CASE STUDIES

Hadate Suisan: Food and its vessels as an expression of reverence for nature

Hadate Suisan: Food and its vessels as an expression of reverence for nature

Since distant antiquity, humans have lived by the grace of nature’s bounty. The people of Japan, a country surrounded by the sea, have embraced the ocean as a force beyond human agency, welcoming its gifts with gratitude and reverence.

In the words of Sen no Rikyu, “All food needs a vessel.” Food is not merely about taste; it is a comprehensive art form that connects us with nature through its vessel.

The sole focus of Hadate Suisan is the Kita Murasaki uni (sea urchin) harvested from the seas of Hokkaido. Hadate uni is sold in wooden containers called kiori, each one packed by hand. The proprietary techniques of the company’s “uni designers” are passed down only to a single member of the family in each generation. The uni designers do not seek to subjugate their material, positioning themselves instead as part of the cycle of nature.

In 2024, the company sold its finest uni in a special New Year’s Zodiac Tamatebako at the first auction of the year. This vessel was not created for the purpose of being auctioned off at a high price, but to express the preciousness of nature through food and traditional crafts.

In our age, when technological advances have increased the distance between humans and nature, we seek to make visible the gratitude for nature that permeates Japanese culture. And through the acts of creation and providing support, we pray for their perpetuation.

This artistic activity represents the cycle of food in our time.

Saku Dental Futures Lab: Dental care as an expression of bodily precision and sensibilities

Saku Dental Futures Lab: Dental care as an expression of bodily precision and sensibilities

Our project with Saku Dental Futures Lab was sparked by Chairman Hiroki Nagase’s wish to promote preventive dentistry. While we all hope to be healthy, this desire doesn’t always translate into the action of actually visiting a dentist regularly. We believe this reflects a modern disconnect between mind and body.

In today’s world, our decision-making process is often overwhelmed by information overload, so we end up relying on explicit data like numbers and prices. But in an era of ever longer lifespans, we need to reexamine what it truly means to be healthy in both mind and body.

Art has the intrinsic power to move people’s hearts and inspire them to action. We decided to integrate art and the dental clinic, expanding its role as a space that nourishes both mind and body.

Teeth form the foundation for many physical sensations, forms of expression, and professional precision—from the simple act of eating to high-level athletic performance.

Saku Dental Futures Lab is a space for research and practice that reconnects sensibility and health with teeth as the starting point, aiming to fundamentally refine quality of life.

Santassé at Kifune: Reviving ancient love letters

Santassé at Kifune: Reviving ancient love letters

Hosted by fashion designer Tassei Onuki, this event where tradition and art intersect took place at Kyoto’s 1,300-year-old Kifune Shrine.

The theme was “Love Letters,” inspired by the shrine’s connection to Izumi Shikibu, a master of love poetry. Following the example of ancient nobles, the event revived the centuries-old Japanese tradition of conveying feelings by attaching poems to hand-picked flowers.

Visitors began by selecting a flower based on their own intuition, choosing either one of the dried flowers provided by floral designer Izumi Hosogai or a fresh flower arranged by Yuya Maeda.

Their chosen flower was then carefully placed on washi paper, and a love letter was written to convey the sender’s feelings for the intended recipient.

Awai is the Japanese word for the liminal space that emerges between two overlapping things. A love letter is a type of awai that connects people. By using flowers and words to convey feelings, they leave room for interpretation. Because they are not explicit, they can be reread and savored repeatedly, gradually nourishing the heart.

GO JAPAN

Kokuyo Osaka Live: Where learning and play come together

Kokuyo Osaka Live: Where learning and play come together

Osaka Live is a practice by Kokuyo conceived of not as a completed office space, but as a live venue where thoughts and relationships are always being generated. It is also a hands-on project that used the 2025 World Expo as an opportunity to establish new relationships between society and business in Japan’s Kansai region.

Learning and play are two inherently linked practices. Based on this idea, we used the experience of food as a medium to stimulate the senses, spark questions, and encourage dialogue.

We explored the true taste of the sea through an octopus tasting, during which attendees could compare the taste of octopus from two different regions of Japan, driving home the fact that flavor is something created by nature itself.

We also deconstructed ingredients and cultural assumptions, conjuring up completely new culinary experiences through innovative food and drink pairings. Rather than imparting knowledge, we sought to inspire questions through sensory discovery, allowing learning to emerge organically within each participant.

Kokuyo Osaka Live transforms workplaces into dynamic spaces for learning and play, where senses and thought engage in vibrant dialogue.