Japanese design is a perennial favourite in Hong Kong homes both for its minimal, evergreen pieces made from unfinished hardwoods and slow-crafted accessories that are compact enough to adorn our tiny abodes. While Muji might be the first store that comes to mind, new boutiques focused on Japanese design are cropping up in Central, presenting a wider range of rarer homewares and knick knacks.

Here are three shops that are bringing the best in Japanese wares direct to our shores.

Okura

This eclectic boutique was started by a husband-and-wife team who share a background in fashion as well as a lifelong admiration for all things Japanese. The couple opened Okura (meaning “treasure trove” in Japanese) in April 2015, collaborating with interior designer Hoffman Ho of Designmenu on the colourful interiors. Co-founder Frankie Cheung travels frequently to Japan to source new designer creations for the shop, which now carries products from over 40 Japanese designers, ranging from crockery and ceramics to stationary and apparel. “We love the story behind the development of each brand,” shares Frankie, “the respect for nature, as well as the concept, craftsmanship and excellent design that goes into each object.”

Okura, G/F 1 Shin Hing St, Central; tel

Usagi 

Selling objects that tell a story is only one dimension of Usagi, which opened its doors late last year. Touted as a lifestyle gallery space, the large shop also serves as an exhibition and event venue dedicated to promoting Japanese culture and craftsmanship. In its first-floor retail space, many of the hard-to-come-by objects are sourced from specialty craftsmen, such as the paper thin Kikof cement dinnerware from Shiga prefecture and technicolour Tsugaru handcrafted sake cups. The store also hosts workshops in its upstairs event space, including past classes on yoga and hand-dripped coffee demos as well as their current ukulele lessons.

Shop B, G/F Wah Shin House, 6-10 Shin Hing St, Central; tel 2448-9968

Good Design Store 

The Good Design Store opened in 2014 at PMQ as a meeting place for Japanophiles to admire a carefully edited collection of homewares, gadgets, household items and gifts. Operated by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP), all showcased items are former winners of the Good Design Award (established since 1957), with the majority originating from Japan and the other 20 percent cherry picked from around the world. While Hong Kong is the first Good Design Store of its kind, there are now other outposts in Bangkok and Taipei. In addition to clever creations such as collapsible plastic vases by D-Bros and an adorable Works Guild Japan child’s bike made from eco wood, the PMQ store also hosts numerous exhibitions featuring the works of Japanese artists and designers.

H401, Block B, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen St, Central; tel

By: Beverly Cheng

Photography: Edgar Tapan