Kengo Kuma's brief was to create this atmosphere for international visitors in a district that inherently lacks it. Dashi requires more than just a counter and shelving; it requires a specific atmosphere: tranquil, sensory, and connected to the natural materials and the slow processes that produce it.
Inside, a tranquil space where materials take center stage, the product is displayed understated, creating an atmosphere that reduces urban stress and attempts to emulate the peace of the countryside. Washi paper—the traditional Japanese material produced using the same methods for over a thousand years—is combined with natural stone, which, in KKAA's words, creates "a soft and delicate space, ideal for a shop focused on Japanese dashi."
Kayanoya Ginza by KKAA. Photograph by Keishin Horikoshi/SS.
Project description by KKAA
In Ginza—Tokyo’s vibrant district frequented by international visitors—we designed a shop using wood to create a space where visitors can experience Japan’s forests through all five senses.
The façade, composed of slender wooden elements with subtly varying dimensions arranged three-dimensionally, offers a range of expressions depending on the season and time of day, bringing a sense of calm and tranquility to Ginza’s dense, hard-edged urban fabric.
For the interior, we also incorporated natural Japanese materials such as washi paper and stone, creating a gentle, soft space befitting a shop centered around Japanese dashi (soup stock).
