Recommended Millennium Gallery Japan Items for Japandi Style
Japanese traditional crafts, reflecting the aesthetic of "wabi-sabi," harmonize seamlessly with Japandi interior design. These items transform natural materials, often challenging to process, into minimalist and beautiful products, designed to age gracefully and endure. The handcrafted nature of these items adds a touch of warmth. Consider incorporating Japanese traditional crafts to enhance your Japandi Living Room, bedroom, or kitchen.
Millennium Gallery Japan's Paper Lamps are crafted by artisans who inherit the techniques of traditional Japanese lighting, "Chochin" (paper lanterns). Influenced by Isamu Noguchi's Akari, and including "Gifu Chochin" and "Yame Chochin" from Fukuoka Prefecture, both renowned Chochin production areas, artisans from various regions are creating modern lamps that harmonize with contemporary living spaces. A notable feature is the high-quality Japanese Washi paper used as the material. For example, the top-grade "Mino Washi" used in Gifu Chochin, despite its thinness, boasts remarkable durability. Furthermore, the plant fibers gently absorb and evenly diffuse light, emitting a soft glow akin to natural light, bringing a serene atmosphere to the space. Unlike common paper lamps made with inexpensive "rice paper," the delicate hues unique to hand-made Washi are also appealing. While mass-produced paper has a stark white appearance, high-quality Washi has a neutral, off-white tone. Natural materials, a calming atmosphere, and neutral colors – these elements make Japanese Paper Lamps an ideal match for Japandi style, enhancing living rooms and bedrooms into even more attractive spaces.
Bamboo Lamps are made using the traditional craft technique of "Suruga Take Sensuji Zaiku" from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Bamboo is a sturdy and lightweight material, with colors suitable for Japandi. Suruga Take Sensuji Zaiku requires extremely high skill, and currently, only 12 artisans can produce these Bamboo Lamps, making them valuable pieces. The designs possible only through artisans' handiwork bring tranquility to your Japandi living room or bedroom.
Wood, an essential material for Japandi style interior design, is featured in Millennium Gallery Japan's Wood Lamps, made using the Japanese traditional technique of "Kumiko," which has over 1400 years of history. Kumiko is a technique that assembles small wooden pieces into geometric patterns, requiring extremely delicate and high skills, as a 0.1mm deviation can ruin the entire piece. The Kumiko Lantern offers the beauty of the Kumiko itself when unlit and the beauty of the shadows it creates when lit.
Floor lamps are essential lighting items that significantly influence the impression of a space. In living rooms and bedrooms, they softly illuminate corners that main lighting may not reach, adding warmth and depth to the space. In Japandi interior design, this "soft light" is key to supporting the overall tranquility and comfort of the space. Selection is important, not only for functionality but also for the texture and presence of the lamp itself.
Japandi style floor lamps are characterized by natural materials, minimalist shapes, and diffused soft light. Millennium Gallery Japan's Paper Floor Lamp, Bamboo Floor Lamp, and Kumiko Lantern meet these elements and contribute to creating a sophisticated Japandi space.
The Paper Floor Lamp is characterized by the light that spreads through high-quality Washi paper, such as Mino Washi. It softly absorbs light, giving the entire space a sense of calm. For example, the "Japanese Paper Floor Lamp 'SLENDER'," a popular item among Millennium Gallery Japan's Paper Floor Lamps, uses Mino Washi with scattered Kozo (mulberry) fiber fragments. The soft light and the beautiful shadows of the Kozo fiber create a serene atmosphere. Additionally, its fluid and slim design is space-saving while maintaining a presence, making it ideal for accentuating the negative space of a Japandi living room.
The Bamboo Floor Lamp is made using the traditional craft of "Suruga Take Sensuji Zaiku" from Shizuoka. The beautiful curves of the thin bamboo strips create natural shadows, and the changing texture of the bamboo as it ages harmonizes with the Wabi-Sabi spirit of Japandi. Among these, the "Japanese Bamboo Floor Lamp 'Moonlight'" has a minimalist form with a design that highlights the artisan's individuality. The soft light emitted from the Washi paper shade reflects the shadows of the bamboo work, creating a calm space. It enriches the time before bedtime as a bedside lamp in a Japandi bedroom.
The Kumiko Lantern is a wooden lamp made with Akita cedar using Kumiko techniques. When light passes through it, intricate geometric patterns emerge, and during the day, it has a presence as an object. The warmth of wood and Japanese craftsmanship add depth to Japandi interiors. The "Japanese Kumiko Lantern 'Asanoha' - Large," characterized by its minimalist cubic form and the geometric patterns of Kumiko assembled from 600 wooden pieces, is a rare Japandi Wood Floor Lamp with limited production of about 50 pieces per year due to its manufacturing complexity. In addition to the soft light that evokes Wabi-Sabi, the beautiful wood tones and refreshing fragrance of Akita cedar further enhance the atmosphere of a Japandi living room.
