Project: Majimaya confectionery tool shop
Award: Retail Design – Independent shops or small chains
Location: Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Design practice: KAMITOPEN Co., Ltd.
Client: Majimaya Confectionery Tool Shop Limited Liability Company
The Majimaya confectionery tool shop needed a new and improved interior lay out in order to show case the 3,000 confectionary moulds that form an important part of its 75-year history. The shop – the oldest of its kind in Japan – is set in Kappabashi Tool Street which is home to 170 specialty shops dealing with tableware, kitchen equipment, kitchen utensils and the like. Due to its arcade location, space is at a premium. This meant the layout needed to allow customers to clearly see each of the moulds (which are the creation of the late craftsman Hitoshi Ohgawara) while ensuring the shop was easy to move around for staff and visitors.
Design highlights
The displays of tools and moulds line the walls around the central staircase, providing a practical and beautiful solution which ensures the confectionary equipment remains the star of the show. Each one is linked to one of 3,000 accompanying numbered tin boxes, which customers can select and bring to the staff. Products are then easily removed from the back-stock area for purchase.
Photo credit: Keisuke Miyamoto
LEAD DESIGNER: Masahiro Yoshida
- DESIGNER: Yoshie Ishii