Junzo Sakakura 1953 Pair of Chairs Model "3221" Model 02

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DAISAKU CHOH & JUNZO SAKAKURA

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Pair of Armchairs (Rocker-Back Model)
Designed by Daisaku Chō & Junzō Sakakura Architectural Institute
Manufactured by Tendo Mokko
Japan, ca. 1950
Wood, fabric upholstery, metal details

Measurements (each)
72 × 76 × 75h cm
28,3 × 29,9 × 29,5h in

Provenance
Created for the furnishing of the Ueno National Museum of Western Art, Japan
Private Collection, Japan

Details
This pair of armchairs was designed around 1950 for interior spaces of the Ueno National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo—an institution built by Le Corbusier and completed with the collaboration of Junzō Sakakura and Kunio Maekawa, who oversaw both architectural and interior aspects. The chairs embody the refined functionalism of early postwar Japanese modernism, with gently contoured solid-wood frames and a distinctive rocker-back mechanism allowing for a slight, comfortable flex in the backrest.
The structure, with its fluid, continuous lines and softly rounded edges, demonstrates the precision of Tendo Mokko’s early woodworking capabilities. Upholstered cushions in textured fabric emphasize comfort while maintaining the disciplined simplicity characteristic of Sakakura’s interiors. The minimal metal fittings discreetly support the mechanical function without compromising the organic visual language of the design.

About Daisaku Chō
Born in 1921, Daisaku Chō considered his architectural and interior-design practice inseparable, often describing them as two sides of the same discipline. After graduating in architecture from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, he entered Junzō Sakakura’s studio in 1947, where he contributed to major postwar cultural projects. From the late 1950s onward, he collaborated closely with Tendo Mokko, designing furniture grounded in structural logic, material honesty, and the synthesis of interior and exterior space.
In 1972 he established his own studio, continuing to work in both architecture and furniture design. Chō received multiple honors including the Mainichi Prize for Industrial Design (1971) and the Japan Association of Interior Designers Prize (1977).

About Tendo Mokko
In northwest Japan, in Yamagata Prefecture, a group of carpenters and joiners formed a cooperative that produced wooden objects and supply crates before and during the war. Incorporated in 1942, the cooperative collaborated with the Sendai Institute of Industrial Arts and experimented with molded plywood for decoy aircraft. After the war, Tendo opened a Tokyo office (1947) and began producing furniture—first for occupying forces, then for the domestic market in the early 1950s.
One of its first major commissions came from architect Kenzo Tange for the Ehime Prefectural offices (1953). Tendo soon became one of Japan’s leading plywood innovators, producing iconic works such as Sori Yanagi’s Butterfly Stool (1956). The company’s policy of paying royalties attracted major designers including Isamu Kenmochi, Daisaku Chō, Riki Watanabe, and Junzō Sakakura.
From 1960 to 1967 Tendo supported young talent through an annual design competition, manufacturing several winning pieces. In 1964 it received the Mainichi Prize for Industrial Design, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of Japanese modernist furniture.

Designer image

Daisaku Cho 長 大作 was born in the former Manchuria on September 16th, 1921, as the eldest of six siblings. After graduating from Kaisei Junior High School in Tokyo, he was accepted into the Faculty of Economics at Waseda University, but his father opposed his decision, saying, "If you're going to such a boring place, go to the military academy instead," so he re-applied for art school. The following year, he entered the Department of Architecture at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts). He was an artistic family, with three of his six siblings also studying at the same art school and his father was a doctor.

He then joined the design department of a construction company, but was encouraged by a senior at school to join the Sakakura Junzo Architectural Institute. Sakakura Junzo studied under the famous architect Le Corbusier and worked in Paris, where he was in charge of the Japan Pavilion at the Paris World's Fair and won the Grand Prix in the architecture category. He then returned to Japan and opened the Sakakura Junzo Architectural Institute in 1940. After joining the institute, Cho's main work was overwhelmingly furniture design.

He designed the chairs and tables for the International House of Japan (the architecture was jointly designed by Kunio Maekawa, Junzo Sakakura, and Junzo Yoshimura), which was established in 1952 with the aim of international exchange and intellectual cooperation. He was also involved in the chairs and tables for the Tea Lounge of the International House of Japan, which reopened in 2006 after being retrofitted with earthquake-resistant structures. Cho has been working with this famous building for over 50 years.

In 1957, he was involved in the architecture and furniture design of the Fujiyama Aiichiro residence, and in 1958 he was in charge of the architecture and furniture design of the residence of his predecessor, Matsumoto Koshiro. It was at this time that his masterpiece (the Low Seat Chair) was born. It is well known that the prototype for this was the Bamboo Basket Low Seat Chair designed by Junzo Sakakura. It is characterized by a relatively large surface area to prevent damage to Japanese tatami mats. It can be seen placed on the verandas of inns and old houses. It is a beautiful chair that exudes emotion. Naga redesigned the back and seat to a fabric-covered structure made of quadratic curved plywood, and the masterpiece Low Seat Chair was born. Further improvements were made thereafter, and the Low Seat Chair was exhibited at the 12th Milan Triennale in 1960.

Regarding design, Cho wrote, "My designs are always in development, and there is no such thing as a completely finished product. In particular, when it comes to chairs, I pursue comfort and make repeated improvements." It is speculated that Cho was influenced by his surroundings, such as Junzo Sakakura and the wife of Koshiro Matsumoto, which deepened his more modern way of thinking.

Through this work, he was in charge of the architecture and design of "Terrace Ray" and "Karuizawa Mountain Villa", and it seems that he still maintains a close relationship with the Matsumoto Koshiro family. In particular, Mrs. Masako is said to be a great benefactor to Mr. Naga, who said, "Masako was one of the people who had a great influence on my subsequent work, and I consider her my greatest benefactor, second only to Professor Junzo Sakakura. She provided me with a lot of support, both professionally and financially. Masako had a great aesthetic sense and was very critical of design."

In 1960, Sakakura Junzo Architectural Institute was in charge of the Japanese section of the 12th Milan Triennale. Kitamura Shuichi was in charge of the venue layout, and Cho was in charge of the furniture design, and the two won the Gold Award. This was a remarkable achievement, as they had won the Gold Award at the previous 11th Triennale for Watanabe Riki's Trii Stool.

He wrote about that time, "I stayed in Milan for half a year until the withdrawal. However, unlike now, it was a time when people could not travel abroad freely, so during my stay I was able to travel here and there and visit architectural works, which were very valuable experiences. At that time, there was no high-quality, well-designed furniture in Japan, and imported products were rare and expensive, so it was common for architects who designed buildings to also design all the furniture inside."

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