Nakajimaya Crossing, a confluence of crafts designed by Japanese studio UO and crafted by local artisans

The Japanese design studio UO has created the sculpture Nakajimaya Crossing, along with other decorative elements, for a centuries-old hotel in the city of Shizuoka. Formerly a castle town around 400 years ago, Shizuoka became a hub for artisans and the development of numerous traditional techniques. The sculpture, inspired by these crafts passed down through generations, pays homage to this rich legacy.

The Japanese design studio UO has created the sculpture Nakajimaya Crossing, along with other decorative elements, for a centuries-old hotel in the city of Shizuoka. Formerly a castle town around 400 years ago, Shizuoka became a hub for artisans and the development of numerous traditional techniques. The sculpture, inspired by these crafts passed down through generations, pays homage to this rich legacy.

Positioned at the hotel’s main entrance, the sculpture is composed of seven elliptical frames, each representing a distinct artisanal technique. Four types of craftsmanship are showcased within individual frames, while intersections between frames blend two techniques to create unique expressions.
For instance, the meeting of a frame featuring fabric dyed with tea leaves (ocha-zome) and another showcasing meticulously arranged 2mm bamboo strips (take-sensuji) results in a three-dimensional textile piece — a delicate interweaving of dyed cloth and bamboo.
These intersections embody the spirit of the hotel as a place where people of diverse backgrounds and expertise converge and interact.

A close-up of the sculpture’s central section reveals a fusion of woodturning and precision carpentry known as sashimono.

After a woodturner shaped the initial form, another artisan painstakingly inserted bamboo strips one by one, merging two crafts into a single, intricate composition.

The textile object, born from the combination of ocha-zome and take-sensuji, achieves its deep black tone through the natural dyeing of the fabric with Japanese tea.

By deliberately combining independent crafts in new contexts, UO transcends conventional categories and cultivates innovation. The studio envisions this principle expanding further throughout the hotel — into furniture, room keys, and other elements — forming a three-dimensional visual identity that will enrich the overall guest experience.

The four artisans involved in the project usually work independently, completing their creations solo without blending techniques. Thanks to UO’s coordination, their skills merged creatively, transcending traditional frameworks to foster a richer, shared expression.
The project’s true value lies not only in the creation of these objects but also in the process itself — a learning journey that allowed artisans to acquire new, transformative techniques.

This sculpture is destined to become a lasting symbol of the hotel and a cherished icon within the local community.

UO Studio

Founded in 2020 by Yu Matsuda and Yuichiro Tani, UO is a design studio dedicated to exploring the meaning and values that future societies will require. Through a combination of product development and independent projects with diverse companies and organizations, UO implements these reflections into the world, constantly moving between creativity and social impact.

Yu Matsuda

Born in 1986 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. After graduating from the Shizuoka University of Art and Culture’s School of Design, he worked in a design office before founding his own practice. In 2013, he launched Yu Matsuda Design, a product design office, and in 2020, co-founded UO. He has also served as a part-time lecturer.

Yuichiro Tani

Born in 1987 in Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture. After graduating in design from Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, he joined Suzuki Motor Corporation’s scooter department in 2009, where he worked for a decade in motorcycle model development. In 2020, he co-founded UO and launched the independent research project Touch of the Universe.

Project by UO Studio