Light, flowing with natural lightness through artistic patterns and constantly creating new shadow plays. Here the feeling of gently floating flowers; there the multitude of stars in the night sky. Perfect geometry, enveloping yet transparent, creating dimension and depth with its facets. Each of these handcrafted works of interior art exudes the fine, woody fragrance of the cedar or cypress from which it is made – masterful examples of the legendary Japanese Kumiko technique, in which the delicate wooden sections are joined together without the need for auxiliary means. Tanihata is the keeper and master of this centuries-old craft: this Japanese company combines ancient knowledge with the current zeitgeist to create unique interior design, which also perfectly complements sophisticated living concepts over here.

|  Craftsmanship |


At the large workbenches at the headquarters of the Tanihata Kumiko Company in Toyama Prefecture, 20 artists work in concentrated silence, accompanied here and there by the quiet grinding of carpenter’s planes or the gentle tapping of hammers. To this day, Kumiko, whose history dates back to the 8th century, remains a traditional craft that uses no nails and only minimal amounts of glue. The precision work and dedication of the Tanihata craftsmen ensure that all the components fit together seamlessly and at the right angle, guaranteeing that these intricately patterned works possess perfect stability. Nobuo Tanihata is the president of the company founded by his father Toshio in 1959; he continues his father’s legacy delivering high standards in terms of both perfect craftsmanship and the first-class quality of the wood. At the same time, this economics graduate and specialist author is successfully leading the now multi-award-winning traditional company into the future: visible in the use of state-of-the-art digital technologies in the areas of design development, online marketing and communication with customers from all over the world.

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Tanihata Kumiko offers countless stylish options for integrating the works within your own four walls: as a semi-transparent room divider, for example, which accentuates the interior design with the auspicious Asanoha pattern. Kumiko also makes an unusual and distinctive alternative to conventional curtains for elegant, translucent sliding doors, ceiling panels or privacy and sun protection in front of windows. The works are also wonderfully suited as glazed and backlit versions: integrated into furniture or walls, they give the whole room a special touch. In addition to the 18 classic design proposals, Tanihata also enables the production of unique one-offs according to individual wishes of architects and interior designers, tailored to the room concept, format, colour preferences and motif: a sustainable, natural and individual design solution with an enchanting Far Eastern aesthetic.

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© Photos: Tanihata Co., Ltd. | Aoki Restaurant, Singapore | Bajikouen, Tokyo | PLACESION Mizuho Sakurayama, Aichi