These Japandi floor lamps are not merely lighting fixtures but enrich the space as "quiet protagonists" that add tranquility, texture, and warmth.
In Japandi interior design, table lamps are "quiet supporting actors" that set the atmosphere of a space. They serve not only as functional lighting for reading and tasks but also as decorative items that add warmth and depth to a space. Especially in Japandi style, natural materials, a modest presence, and soft light are emphasized, making table lamps important elements that embody this philosophy. Millennium Gallery Japan offers Paper Table Lamps, Bamboo Table Lamps, and Kumiko Lanterns that meet these criteria, contributing to the creation of sophisticated Japandi spaces.
Paper Table Lamps feature shades made of hand-made Washi paper, such as Mino Washi. The light, diffused softly like natural light, brings tranquility and peace to living rooms and bedrooms. Among the wide selection of Paper Table Lamps, the "TORCHIN," popular at Millennium Gallery Japan, has a minimalist design with a hand-made Washi paper lampshade and a wooden handle. Its cordless design and three-stage dimming function make it versatile for various scenes, from dining in the living room to reading in the bedroom. This Paper Table Lamp, with its refined design that evokes Wabi-Sabi and its high functionality, is a perfect fit for Japandi spaces.
Bamboo Table Lamps are appealing for their delicate craftsmanship using "Suruga Take Sensuji Zaiku" from Shizuoka. The texture and light curves of the bamboo add gentle movement to Japandi living rooms. The simple design that utilizes natural materials blends softly into the space. Among the Bamboo Table Lamps at Millennium Gallery Japan, which feature works that highlight the artisan's individuality, the "Japanese Bamboo Table Lamp 'Star Droplet'," with its minimalist design that evokes Wabi-Sabi, excels as a bedside table lamp. The gentle light emitted through the Washi paper shade and the softly curved bamboo strip decorations create a serene atmosphere, guiding Japandi bedrooms into tranquil spaces.
Kumiko Table Lanterns are wooden table lamps made with Kumiko woodwork using Akita cedar. The geometric patterns of the wooden frame create a contrast of light and shadow, adding depth and a poetic mood to the space. Millennium Gallery Japan offers three sizes: "Kumiko Lantern small," "Kumiko Lantern extra small," and "Kumiko Lantern mini." Combining multiple Kumiko Table Lamps allows for the effective placement of wood, an essential material in Japandi, and creates a sense of unity in the space. Place them on the coffee table or shelves in your Japandi living room and immerse yourself in the refreshing scent of cedar and a tranquil atmosphere.
Even after creating a Japandi style living room or bedroom, many may feel something is missing. Japandi style emphasizes "negative space" in its interior design, but pursuing minimalism too far can compromise comfort. Once you've arranged basic furniture like sofas, tables, and beds, consider incorporating Japandi home decor. Millennium Gallery Japan offers three Japandi home decor items, each handcrafted by artisans with a Wabi-Sabi aesthetic: vases, wall art, and incense. In creating a Japandi style, the key is not just to "reduce" items, but to "select" them carefully. With this in mind, incorporate the perfect home decor for your Japandi room to create a more sophisticated space.
A Japandi vase not only enhances the beauty of flowers but also serves as an art piece, enriching the space. Millennium Gallery Japan offers vases made from various materials, including wood, bamboo, and stone.
The Japanese Cedar Vase is a masterpiece crafted from high-quality Hida cedar, meticulously polished by skilled woodworkers. Its minimalist form, combined with the warm texture of the cedar's wood grain, epitomizes the classic Japandi vase.
The Bamboo Vase series, like the Bamboo Lamp mentioned earlier, is handcrafted by artisans of "Suruga Take Sensuji Zaiku." The appeal lies in the unique character of each piece, as the artisans handle everything from design to bamboo processing and manufacturing. If you're looking to add an accent to your Japandi style interior, the Bamboo Vase is highly recommended.
The Aji Stone Vase is made from Aji stone, known as the "Diamond of Granite," sourced from Kagawa Prefecture. The stone's unique soft, bluish neutral color and rough texture harmonize beautifully with Japandi interiors.
Wall art not only enriches life as an art form but is also excellent for adjusting the wall's negative space in Japandi style interiors. Particularly recommended are the "Kumiko Clock" and "Gold Leaf Wall Art."
The Kumiko Clock is crafted using "Kumiko," a traditional Japanese woodworking technique that assembles small wooden pieces into geometric patterns. It uses woods like Akita cedar, walnut, and Hiba, adding their natural hues to the walls of Japandi style living rooms or bedrooms. Each of the approximately 200 Kumiko patterns carries a specific meaning; for example, the "Asanoha" (hemp leaf) pattern symbolizes protection from evil and wishes for children's health. Consider choosing wall art that resonates with its embedded message.
