Miyazaki Chair

Miyazaki Chair, nestled in Tokushima, Japan, is a testament to the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern design. Established in a region known for its rich woodworking heritage, the factory has become renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation. As Miyazaki Chair’s collection is available exclusively at Aram in the UK, we wanted to highlight its history and design philosophy within this journal.

Takaharu Miyazaki established Miyazaki Chair in 1969 - under the original name of The Miyazaki Chair Factory - and it has remained a family business ever since. In 1973 Masahiro Miyazaki joined the company to assist his father and following Takaharu’s passing in 1993, Masahiro took over the leadership of the factory.

Over the years, the factory has maintained a commitment to craftsmanship, utilising local resources and skilled artisans. This dedication has allowed Miyazaki Chair to create pieces that resonate with both domestic and international audiences, highlighting the rich heritage of Japanese artisanship. Drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese woodworking techniques, the company focuses on producing chairs that are not only functional but also celebrate the beauty of natural materials. At the core of the manufacturing process lies a focus on ‘design’ and ‘technology’. By integrating the best aspects of handwork and machine processing, Miyazaki Chair has developed its own unique operation.

The designs mainly evolve through the workshop, where leading domestic and international designers collaborate onsite with Miyazaki’s in-house craftspeople. This hands-on, refined approach results in clear, perfected designs that are characterised by clean lines, organic shapes, and a careful selection of materials, often featuring locally sourced wood. Each chair is made to order, and with a factory of about forty employees, everyone is closely involved including Masahiro Miyazaki, in every step of the production process. Miyazaki Chair strives to create a comfortable and reliable environment for designers and staff, and many stay with the company for a long time, gaining a wealth of experience in their craft, one of the foundations of making quality products. Patience, excellent craftmanship and the love for the trade distinguish Miyazaki Chair from many other manufacturers. It’s not about speed or quantity.

The factory began collaborating with external designers in 2000, including Japanese designers Kazuteru Murasawa and Makoto Koizumi, as well as European designers Inoda and Sveje, among others. Renowned Danish designers Kai Kristiansen and Kristian Vedel have entrusted Miyazaki Chair to revive many of their iconic designs, further showcasing the factory’s superior level of craftsmanship.

We recently received new pieces from the Japanese manufacturer for our display here at Aram, including two new launches: the DC11 dining chair and the three-legged Tsumuji side chair. These join the wider range that we have on display, such as iconic designs like the Paperknife three-seat sofa and lounge chair by Kai Kristiansen.

The new DC11 dining chair was designed by Inoda and Sveje, who are a multi-disciplinary design duo comprising Kyoko Inoda (Japan) and Nils Sveje (Denmark) founded in 2000 in Copenhagen. In 2003, they moved their base of operations to Milan, where their studio and gallery is located in the Brera neighbourhood.

Meticulously produced at the Miyazaki Chair factory, the DC11 elevates the standard of detail in wooden furniture. Its sleek lines and natural connections encourage visual and tactile interaction. A significant challenge was integrating rigid materials, like paper cord, with flexible wood, especially in the backrest. The outcome is a chair that is both visually impressive and ergonomically designed, striking a balance between form and function.

As the Japanese-Danish designers Inoda and Sveje describe it: "The DC11 embodies the spirit of Scandinavian modern furniture, drawing inspiration from nature's organic forms to create a design language that speaks to our innate sense of beauty and harmony. The craftsmanship, a hallmark of Miyazaki Chair, elevates this chair to a work of art that connects us to our very essence."

Another recent release is the Tsumuji Side Chair by Takuya Matsuoka, an in-house designer and craftsperson at Miyazaki Chair. Tsumuji’s design stems from an ongoing pursuit of innovation and the exploration of new techniques, resulting in a unique and functional chair. It features a wooden three-leg structure, ergonomically shaped to reduce pressure on the back and thighs. The chair has a relatively simple design, with two types of frames arranged crosswise and attached to the seat and backrest. The thick legs appear slim from the side, creating a lightweight feel with a slight give under the seat on the backrest side. Despite its three-leg design, Tsumuji is very stable and comfortable.

The Paperknife series, originally introduced as the 121 series, was designed in 1956 by the Danish designer Kai Kristiansen and reissued and coined the 'paperknife’ series by the Miyazaki Chair fifty years later. Kai Kristiansen was born in Denmark in 1929 and he began his career as an apprentice to a cabinetmaker at the age of sixteen. He later studied furniture design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where he honed his skills in woodworking, metalworking, and upholstery. In 1955, he opened his own furniture design studio, and over the next decade, he created some of his most iconic designs such as the Paperknife series and the No 42 dining chair, both of which are now trusted by Kristiansen to be made only by Miyazaki Chair.

The renaming reflects a recognition of the sofa’s distinctive armrests, which resemble paper-cutting scissors—an elegant detail of the Paperknife. Moreover, its appeal goes beyond aesthetics, emphasising comfort and ergonomic design. It is available with either feather cushions, which provide a soft, relaxed feel, or Dacron-wrapped foam cushions for firmer support. Additionally, Kristiansen’s designs are characterised by their uniquely shaped legs, ensuring that each piece is not only visually striking but also ergonomically crafted, highlighting Kristiansen’s dedication to quality and human-centred design principles.

Miyazaki takes pride in producing ‘chairs that nobody else can make.’ A sentiment which is certainly reflected in the quality and precision of all their designs. We have a large selection on display in our store and available on our website. Miyazaki Chair is exclusive to Aram in the UK.