Japanese Taste Wāhi Hokohoko by Shunsuke Ohe

Japanese Taste Wāhi Hokohoko by Shunsuke Ohe is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.

ParahiRoto Whare· 2026

Japanese Taste Wāhi Hokohoko

by Shunsuke Ohe

Client: Shunsuke Ohe

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Roto Whare Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #183559

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Japanese Taste Wāhi Hokohoko

He wāhi hokohoko a Japanese Taste kei te Teihana o Kyoto i Hapani. Ka whakaatuhia e te toa ngā mahi toi, ngā kai, te sake, ngā whakapaipai me ngā taonga o ia rā i hangaia e ngā ringatoi, ngā kaipāmu me ngā kaihanga mai i ngā tōpito o Hapani. E whai ana te hoahoa o roto i te momo māhorahora o Hapani, mā te whakamahi i te mokowā, te māramatanga, te atarangi me te āta pupuri, kaua ko ngā tauira whakapaipai. Ka karapotia e te āhua pango o waho tētahi rohe mahana o roto, he rākau, he kōhatu, he māramatanga ngāwari hoki. Ka mahi tētahi tēpu nui kei waenganui hei papa whakaaturanga, hei atamira hoki, ā, ka tāpirihia e ngā huānga tukutuku poutū te hōhonutanga. Ka hurihia e te hoahoa tētahi wāhi hipa noa hei wāhi tūtakitanga ahurea.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Japanese Taste Wāhi Hokohoko te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Japanese Taste Wāhi Hokohoko he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Japanese Taste Wāhi Hokohoko i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Japanese products featured here range widely, from crafts and food to sake, cosmetics and everyday essentials. However, these are not merely commodities. They embody the local climate, materials and techniques, the philosophy of their makers, and the aesthetic sensibilities cultivated by the Japanese people. Consequently, this space aims to serve as a vessel that quietly draws out the value inherent in these diverse items and conveys it to our visitors.
Dimensions & Packaging: Project area : 114.5 sqm / Category : Retail Outlet
Tags: stone , wood , tile , Japanese-style , Kyoto , noren , LUSTYdesign , Shunsuke Ohe
Production Technology: Ceiling : wall paper / Wall : wood , wall paper , stone , wooden lattice / Floor : pvc tile
Design Challenge: At the centre of the space, a large table functions as both display and stage, connecting visitors with products and their stories. Soft fabric like lighting above and vertical lattice elements create warmth, depth, and quiet symbolism. A restrained palette of wood, stone, black, and red brings unity to the diverse product range, forming a subtle spatial framework that allows the products to stand out.
Research: A key aim of this project was to transform Kyoto Station from a place of transit into a place of cultural encounter. Through calm fixture planning, restrained lighting, layered sightlines, and a curatorial approach that unifies diverse products, the space invites visitors to pause, explore, and reflect. More than a shop, Japanese Taste presents a contemporary way to communicate the essence of Japanese craftsmanship and sensibility to the world.
Inspiration: Kyoto remains an international city open to the world, whilst embracing a thousand years of history and culture. In this city, which welcomes countless visitors from both home and abroad, Kyoto Station is not merely a transport hub, but a gateway that shapes the city’s first impression. This project involves a retail initiative in this highly public space, showcasing and selling goods crafted by artisans, farmers and producers from across Japan.
Project Duration: Project Duration : From April 2025 to July 2025 Project location : Kyoto(Japan)
Operation Flow: At the heart of the design is minimalism, a principle deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Rather than relying on superficial motifs, the space reinterprets ma, light and shadow, materiality, order, and restraint within a contemporary retail setting. Framed by a black toned exterior, the interior offers warmth, soft light, and calm, creating a quiet contrast to the bustle of the station and inviting visitors to pause and engage.
Image Credits: Photograph : NANA TAJIMA by ToLoLo studio