Japanese designers have long been admired for their minimalist approach to design, making use of clean, simple, elegant and light aesthetics. Often, Japanese designs embody nature, through the use of organic shapes. The materials which are used to create them, also follow this spiritual connection to the earth. Paired with this respect for nature is the complete functionality of each element created. 

The Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi –  1954

A great example of Japanese design embodying and paying its respects to nature is the Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi. From one angle, the stool’s shape is designed to take you to great heights, appearing as graceful butterfly wings. From another angle, the design will take you to the depths of the blue sea by capturing the image of a diving whale.

With a strikingly simple design, the Butterfly Stool is a timeless design that will be found in many households and galleries for many moons to come. It is created using just two pieces of identical, bent plywood, connected with just a single metal rod. The stool is multifunctional like many Japanese designs and can be used as both a stool, side table or a stand-alone piece of awe-inspiring art. 

The Persimmon Chair by Daisaku Choh – 1960

Daisaku Choi is one of the most influential Japanese designers of all time and continues to design today at over 90 years of age. He is well-known for redesigning and breathing new life into his classic designs to improve them, whilst staying true to his passion for organic forms. 

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The Persimmon Chair has been adored since the 60s and not much has changed since then. True to its name, the curved back of the chair was inspired by the organic shape of the persimmon fruit. To match and complement this organic shape, curved plywood makes up the rest of the chair’s structure. The end result is a masterpiece which is equally mesmerising to look at and comfortable at the same time.

The Rose Chair by Masanori Umeda – 1990

The Rose Chair was designed when Masanori Umeda first opened his own studio in Japan, after working in Milan for Achille Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. Taking inspiration from nature’s flora, petal by petal is carefully crafted and then sewn together. The petals are then meticulously sewn to a moulded steel wireframe. The end result makes up the shape of a simple yet complex rose.

The curved shape captured by the petals creates a supportive seat which hugs and embraces your body in a cradling nature. The velvet material used to create each petal cover is soft to the touch, adding to its supreme feeling of comfort and luxury. With its charming design, the Rose Chair is nothing short of something straight out of a fairytale. 

The Katakana Dining Chair by Sean Dare – 2009

Although Sean Dare is not Japanese, his Katakana Chair was designed and named after a Japanese form of syllabary called Katakana (片仮名, カタカナ or かたかな). Just by looking at the Japanese characters, it’s easy to see the inspiration behind the chair’s shape. It’s a classic example of taking a traditional aspect of Japanese culture and putting a contemporary twist on it. 

To create his Katakana Dining Chair design, he used sharp, straight lines to make a bold statement and capture the eye of the viewer, alongside curved, organic lines to soothe the mind. Remaining true to the natural materials used in typical Japanese design, the structure is made from polished black walnut wood. The seat and backrest are padded with foam and provide sturdy comfort and support.