【Tsuruya Shoten】

A new custom-order piece that works as both a table and storage shelf—the side table. Plus a stool and slim rack available only at ZUTTO.

Rattan baskets and rattan chairs that carry a certain nostalgic charm. Tsuruya Shoten, based in Yamagata Prefecture, continues to make things that make the most of rattan's characteristic lightness and flexibility.

At ZUTTO, we've been working with Tsuruya Shoten on new products for several years now, including the stool, based on their original design but finished with lacquer coating for easier everyday use, and the slim rack, built from scratch through consultation so it could fit into tight spaces like entryways. Now joining the lineup as a new custom-order piece is the "side table."

In our interview with Aita-san, the representative of Tsuruya Shoten who collaborated with us on this custom-order piece, he also shared detailed insights into the fine craftsmanship behind this new side table. We hope you'll enjoy it alongside this article.

Three items exclusive to ZUTTO

From left: [Custom Order] Rattan 3-Tier Rack Side Table, [Custom Order] Rattan 3-Tier Deep Slim Rack, [Custom Order] Rattan Woven Stool

NEW

[Custom Order] Rattan 3-Tier Rack Side Table Side Table

What if we could make a table out of rattan—light and easy to carry? It would let you rearrange your space effortlessly, and surely make many corners of your home more comfortable and livable. That wish was the starting point for this side table. Tsuruya Shoten examined its durability and strength, and after many prototypes, this side table was finally completed. Unlike the racks we've offered before, this piece adds the function of a "table," resulting in a rattan interior item that can be used in an even wider variety of ways.

Our staff got to try it out ahead of launch. Read the review here

POINT

Lightweight, so you can easily carry it around and rearrange your space

At about 2.7kg, it's light enough for a woman to lift with ease. This weight means you can casually move it to any spot in your home, and even if you move house, there's no need to part with it—it can be an interior piece that stays with you for good.

・As a side table next to a sofa

・As a display shelf

・As a side chest

・As a bedside table

We hope you'll find many everyday uses for it like these.

The tabletop (first and second tiers) has been given a lacquer finish that preserves the natural texture of the rattan, making it easy to wipe clean should you accidentally spill a drink. The rest is left unfinished, giving it a look that blends naturally with other pieces from the series when used as a side table. Its light, matte white texture pairs beautifully with living room flooring, entryway or kitchen tiles, and bedside settings alike.

[Custom Order] Rattan 3-Tier Deep Slim Rack

This slim rack came about through the suggestion of a staff member who loves using Tsuruya Shoten's baskets. If only there were a slim rattan rack that could fit into a narrow entryway or hallway, it would be perfect for storing "those things you just want to set down here." That wish is what gave birth to this item.

Even in tight spaces like beside a kitchen counter or in a bathroom, it adds storage space without feeling bulky, making those areas far easier to use.

It's also designed to serve not just as storage for "putting things away," but also as a kind of display shelf. With a depth of just 25cm, it's a slim rack that's easy to use anywhere.

[Custom Order] Rattan Woven Stool

A popular custom-order rattan woven stool. This too was born from a staff member's wish of "I'd love something like this," and it's a special piece available only at ZUTTO.

Staff member: "I've used Tsuruya Shoten's baskets for years, holding all kinds of things in the bathroom, living room, and my kid's room, and I was struck by how well rattan fits into any room. I think that's thanks to the natural atmosphere that solid rattan brings. So I thought it would be wonderful to bring rattan into everyday life in a form other than a storage basket, which is why I asked for a custom-order rattan stool."

"The design was originally something Tsuruya Shoten sold. Their original stool had a rich dark brown finish over the rattan, giving it a stylish, subdued look, but to suit today's lifestyles, we asked them to adjust it for this ZUTTO custom order, keeping the finish in a pale tone that lets you enjoy rattan's natural coloring.

At home, it usually sits in my bathroom, but when guests come over, I bring it to the table to use as an extra seat. It's nice that I can move it around effortlessly."

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Brand Interview

Conveying the warmth of handcraft. The rattan expertise behind Tsuruya Shoten's craftsmanship.

Tsuruya Shoten, which ZUTTO has featured for many years, is a long-established rattan goods brand from Yamagata Prefecture, founded in Meiji 40 (1907).

