Shelves Made using Japanese
Architectural Techniques

Shelves are imbued with the essence of Japanese culture. Ornamental shelves were first used in Japan during the Nara ~ Heian periods. In the middles ages and more recent times, shelves came to play an important role in interior decoration; in particular, as the tea ceremony became more widespread, ingenuity came to be exercised in making “Okidana” portable shelves for storing Tea-ware. The celebrated “Kasumidana” shelves in Shugakuin Imperial Villa and “Katsuradana” shelves in Katsura Imperial Villa are among the typical examples of “Chigai-dana” that developed hand in hand with the “Shoin-zukuri” style of traditional Japanese residential architecture.

Such shelves had the ability to harmonize with flower vases, ceramics, glassworks, bamboo craftworks and more according to the season and preference, imparting charm to spaces and altering the scenarios. Moving into the modern age, functional shelves that fit into the living environment have become more prominent, while shelves with the ability to quickly create the ambience of a place have become less prominent. In an attempt to challenge new shelf-making that utilizes modern materials and technologies, KAI has brought forth the perspective of Japanese architecture, which brings together the skills of artisans.

Based on a method of assembly that minimizes superfluity, these shelves highlight the “objects”, which are the main focus. As with art and aesthetic objects, these shelves do not impede beauty, even when stacked in multiple levels. As a result of various such trial and error, we finally arrived at KAI-SOU. The KAI-SOU shelves with heavy minerals, and those that are placed in hotel lobbies like monuments, are the ultimate attempts to give shape to bygone aspirations for shelves.

Accentuating the Beauty of Parts

The first feature of KAI-SOU shelves is the fine, delicate appearance with minimal superfluity. As the material, aluminum has been chosen for its hardness, lightness and strength. By using aluminum, it is possible to unify each part to thinness of 15 millimeters square, giving a finish with a much lighter impression than is possible when using wood.

The second feature is that anybody can assemble and dismantle the shelves whenever they want. By applying the Japanese architecture joinery of “Shiguchi” to aluminum, we have strived to achieve a method of assembly that requires no screws, bolts or nails.

The third feature is that each part is neat and aesthetic. By thoroughly considering how each part functions, we have arrived at outstanding forms that are easy to handle and entail no superfluity.

As a result of incorporating these features, we have arrived at shelf designs that have a frontal feel when viewed from any angle in the 360-degree circle.

Puzzle Cubes appear to be
enveloped in light

Out of the process of creating KAI-SOU, a play equipment like three-dimensional puzzles was created. Actually, these are Shiguchi pieces used for joining parts, however, by removing them, we found that they could become toys played by fitting together six parts. We shaped the overall form by polishing as far as possible without causing an injury risk, and we finished the surfaces with hairline processing. Moreover, due to the light-reflective characteristics of the aluminum, the pieces glisten like precious stones when light of different shades shine on them.

In the same way that the Western approach of stacking bricks has led to the development of building block toys, we want to make original Japanese toys based on the “concept of Tsugite-Shiguchi joinery” (beam-pillar joint), which is a forte of Japanese architecture.

Speaker: Shiro Miura Interviewer: Kanako Izumi