Riki Watanabe

Riki Watanabe was a celebrated industrial designer and a leading figure of Japanese modernism. Born in Tokyo, he completed studies in woodworking in 1936, after which he worked as an assistant professor at Tokyo University. During the 1930s, Riki Watanabe became interested in the work of Le Corbusier and the Bauhaus movement. In 1949, he established Japan’s first design studio. The designer’s work spans decades and includes iconic designs. Among them, the Himo Isu chair and the Hibiya Clock at the Hibiya Crossing in Tokyo. The designer also established important Japanese design institutions, including the Japan Industrial Design Association and the Japan Design Committee. Riki Watanabe received many awards and distinctions throughout his career. These include the Gold Medal at the 1957 Milan Triennale and the Mainichi Industrial Design Prize. In 206, MoMA opened an exhibition dedicated to his life’s work, Riki Watanabe – Innovation of Living Design.