Issue #20

Words by Cory Ohlendorf | Photography courtesy

Nychair X is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year and the chair remains virtually untouched from when it was first introduced in 1970. A perfect blend of function and fashion, it’s as comfortable as it is striking—a minimalist masterpiece of Japanese design. But while you might’ve seen the piece in a stylish person’s home or maybe in a cool shop when you last visited Tokyo, few people know the story behind the chair. 

Designed in 1970 by Takeshi Nii, a furniture designer, the chair’s design and proportions were influenced by Japan’s artisanal traditions and minimalist principles. A third-generation owner of a company that produced Kendo and Judo equipment in Tokushima Prefecture, Nii was 50 years old when he designed his first Nychair X lounge chair. The chair's name is fairly literal: It combines “Nii” (the designer’s surname) with “chair,” while the “X” signifies its foldable, lightweight metal frame.

Nii drew on both Japanese and Western influences in his design. The portability and flexibility of the chair reflect Japan's tradition of compact, multifunctional living spaces, while the clean lines and ergonomic design align with the principles of mid-century modernism, a global movement popular at the time.

Two years after the original, the company released Nychair X Rocking and Nychair X Ottoman. The quality and precision with which the chairs are crafted not only ensures it lasts decades, but it makes it suitable for a variety of settings, from living rooms to outdoor spaces. Its simple assembly and timeless design not only makes it easy to repair, but it’s contributed to its enduring popularity. Not to mention several prestigious design awards over the years. Plus, the chair is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Like the Eames Lounger, the Nychair X has a kind of timeless beauty mixed with utilitarian comfort that makes it the kind of chair that can look good in any interior and never feels out of style.

Younger Song is a streetwear brand that was just introduced to me when I went shopping with a new friend, who led us down a winding side street in Tokyo’s Harajuku neighborhood. The second-floor flagship shop was small, but packed with a stylish assortment of goods. Among the sweats and graphic beanies, I found this mohair cardigan that was more my speed.

It’s got a distinctive midcentury vibe, with vertical stripes down each side and a five-button placket. It’s the kind of easy layering piece you can wear with jeans (like these guys above) or some pleated pants for a more dressed-up look. Available in four different shades, I’m partial to the red.

Hikikomori (ひきこもり) is a term for self-imposed isolation. It’s a condition that developed over the past few decades in Japan (and is now found throughout Asia) where a person is socially avoidant to the point of being a shut-in at home for at least six months without any social interaction. According to psychologist Saito Tamaki, who came to be the leading expert on the subject when he published his book Hikikomori: Adolescence without End, these people often live with their parents, tend to be night owls and spend a great deal of their time in front of TV and computer screens in the darkness of their bedrooms.