Suwari Side Table

The Suwari side table is made of Japanese oak (Nara) with a polyurethane finish. The Suwari series is a lineup of chairs and tables that fit comfortably in Japanese spaces. The name of the collection is Suwari (sitting). Whether on wooden flooring, tatami mats, or carpeting, the legs are constructed so as not to place a burden on the floor, transforming any kind of sitting activity into a comfortable scene. Japanese spaces, whether traditional Japanese-style rooms or modern architecture, are made up of vertical and horizontal rhythms. If chairs with unrestrained curves and volumes are placed in such spaces, the space will feel cramped. Suwari is designed with an awareness of vertical flow, blending naturally into both Japanese and modern architectural spaces, and enhancing them to the right degree.

The Suwari series was designed by Kenya Hara. Toshimitsu often worked on design development for major Japanese furniture manufacturers, and in 1988 his “Origin” bamboo and metal chair was exhibited at the Milan Furniture Fair, where it was much talked about. Three of his works were selected for “The International Design Yearbook 2000” (UK). His involvement in Hida Sangyo’s design development began in 1987, and the Crescent series in 1995, the Enku series in 1996, followed by the “Beans” and Sowa series in 1997, were announced one after the other. The “Words from Forest” series announced in 2001, was a first for the furniture world in that it made use of knotted wood to make furniture. The following year, the SN105W sofa from that series won a Good Design Award. In 2003, the “Wavok” series, an effort to design furniture using cedar, some wood previously considered unsuited for furniture, won a Good Design Award.