Monday May 13, 2013
‘No design’ design
Serene space: Kise designed and built his showroom, which is reminiscent of warehouseconverted lofts in New York’s SoHo district. WHEN furniture maker Tokuhiko Kise and his illustrator wife Hiromi Karatsu started Truck Furniture in 1997 to design, make and sell furniture, they only made things they liked. Turned out, lots of other people loved what they did. So much so that Truck has racked up a huge cult following in Japan and abroad.
US- and Europe-based design bloggers can’t stop raving about Truck’s lovingly constructed furniture. The company’s catalogues (it puts out three editions) are collectors’ items and 70,000 copies have been sold. The waiting list for Truck’s custom-made pieces can stretch up to six months. Orders pour in from Europe and America despite the astronomical shipping costs. Celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz spotted a Truck table in Wallpaper* magazine and placed an order to have one shipped to New York City.
Despite all this brouhaha, however, today, the husband-and-wife team still operates with just 14 employees. Nestled in a quiet Osaka suburb, Truck’s premises include a furniture workshop, showroom, warehouse, cafe and the couple’s two-storey home. A six-year-old daughter, five dogs and eight cats make up the happy family.
“We started with no philosophy, we just wanted to make furniture we like and use at home,” says the happy-go-lucky Kise, 44. “I am happy doing what I want. I don’t want to think about money and sales.”
Over the years, offers to license or expand Truck’s products and business have flooded in but the couple is adamant about keeping the status quo. From design to the finished product, the company does its own woodworking, finishing and upholstery. Metalwork is outsourced while for leather chairs and sofas, Kise works with an Osaka-based tannery and fabric factory. He designs and makes prototypes and Hiromi tweaks the designs. “Her opinion is always right,” he says, chuckling. Hiromi also takes care of the retail front.
Truck also sells an eclectic variety of leather products (crafted by Hiromi’s sister onsite), clothing, accessories and household ware, all handpicked by Hiromi.
So what is it about Truck’s products that earn them a truckload of fans? It’s hard to pinpoint exactly. At first glance, you think “vintage” but on closer examination, the details, forms and choice of materials are distinctly non-conformist. What is certain is that they look comfortably lived-in, like they are asking to be sat on or used.
“I don’t have a particular style, though critics or fans like to think it’s retro,” says the Osaka native who studied furniture making at a technical college in Nagano. “I’m not trying to make replicas of old things. I’m influenced by things in life like movies and old stuff. I get excited looking at old buildings, windows and small details,” says Kise.
Truck’s popular HR wood and metal armchair upholstered with tanned leather. — Photos by Shigeki Watanabe A lot of his designs are instinctive. A product’s litmus test before it goes into production is Kise and Hiromi’s nod of approval. “If it doesn’t sell, it’s okay but it is important we are satisfied with the product,” he explains. For instance, they tweaked the FK sofa for one year before they were satisfied with the result. “We thought it wouldn’t sell because it’s too big for the average Japanese home. But it’s been a bestseller for 10 years now!”
That perfectionist streak in Kise means he’s never complacent about his handiwork. “We are always working on perfecting our furniture. For example, our sofa can last for 10 years but I always find ways to make it last even longer,” he says.
Even if a particular model’s quality improves, the prices never go up. Not that Truck pieces are cheap to begin with. The three-seater FK sofa costs ¥395,000 (RM11,838) while the Sutto table, made with Nara oak sells for ¥200,000 (RM5,594).
“For my customer, it’s just that one sofa they will own for a while so I want to give them something close to perfect,” says Kise, a slight man with a muscular frame.
“I want to make my furniture honestly, without pretension. I’m happy if a customer can use my furniture for a long time and it can be a part of their life,” he adds, as we chat over ice lemon tea at his cafe, Bird.
Truck moved into its new premises in late 2009. The idea of the cafe came about when he spotted a couple at a bus stop in front of the old showroom.
Truck founders Tokuhiko Kise and his wife, Hiromi Karatsu. “They sat for a long time on the bench, discussing whether to buy our furniture,” Kise recalls. “I thought it would be nice for them to have a place to sit and relax when they ponder a big decision.”
In August, Truck released its latest publication, Truck Nest, a 400-page book with illustrations and photos taken by the couple. The book documents their journey in building the current premises from the ground up.
“I’m keen to have an exhibition in New York after we release our next catalogue,” Kise shares.
“I want people to be able to touch and feel my furniture and I want to see their reaction. And I’ll get to travel!” he laughs.
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