Chairs from NEW LIGHT POTTERY, by Hiroyuki Nagatomi, for each family member, regardless of era or material.

Each chair has a unique presence that connects people and the space

New Light Pottery is a lighting brand based in Nara. In their product image photos, they always feature a chair, which has a subtle presence. According to company founder Hiroyuki Nagatomi, "Photographing lighting and chairs together is to convey a sense of scale. By imagining a human body, the size and distance of the light can be conveyed. The chair plays a role in representing human scale."

However, when he says, "I feel like having one chair changes the atmosphere of the room, so I end up buying several," we get a glimpse of his true feelings as a chair lover.

When he was a student majoring in architecture, the first chair he ever bought was an Eames shell chair he found in a thrift store. This sparked his interest in interior design, but he didn't go down the path of designing his own chairs.

"When I was a student, I was given an assignment to make a chair, and I came up with the idea of making a stool that resembled the contours of a mountain. However, it was difficult to sit on and heavy. I gave up, thinking I had no talent." However, for over 20 years since then, his interest has never waned, and he has continued to acquire chairs that resonate with him, regardless of whether they are famous or not. Sometimes he chooses from a trusted brick-and-mortar store, and sometimes he uses online auctions.

He says that he sometimes brings back stools in his carry-on luggage from overseas travels. On the other hand, he often passes them on to the next generation, hoping that they will have the experience of living with a good chair while they are still young. He currently has 50 to 60 chairs. "I live with pets, so most of the easily damaged items, such as rattan, are in the office or shop, and the ones at home are mostly unpretentious."

At the entrance, guests are greeted by Mario Botta's masterpiece, Seconda. For Nagatomi, who creates minimalist products using carefully selected materials, this chair feels somewhat unexpected. "Italian modern furniture has a freedom that is different from my own work. It's perhaps something I admire."

He says that his experience of being exposed to the designs of masters such as Achille Castiglioni and Enzo Mari has had a significant influence on his own work. "However, I would like to avoid a certain style, such as collecting only Finnish chairs to create a Nordic style. I feel that my range of interests is expanding year by year."

Stepping into the living/dining room, it's immediately clear that this phrase is embodied. The four chairs surrounding the table, made from bent steel plate, are chairs selected by Nagatomi for each member of the family. His own chair, "SOFSOF," combines a thick, rough frame from the 1970s with a contemporary cushion.

His wife has a Flex chair, and his two children have a comfortable Bruno chair and a Frankfurt chair with legs cut to fit their height. In the living room, there is a Hans J. Wegner GE375 chair, and a Charlotte Perriand stool as an ottoman.

In the kitchen, there is a sauna chair brought back from Finland, and at the desk is Alvar Aalto's K65 high chair. The upholstery seat has been replaced with a fabric that can withstand cats scratching their claws, and the wooden stool is sanded and cared for by the owner himself. Even though they are masterpieces, they are treated as an extension of everyday life.

It is not something to be used as decoration. Family members sit on it, cats and dogs relax on it, and it blends into daily life. Its appearance shapes the impression of the space. For Nagatomi, chairs and lighting may play the same role. They are there to accept people's activities and quietly adjust the atmosphere of the space.