DISCOVER
THE CRAFTS
DISCOVER
THE CRAFTS
Tradition meets design in the hands of Wakayama’s makers.
From timeless materials emerge new forms — furniture, footwear, and objects that reconnect us to touch, scent, and silence.
Kiri Furniture — Azuma
Light, protective, and remarkably precise — Azuma’s kiri furniture redefines the relationship between wood and air.
Each chest or table is built from paulownia harvested in Japan, planed and fitted to exacting tolerances of 1/100 millimeter.
The result is storage that breathes: regulating humidity, protecting textiles, and aging with quiet dignity.
Under the direction of fifth-generation craftsman Fukutaro Azuma, traditional joinery meets digital precision, creating furniture that honors heritage while embracing modern life.
In his hands, kiri is not merely material — it is memory made visible.
Tatami Products — inoca
Where air meets earth, igusa grows — and in the hands of inoca, it becomes form and fragrance.
The artisans of Ido Tatami cultivate their own rush in Wakayama’s fields, overseeing every stage from planting to weaving.
Their tatami breathes with the seasons, carrying the scent of new harvest and the softness of light.
With inoca, they have reimagined tatami for contemporary life — transforming woven mats into sandals, accessories, and modular interiors.
Every product speaks of balance: between nature and craft, between past and the gentle now.
Wakayama, in Japan’s Kansai region, is where spiritual heritage meets breathtaking nature. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes and Mount Koya, a center of Shingon Buddhism, offer a deep sense of history and tranquility.
The prefecture also boasts dramatic coastlines, soothing hot springs like Shirahama, and a rich food culture—from fresh tuna in Katsuura to some of Japan’s sweetest mandarins. Wakayama is a destination that blends tradition, nature, and flavor into an unforgettable experience.
Wakayama is home to many workshops that continue to preserve traditional craftsmanship.
For example, Azuma creates finely crafted furniture using paulownia wood, while Inoca applies the age-old techniques of tatami making to produce sandals made from rush grass.
These artisans not only safeguard and pass down their traditional skills, but also breathe new life into them by creating innovative products for the present day.