« Koko is a bench made of Oregon Pine that has a beautiful wood grain pattern. I gave it a traditional japanese surface treatment –UZUKURI: you use a very stiff brush to press down the soft grain (summer grain) and the hard grain (winter grain) comes out. Afterwards you polish with a horsetail brush. This treatment make the surface stronger and beautiful. Koko is the hollow, so the weight is only 14 kg. » Akiko Kuwahata.

The Japanese designer, Akiko Kuwahata graduated in 1999 with a degree in Living Space Design from the Nihon University, College of Art in Japan. She studied Furniture and Interior Design at Arkitektskolen in Aarhus and worked as a cabinetmaker at Hinoki Kogei Co. ltd in Japan from 1999 – 2004.

Akiko Kuwahata, who lives and works in Denmark designs sculptural and functional works which seem to resume the qualities of the two great design nations, Japan and Denmarks with their beautiful combination of sensual material, exquisite craftsmanship and elegant aerodynamic forms.