Seasonal Sensibility: The Art of Kissa Nanaha

Japanese Tradition Meets Modern Design in Masahiro Yoshida's Award-Winning Cafe

The inspiration behind Kissa Nanaha is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. The Japanese have a long-standing tradition of incorporating the changing seasons into their hosting spaces. This is typically done by altering the interior setup to match the current season, such as by changing the arrangement of fusuma - traditional Japanese sliding doors covered in paper or fabric - and setting up seasonally appropriate decorations.

Masahiro Yoshida has taken this concept and given it a modern twist in Kissa Nanaha. The cafe features lapstrake walls made of cedar planks, dyed in different shades on the top and bottom. This creates a unique visual effect, and the planks can be rearranged to reflect the changing seasons. The design team has also developed three types of wall finishing materials: a mortar, an exceptionally dark texture, and unfinished wood.

The table countertops in the cafe are another standout feature. They are dyed in different color tones on the top and bottom, and can be flipped over to match the season. The center of each table is filled with dry flowers, the design of which changes with the seasons.

The project, which started in March 2019 and was completed in Tokyo in December 2019, was a collaboration between Masahiro Yoshida and Tae Fukami. Their innovative design approach has earned them the Silver A' Design Award, a prestigious honor given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation. The award recognizes designs that showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.

Through Kissa Nanaha, Masahiro Yoshida and Tae Fukami have shown how traditional Japanese aesthetics can be seamlessly integrated into modern design. The result is a space that not only serves as a cafe but also as a celebration of the changing seasons, providing a unique and immersive experience for visitors.