In this series, " #IsetanMensFavoriteItems ," key figures at Isetan Mens, who have a keen eye for style and a sharp aesthetic sense, introduce their favorite personal belongings and items they want.

Introducing her favorite items this time is Ayumi Matsuoka, the buyer in charge of "ISETAN HOME ESSENCE," a lifestyle select shop that will open on the 5th floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku on Wednesday, January 29th.
"ISETAN HOME ESSENCE," curated with Matsuoka's unique sensibilities and concept, is a noteworthy shop featuring a lineup of distinctive items that enrich the act of "living" and make everyday life feel beautiful and special.

"I choose items that are simple, elegant, and can be cherished for a long time, transcending time."

Matsuoka says that when she chooses things on a regular basis, she takes her time to carefully select items that she finds "beautiful" at that moment, such as crafts that convey the thoughts and spirit of the creator, or vintage items that possess timeless beauty.
They say they feel happy when they realize how much they cherish the time they've spent interacting with and nurturing those things in order to collect them.
What are some of the things Matsuoka actually cherishes in her home? Let's have her share her approach to possessions and what she values through her favorite items.

A rare presence that somehow "brings a pleasant sense of incongruity to the room." WAKA WAKA chair

This chair is by WAKA WAKA, a design studio run by Shinichiro Okuda in Los Angeles. I purchased it when Isetan started carrying their products in October of this year. I've always loved WAKA WAKA, and after taking on my current role, I contacted Mr. Okuda directly, and coincidentally, he was visiting Japan at the time, so we were able to meet, and that's how it all started. WAKA WAKA's items are minimalist and contemporary, yet they have a rare quality that somehow "brings a pleasant sense of incongruity to a room." The event at Isetan was titled "Where do you sit in your thoughts?", and we put our hopes into it that it would give people who see the products, and those who actually purchase them and incorporate them into their lives, something to think about. In the newly opening shop, we will be carrying many works filled with the thoughts and feelings of artists and creators from Japan and abroad, including WAKA WAKA.

Beauty born from meticulous craftsmanship. SyuRo's square tin

This is a square tin from SyuRo, a company based in Torigoe, Taito-ku, Tokyo. They combine Japanese tradition and the skills of craftsmen to create everyday design products that can be used continuously in daily life, and then filter them through SyuRo's unique perspective. I purchased this when I visited "SAMNICONt," a gallery run by the company's representative, Mr. Unayama, in Miyota, Nagano. Brass is a hard material and difficult to process, but making it thinner would compromise its durability. I was told that they arrived at this thickness after much trial and error. Over time, the color will settle like an antique, and the more you use it, the more attached you will become to it. It can beautifully store stationery, cutlery, letters, photographs, and other small items.

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＊All prices include tax.
＊The information in this article is current as of the time of publication. Product information may be revised or changed without notice.

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