Okumura Fumie of Gallery Nichinichi and Tearoom Tōka: Providing a Home for “Handwerk”

The entrance to Gallery Nichinichi and Tearoom Tōka.

The gallery occupies the large tatami room on the other side of the genkan.

The elegant simplicity of the interior space accentuates the beauty of the objects on display.

Ceramic vases display seasonal plants.

The name Tōka (“winter and summer”) is an allusion to tōka seisei (Chinese: dongxia qingqing), a phrase from Zhuangzi comparing inner constancy to the unchanging green of the pine and cypress.

The counter is made from tochi (Japanese horse chestnut), a high-quality native hardwood.

The lounge of the Artist’s Residence reflects the refined minimalist aesthetic shared by husband and wife.

The furniture embodies their ideal of functional beauty.

The ceramics and lacquerware are the work of the gallery’s featured artists.

Shared space fosters creative interaction and dialogue.