was Kyoto-born artist Rikuo Takata, whose work deeply resonated with IROCO Design’s own values of craftsmanship, sustainability, and aesthetic excellence. Takata reimagines Echizen washi paper—a material with over 1,500 years of history—by transforming it into textured panels that resemble ancient stone.
Using a technique that involves pouring water onto soft washi to form intricate natural patterns, Takata then layers the designs onto black-painted wood and finishes them with urethane for durability. The result is a captivating surface that fuses the delicate beauty of paper with the strength and presence of stone—an ideal metaphor for IROCO’s mission to bridge timeless design with modern needs in contract furniture.
Takata’s background in Kyoto, surrounded by historic temples and traditional crafts such as lacquerware and ceramics, has shaped his philosophy: that tradition is not static, but alive. His pieces breathe new energy into Japan’s design heritage, aligning perfectly with IROCO Design’s commitment to sourcing designer furniture that honours craftsmanship while meeting contemporary standards.
IROCO Design’s visit to Design Tide Tokyo reaffirmed our belief in the power of thoughtful, tradition-inspired design. From public furniture to bespoke interiors, we continue to draw inspiration from artists like Rikuo Takata—whose work proves that heritage and innovation are not opposites, but partners.
