History

Since the West arrived in Japan in the early 16th century, it has been fascinated with Japan. By the mid-1800s, travel and trade to the East had increased dramatically. Artists and designers were exhilarated by exposure to new objects, imagery and ideas. Unfortunately, Japan closed its doors again and trade wasn’t opened up was until the arrival of the Victorians in the mid-19th century. The traditional Japanese home is based on Ma - the balance between object and space.

The bare Japanese rooms amazed the Victorians. There were no chairs because people sat on the tatami floors. No beds can be found because they slept on futon mattresses placed directly on the floor. When not in use, these mattresses were put away in built-in cabinets. Japanese furniture forms have changed little for centuries.