Yuzuru Yamakawa, RAP Committee

YUZURU YAMAKAWA (Japan, 1933).
“RAP” side table, 1990s.
Metal, rattan, and glass top.
Measurements: 72 x 70 x 70 cm (frame); 90 cm (glass diameter).

“RAP” side table designed by Yuzuru Yamakawa in the 1990s, featuring a metal frame, rattan accents, and a circular glass top. The interlacing of metal rods adds rhythm and geometric tension, while the rattan introduces a warm, natural touch, softening the structural precision of the piece. The braided upper ring adds texture, contrasting with the linear precision of the metal. The design combines stability, visual lightness, and a refined sense of craftsmanship—hallmarks of Yamakawa’s furniture.

Yuzuru Yamakawa was a key figure in Japanese rattan design. Associated with Yamakawa Rattan, a firm founded in Tokyo in 1952, he developed over decades a design language based on structural lightness, ergonomics, and masterful craftsmanship in weaving. His designs fuse Japanese linear elegance with traditional weaving techniques, contributing to a renewed appreciation of rattan within the realm of modern international furniture.