Studio Kuku Reveals its Wooden Heart

All around there are forests, hot springs, and temples. We are in the region of Nagano, at the foot of mount Asama, in the small town of Komoro. It is in this dream-like landscape that the husband-and-wife team, the Tanis, have established their design studio, Studio Kuku.

Keeping the spirit of wood alive

Ku refers to the spirit of the tree in the Nihon Shoki, a classical Japanese text published in 720. Kuku is thus a reference to the multitude of wood that is used by the artisans of Studio Kuku to create furniture, wooden tableware, and other accessories.

Imbued with the animist tradition specific to Shintoism, the couple explains that the spirit of the tree is transferred to the person who creates the object, and then on to the person who uses it. According to them, the new owners of their creations will therefore keep the spirit of wood alive in turn.

Studio Kuku’s creations can be found on their website, Instagram page, or in their studio.

Address: 4741 Amaike , Komoro City, Nagano 384-0021 Japan.