The Gold Leaf Wall Art is produced in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, which accounts for 99% of Japan's gold leaf production. The traditional gold leaf processing techniques, passed down for over 450 years, are incredibly delicate and advanced, with some techniques processing gold leaf to a thickness of 1/10,000th of a millimeter. Artisans with these high-level skills draw inspiration from nature, such as trees, waterfalls, and lightning, expressing them through layered gold leaf. This wall art changes its expression with the light, harmonizing with various spaces like Japandi living rooms and bedrooms.
Why not enhance your Japandi room further by focusing on fragrance? Millennium Gallery Japan proposes incense that captures the "natural" scents, a key element of Japandi style, along with minimalist incense holders.
"KITOWA" inherits the tradition of Japanese incense culture with over 1000 years of history and offers contemporary fragrance products like incense sticks and candles that allow you to enjoy the scents of Japanese trees. Their incense items, reminiscent of Japan's rich forests with scents like Hinoki, Hiba, and Kusunoki, will add charm to your Japandi room. Incense holders and plates made from Japanese ceramic "Arita ware," featuring smooth textures and minimalist designs, are also available. Combine these fragrances with Japandi furniture to further refine your space.
Japandi tableware elevates dining and tea times in Japandi kitchens and living rooms into richer experiences. The harmony of minimalist design and practicality, in addition to materials and colors, is particularly important in tableware. Millennium Gallery Japan carefully selects Japandi tableware that combines skilled craftsmanship with a minimalist, yet comfortable feel. These detailed items enhance the comfort of your Japandi space.
The Tea Set, crafted from "Banko ware" pottery, which boasts a 300-year history in Japan, enriches tea time and enhances the tea's flavor. "Nankei Pottery," the manufacturer, pursues functionality for brewing delicious tea and a simple design that fits seamlessly into daily life. Each handmade tea set is appealing for its soft form and comfortable texture. The teapots and teacups made by Nankei Pottery do not use glaze on the inside, which softens the astringency of tea, bringing out its flavor. Elevate your daily break with a Japandi Tea Set.
In Japan, the enjoyment of sake has been refined over centuries, leading to the creation of sake ware that enhances its flavor. Sake expresses different characteristics depending on the material, shape, and temperature of the vessel. Millennium Gallery Japan introduces sake sets that embody three traditional techniques.
The Japanese Tile Sake Set, made by "Marumi Yasuda Kawara," leverages the high insulation and durability of Japanese roof tiles, allowing you to enjoy sake regardless of the season. Japanese roof tiles are excellent materials that provide comfort and safety against Japan's diverse climate and frequent natural disasters. The "TUKI" series, created through collaboration between artisans and renowned Japanese designers, has won the Good Design Award. Its minimalist and refined form harmonizes with Japandi kitchens and dining rooms.
The Japanese Bamboo Sake Set by "Takano Chikko," which preserves over 1100 years of bamboo craft tradition in Kyoto, allows you to savor sake while appreciating the beauty of bamboo. Taking advantage of bamboo's high insulation, warm sake remains warm, and chilled sake has a smooth mouthfeel. The natural material deepens in texture with use, conveying the beauty of Wabi-Sabi.
The Japanese "Magewappa" Sake Set by "KURIKYU" uses the finest Akita cedar. The cedar's subtle fragrance blends with the sake, creating a mellow flavor. Warming it further enhances its aroma. "Magewappa" is a traditional Japanese technique that bends wood, such as cedar, using special methods. The cedar's natural color and grain naturally blend into Japandi spaces.
"Nankei Pottery," which also produces the Tea Set, offers Japandi coffee cups and drippers that combine minimalist design with usability. These coffee wares develop a unique patina with use, growing more attractive over time. They embody the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic at the heart of Japandi, making them ideal for Japandi enthusiasts who appreciate minimalist design and the beauty of aging.
The Japanese Tile Plate from "MARUMI YASUDA KAWAR" is a Japandi plate with a minimalist design and soft form. Utilizing the insulation and durability of Japanese roof tiles, it maintains food at the right temperature. The handcrafted texture on the surface adds a unique touch, enhancing the colors of dishes. Its unique iron color creates a refined impression.
The Japanese Bamboo Cup from "Takano Chikko" is ideal for everyday use. This brand, which inherits Kyoto's bamboo craft tradition and specializes in producing high-quality tableware from local bamboo, offers bamboo cups that leverage bamboo's insulation and lightweight properties for daily use. The deepening texture of bamboo with use adds an aesthetic touch to Japandi style kitchens that embrace Wabi-Sabi.