Rattan changing baskets and chairs were once a common sight in many households, public bathhouses, and inns, but they have gradually been replaced by cheaper items, and rattan products have come to occupy a position somewhere close to that of traditional crafts. Even so, rattan remains a tool for everyday living. It doesn't have the kind of impact that becomes the centerpiece of an interior, but it quietly settles into daily life, resolving small inconveniences, and staying with you for the long haul.

The showroom at the head office is lined with rows of basket products.

Looking back at the company's history, the current president, Aita Genji, took over the business at a young age when his father, the previous president, fell ill. This was during the period of Japan's rapid economic growth, amid a boom in electrical appliances. Genji thought that even as convenient products increased, there might still be people who sought out handmade goods—and this thinking led directly to the craftsmanship that defines Tsuruya Shoten today.

Each piece is bent by hand, one at a time.

The pieces are assembled using wooden frames suited to each product.

At Tsuruya Shoten, carefully selected materials are used, and the entire production process is carried out in-house as a form of Yamagata handicraft, helping to maintain quality and pass down technique. As one craftsman put it, "We want people to know the value of rattan products, and to do that, it's important to make good things." Looking at Tsuruya Shoten's rattan baskets, you can feel that very straightforward dedication to craftsmanship coming through.

We spoke once again with Mr. Aita, who worked with us on custom orders including last year's slim rack and this year's side table.

Making the most of rattan's characteristics—every design element has a meaning

Mr. Aita:

"Working from the design proposal we received during the consultation, I worked on the sample together with a staff member who's knowledgeable about product design. Just like with the slim rack, we received a rough structural sketch from ZUTTO, and from there we examined the overall structure, checking whether the strength would hold up.

Compared to ordinary wood, rattan has some flexibility, which can sometimes make it feel a bit unstable. So we also think about reinforcing parts that can support that. For example, with the stool, this part is added specifically to increase strength. Since it's a chair, that sense of sturdiness and stability when you sit down really matters."

"This curved part was designed so you can feel a sense of stability when you sit down. It might look like just a design element, but without this part, it wouldn't function as a chair."

"With the side table, the arch-shaped part in the center and the railing section are there for strength and stability."

The central arch that connects the second tier to the frame.

"By placing the central arch in the middle of the shelf, it becomes even more stable."

The railing on the bottom tier, also found on the slim rack.

"That's right. As a result, it does end up being convenient to use as a storage shelf. But the difference in height between the front and back was designed to make it easier to take items out.

And this round part here is also a supporting piece made using rattan's particular characteristics. It's rounded because this section is set at an angle."

"If we tried to make a vertical railing the same way as at the front and back, since the height differs between front and back, we would need to prepare pieces of different lengths one by one. But by inserting this bent, circular piece instead, we can achieve solid stability without needing to build a railing."

"Broadly speaking, it's because we designed it with use as a table in mind. The first and second tiers use a tightly woven pattern called 'meseki' weave, so they function more like a proper tabletop, while the third tier uses 'kagome' weave.

Compared to kagome weave, meseki weave is flatter, and when you consider that plywood will be attached to the underside, a tighter weave looks better as well. Meseki weave is woven in both vertical and horizontal directions, so there's some concern about twisting, but by combining it with a plywood board, the table becomes sturdy and that twisting issue is resolved too. I think it makes for a weave that's easy to work with as a tabletop."

The meseki weave on the first and second tiers. Plywood is attached to the underside to increase strength.

*A process of singeing off loose fibers is used to minimize fuzz as much as possible, but please understand that some fuzziness is a natural characteristic of the material. (The image shows a sample product without the fiber-singeing treatment.)

The "kagome-ami" weave—woven vertically, horizontally, and diagonally—is a technique resistant to twisting. It's a signature Tsuruya Shoten weave also used for their slim racks and laundry baskets.

For the second half of our interview & staff review, click here

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These custom-order pieces were created together with Tsuruya Shoten, who know rattan inside and out. We believe they're the kind of furnishings that will stay by your side even as your lifestyle changes. We hope you'll experience their comfort for yourself at home.

▼See the full lineup of Tsuruya Shoten products here