kitchen stool

Every year, I make a chair as a birthday gift for my wife.
Occasionally, one of these personal pieces unexpectedly becomes a product.

Perhaps because it is not designed for customers, competitions, or product development, there is no pressure—only the freedom to enjoy experimenting with new structures.
Failures are common, but that freedom often leads to discovery.

This chair was designed while imagining everyday moments: cooking in the kitchen while seated, or reading a book with a beer in hand.

The seat height is 600 mm, with a secondary shelf positioned 400 mm below, allowing it to be used comfortably like a standard chair.

The challenge this time was to construct the piece using only 22 mm–thick solid wood, composed of just four legs, a seat, and a shelf—nothing more.
Both the seat and shelf are directly joined to the legs as structural elements.

By using traditional Japanese joints for the legs and seats, I discovered a level of strength exceeding that of conventional constructions. Concealing the joints also helps prevent misalignment over time.

Each component is simple on its own, but through the accumulation of small, thoughtful details, the chair achieves a quiet yet confident presence.

Once again, this piece reminded me that God is in the details.

Written by Shigeki Matsuoka

SIZE W380 D380 H600

MATERIAL walnut / cherry

Designed by Shigeki Matsuoka

*Each piece will have different grain, color, and other characteristics. Please enjoy the unique characteristics, appearance, and changes over time that only natural wood can offer.

*There may be slight individual differences in shape and size.

*Although we use thoroughly dried wood, due to it being natural wood, slight movement (such as small misalignments or warping at the joints) may occur.