NIHONGO

A plan for a small “snack” (Japanese style karaoke bar) located on one floor of a building complex. The owner inherited the name “Nihon-go” from his parents who also ran the same business. Starting from the 1960’s snacks gained popularity supported by the bubble economy in the Showa-era. One of the main characteristics of a snack is that the guests come to enjoy communication with the host “Mama”. Here a U-formed bar counter was made surrounding this snack bar symbol (the Mama). Teakwood was used for the counter and a solid piece of marble with strong contrast was cut into sheets to form the backdrop, creating a simple atmosphere but an updated version of the snack culture in the past. Each consisting of a single arm and round velour seat, the form of the 9 new chairs surrounding the counter is a reinterpretation of the voluminous sofa often seen in typical snacks. Seeking for the “snack-ness” from the past, we aimed to portray this in a contemporary manner.