Released on March 5, 2025
Comfort
In an article interview with Saito Sakan,
Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworks was also interviewed and featured.
Among the many places that Saito Sakan has worked on,
It was an honor to be interviewed.
( Below is a blog post about how we decided on our location after visiting other places that Saito Sakan has worked on, such as the Essential Store and Farmoon, which feature beautiful clay walls.)
There were many things I learned and realised while being interviewed and photographed.
Conforto, which was first published in 1990 and has been in publication for 35 years, is a magazine I have admired since my student days.
Thank you, Saito Arata-san and Misako-san.
Edited and interviewed by: Kimie Tada
Interviewed and written by: Rie Sasada
Photo shoot photographer: Yohei Sasakura
Publisher: Architectural Materials Research Company
Release date: March 5, 2025 144 pages
CONFORT Home Page
About CONFORT: CONFORT is supported by professionals who value the origins of design, which is to "pursue essential comfort." CONFORT means "comfortable" in Spanish. Light, air, volume of space, traffic flow, sound, relationship with the surrounding environment, floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, each design and texture of materials. From an interior design perspective, we delve into each of these aspects to determine how the people who are there will feel comfortable. And by carefully conveying the background and stories of each event, we hope to enrich the world of Japanese interior design in a fundamental sense. (From the CONFORT website )
(Below is a blog about the clay wall.)
● We created an atelier (1st floor studio, 2nd floor gallery) next to the Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworks studio. The distinctive space of plastering. "Scrape off," "Press," "Polish" and the ceiling is "Nademono"（＝Something that was stroked）
You can see more photos of the studio being built (slideshow of the work in progress).
In the fall of 2023, with the help of local friends, we will complete our second half-self-build.
( About the first self-build )
It took a year to complete the project, which progressed in parallel with regular furniture production.
The fittings, the extra-large staircase chest of drawers and flooring were made from solid wood such as chestnut, keyaki, yew and maple.
in particular,
Itaya Kobo was responsible for the construction of the building, including the raising of the roof, installation of the structural plywood, and the underside of the eaves.
The rest of the work was carried out by Asakura Mokko.
Before installing the exterior walls, we first made and installed window frames out of yew wood.
After that, we made a small eaves out of metal and installed them, then climbed up onto the scaffolding to work on the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet and waterproof tape. After that, we installed the ventilation furring strips and the lath with the moisture-permeable sheet (a surface that traps soil, like a wire mesh net).
Construction.
This time we fell in love with the plastered wall and asked Saito Plasterer to do the work.
(Strictly speaking, Saito's sword is Y, with no lower dot.)
The earthen walls and floors created by Shinjin Saito ( Team Saito) are mysterious and impressive, enveloping the space with a variety of textures, including scrapings, trowel presses, and agate polishing.
Specifically, the troweling work was left to the plastering team, and the Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworking team was
The window frames are covered with masking tape, and the plastering team applies a primer, then the tape is removed.
I put masking tape on the wall again for the top coat, knead the soil for the exterior walls (my role is called "kneading"), and when the pump that carries the soil to the place where it will be used is not working properly, I carry it in a bucket. Soil is heavy, and it's a tough race against time, especially in places where the sun is shining!
Once the plastering team has applied the top coat, the work is gradually scraped off using several different types of brushes, starting with a coarse one.
I also learned how to hold it tightly and polish it with agate. It was a great experience.
Although plastering is an amateur, there are many similarities between plastering and woodworking in terms of "creating a flat surface," and the plastering team praised us for this.
The woodworking team (Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworking Team) was exhausted from working with earth, which they were not used to.
The first floor is a workshop, where we will also be taking on the challenge of creating architectural fixtures such as kitchens. The showroom on the second floor is a space where the earthen walls, plastered floors, chestnut Korean flooring, and wooden furniture resonate with the greenery and light of the charcoal mountains.
Before deciding on plastering,
I went to see a store displaying plasterwork created by Saito Plasterer.
1. Osaka's " essential store "
I went to see it and said, "It was absolutely amazing."
So, at that time, we were wondering what to do with the interior and exterior walls of Asakura Mokko, whether to use earthen walls or not, and with the background of the rising cost of construction due to the Wood Shock, we were undecided and came to take a look. When I told him through the plasterer Saito later,
The store owner, Takuya Tagami, said, "I wish they would at least do the interior walls."
That's right, I thought, maybe at least the interior walls... Once I started thinking about this, gradually a feasible path began to open up.
