In 1908, master woodturner Komakichi Gato founded his woodworking plant in Yamanaka Onsen – an area with a rich history of making kiji: the plain wooden vessels on which urushi lacquers are applied. Now in their fourth generation, GATO MIKIO is committed to preserving Yamanaka lacquerware traditions by carefully adapting them to the modern world. Working in collaboration with contemporary Japanese product designers, GATO MIKIO's international award-winning tableware elegantly marries the past to the present.
The TASAI collection was made together with Kenji Iwata. Seamlessly blending into daily life as well as special occasions, the simplicity of the designs help to accentuate the colours of the surroundings – little wonder tasai can be read as both talented (多才) and diverse (多彩).