The Art of Collaboration: Inside the Award-Winning Mon Stool by Takasu Gaku Design and Associates, Hikimonojo 639, and Merci Magazine

In the landscape of global interiors, the Mon Stool stands as a definitive icon of "New Heritage" design. Conceived by the renowned Takasu Gaku Design and Associates, this collection embodies a sophisticated dialogue between contemporary architectural theory and the two-thousand-year-old Japanese tradition of hikimono (lathe-turning). Merci Magazine proudly presents this series, a distinguished recipient of the Sky Design Awards Silver Award, celebrated for its ability to translate the spiritual stability of the Japanese "gate" (mon) into a functional and sculptural form.

Produced in the historic woodworking hub of Shizuoka by Hikimonojo 639, the collection exemplifies geometric precision. Gaku Takasu’s design reduces the object to its most essential circular elements, allowing the natural intelligence of the wood to emerge. The collection is offered in three distinct material expressions to suit the preferences of global collectors:

Red Oak with Glass Coating: A robust and grounded interpretation featuring a specialized glass finish that protects the timber while highlighting the rich, authentic character of the oak grain.
Natural White Ash with Glass Coating: A study in luminosity, this material offers a pale, ethereal aesthetic that introduces a sense of warm minimalism and airy clarity to any environment.
The Black Collection (White Ash with Urethane Paint): The most graphic expression of Takasu Gaku’s vision, the matte black urethane finish transforms the stool into a striking, calligraphic silhouette that accentuates its architectural proportions.

As a project recognized by the Sky Design Awards, the Mon Stool represents more than furniture. It is an award-winning piece of Japanese craft history, curated for those who value the provenance of their environment.

Global Logistics and Delivery
The Mon Stool Collection is available for worldwide shipping.

To maintain our international white-glove service standards, please note that delivery costs are not included in the purchase price. Shipping fees will be calculated at checkout based on your specific destination.

The New Heritage: Takasu Gaku Design and Associates, Hikimonojo 639, and Merci Magazine

In the tranquil forests surrounding Shizuoka, Japan, a unique conversation unfolds between the artisan’s hand and the wood's soul. Long celebrated as the heart of Japanese woodworking, Shizuoka is a region where pure water, ancient forests, and the legacy of the Tokugawa shogunate have nurtured generations of unparalleled craftsmanship. Hikimonojo 639 preserves and advances the art of hikimono, Japan’s revered lathe-turning technique, honed over two millennia. Eschewing the uniformity of machines, Hikimonojo 639’s artisans move in harmony with the lathe, coaxing sculptural symmetry from Red Oak and White Ash, breathing life into each piece. This collaboration is guided by the hope of sharing a sense of living heritage with those who value thoughtful design and skilled craftsmanship. The Mon Stool Collection reflects this spirit at its core.

The Mon Stool Collection is a testament to vision and collaboration. Conceived by Takasu Gaku Design and Associates, whose design sensibility led to the project receiving the Sky Design Awards Winner distinction, each stool distills the essence of the “mon,” the iconic Japanese gate, into a contemporary object. By reducing the stool to its most elemental, circular forms, designer Gaku Takasu creates a silhouette that is both timeless and boldly modern. Whether rendered in the grounded richness of Red Oak with a protective glass coating, the luminous clarity of Natural White Ash, or the dramatic matte finish of the Black Collection, each piece embodies the Quiet Luxury defining today’s most inspiring interiors.

This collaboration is more than a collection; it is an invitation to bring living heritage into your home. Owning a piece from Hikimonojo 639 is a celebration of Takasu Gaku’s thoughtful design and the exceptional skill of Shizuoka’s master artisans. Now available exclusively through the Merci Magazine Sky Shop, these award-winning stools honor the tradition of bespoke craftsmanship. Please note: the listed price reflects the artistry of each piece; delivery is arranged individually to ensure careful transit from Japan to your door.

In the quiet corners of Shizuoka, where the tradition of woodturning meets a modern and considered aesthetic, you will find Hikimonojo 639. This workshop understands the poetry of tradition, transforming raw timber into objects of tactile silence and functional beauty. Led by Satofumi Momose, who honed his craft under Shizuoka’s master artisans, the corporation embodies a philosophy in which less is more, balancing heritage with a dynamic global outlook that has captured the attention of discerning buyers from Paris to London. Whether it is the soft curve of a wild cherry bowl or the architectural precision of a White Ash stool, their work is a masterclass in how small-scale manufacturing can achieve universal resonance through patience, artistry, and an unwavering focus on quality.
About Hikimonojo 639 Corporation
Founded in 2019 and rooted in the traditional Hikimono (woodturning) techniques of Shizuoka, the company specializes in everything from custom prototypes to mass production of wood-turned goods.
Based in both Fukuoka and Tokyo, Gaku Takasu has spent more than two decades developing his approach to “environmental optimization.” Since founding Takasu Gaku Design and Associates (TGDA) in 2002, he has created spaces and objects that integrate seamlessly into their environments. Whether working on minimalist commercial interiors or distinguished furniture commissions, Takasu’s work is guided by simplicity, durability, and beauty. His approach to Japanese minimalism emphasizes the user’s sensory experience. This philosophy has brought him international recognition, including honors such as the iF Design Award and the Sky Design Awards.