We decided to create an air space under the exterior wall, which meant more work, but it was a good decision.
After that, when the mud wall that we had been unsure about was completed, he came to see it at the Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworks workshop and we all ate meat buns together. It was a very moving experience.
2. Farmoon, a cafe in Ginkakuji, Kyoto
All the plastering on the walls, floors, counters, etc. was done by them. The fit and texture were wonderful. I made up my mind.
(The handmade mooncakes on the cafe menu were incredibly delicious. There are only a few round tables and a counter, so I was able to get a seat when I went at opening time. When I went on another day, I was able to see the gallery space on the second floor while I waited.)
3. "Honke Owariya Confectionery Shop" in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kurumamachi-dori Nijo-shita
The sweets section of a soba noodle shop where there are long queues.
The walls, floors, counters, etc. were all plastered, and even the outside of the store had beautiful details.
It was also helpful to hear about the actual usability of the counter.
④Kyoto "capo capo Kyoto Imperial Palace West Store" A confectionery workshop with a small cafe
Kyoto Imperial Palace West Store | Store Introduction | bio sweet's capocapo | capo capo
〒602-8021 Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Kamigyo Ward, Horimatsucho 419
This space was also very helpful in considering the direction of light, color, and texture.
⑤VAGUE KOBE Studio and Gallery
A large, large-scale space.
The artwork stands out against the earthen walls with their genuine texture.
(There are other Saito Plastering sites, but these were the ones I was able to see before deciding on construction.)
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After seeing these spaces,
What color and finish should we use for the exterior walls of this Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworking Company?
What colour and finish should the interior walls be?
What about the toilet?
The lighting, size, and environment are all different.
Saito Arata-san, about 10 years ago,
When the Sumiyama area was in trouble due to landslides caused by torrential rains,
Because I live nearby,
He once came to the area as a volunteer and helped clear away mud and debris.
Someone who knows what the light, wind, and air of the coal mines are like,
All the veteran plasterers from Team Saito shared their opinions,
They helped me with color and texture consultations.
A pleasant looking building has been built that suits the local scenery.
It must have been difficult to design the house because the client had a lot of say in it.
Without a single frown
Mr. Mitsuhiro Ishinomaki of ITAYA KOBO
He listened to my advice on various things and put it all together for me.
Kyoto Custom-built homes Natural materials Wooden homes Stylish | Itaya Kobo @ Custom-built homes in Uji, Kyoto ( itaya-kobo.com )
I particularly like the large eaves space at the entrance.
The small planting space in front of the studio is made up of local
Enatsu Garden Architect suggested this,
A garden with Wabisuke, Megusurinoki and other seasonal trees has been created,
I really like how the stones (rocks) create a natural flow.
At first I was going to give up on planting trees, but planting trees has made a huge difference in the way the earthen wall looks.
Located 10 minutes by car from Asakura Woodworks
I went to Amatsutsumi SHOP to buy things like wide double-sided waterproof tape when I ran out, and they were very helpful to me.
It is pronounced "Amatsutsumi." ama=Rain , tsutsumi=Embankment...
Something to protect us from the rain.
it's an ancestral name. Poetic.
From my experience of building a house myself, I know that design is important, but
I realized that protecting the building from rain and wind is the most important function of a house, especially when it is made of wood.
There are many more stories about plastering that I could not write about. Please come and visit us.
When you visit, you will be able to see both ② the shop and ③ the atelier.
(① Advance reservations required for showroom (home area) only)
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Furniture from Kyoto "Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworks"
Solid wood furniture that you can use for a long time
Furniture workshop and shop that uses blade finishing techniques.
Chairs, tables, custom-made furniture, kitchens, etc.
We provide a one-stop service from design to production and sales.
23-3, Tanzandonomoto, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, 601-1395
Showroom open
Monday to Friday 10:00 to 16:00,
Weekends and holidays: Reservation required. (For same-day reservations, call 0774-39-8095)
●No reservation is required on weekdays. If you have business with Toru Asakura , please call us to ensure that you can see him.
●On weekends and holidays, if there are no reservations, I may be out or at my home/workshop (next to the shop). Please feel free to call me on the day.
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Date Published: March 6, 2025
DateModified: 2025/3/10
Author: Reina Asakura
Publisher: Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Woodworks
Kyoto Sumiyama Asakura Mokkou
Quality Furniture Design & Woodworks