Carving a big tree dynamically and deeply, or carving a thin tree delicately and gently – both represent the true charm of woodworking. Please observe the finished appearance of different type of chairs, and gently touch the wood surfaces. We hope that you will think that “wood is nice.” We are waiting for you at “call”, the store for a comfortable life, presented by minä perhonen.
Based on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, atelier KIKA specializes in woodworking ranging from conceptual artworks to furniture for houses, restaurants and hotels, fittings and fixtures for shops, and dishware. Each of them is a product of close communication with the client. My interest in the wood from across the sea as well as the one on the hill behind our atelier has led me to focus on manufacturing with miscellaneous trees locally found on Awaji Island or in the prefecture. I hope my works will make more people to realize “Wood is nice”
Born in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture in 1964, Kitajima is a graduate of the Industrial Design Course of the Department of Industrial, Interior and Craft Design, Musashino Art University. While working for a furniture and interior design company, he experienced design work both in Germany, where he was transferred to a traditional furniture manufacturer. Then he worked under a wood craftsman, Kennosuke Hayakawa, learning not only techniques but also the attitude to deal with woodworking and wood, before he opened atelier KIKA in 1997. Currently, Kitajima lives and works in Awaji Island, manufacturing a wide range of woodworks. As he spends more time in woodworking, his love for wood deepens.
