POJ Studio
I had just settled back into daily life in Switzerland when I discovered POJ Studio (Pieces of Japan) on Instagram. As I was preparing to launch our own website to introduce Japanese crafts to an international audience, I immediately ordered some products from POJ’s online shop which were delivered promptly. On my next visit to Kyoto I contacted KOYAMA Tina, the founder and owner of POJ Studio. As we have similar goals, we have kept in touch. I have witnessed firsthand her great talent, energetic projects, and rapidly growing team. They briskly create new projects and products in corporation with local craftsmen, open “deep-dive workshops” for overseas visitors, and have organised popup shops in the US and Hong Kong, with more planned for Europe in 2026.
The POJ Studio flagship shop is a must-see when in Kyoto. Although located near the touristic treasures of the city, it is tucked safely away from the mass tourism path.
CONCEPT:
Founded in 2020, POJ Studio began with a mission to preserve dying craft traditions by connecting artisans with global audiences through beautifully designed products. What started as an e-commerce platform expanded in 2022 with the opening of their flagship store in a century-old machiya in Higashiyama, Kyoto.
By harnessing her tech-influenced design background, KOYAMA Tina has helped bridge traditional Japanese crafts with contemporary lifestyles through ethical, sustainable products and an engaging digital presence. POJ focuses on enduring traditions such as sashimono, urushi, indigo, washi and more. In a short time, they have won fans around the world and are aiming to create enough global demand for artisans to take on apprentices and pass their inherited knowledge onto the next generation.
The POJ flagship shop is designed for total immersion.
As Japanese crafts are designed, at their core, to be used daily, the shop philosophy underscores practicality. Through interactive installations like their incense and tableware stations, visitors can experience products firsthand and visualise them in their own homes. This hands-on approach ensures that their community engages with craftsmanship in a living context, rather than a museum-like setting.
Their main product focus is on the craftspeople POJ works with.
Some hallmark collections include indigo and sumi ink noren and tapestries made by the KIYOE father and son team; Shigaraki tableware made in collaboration with Oogoya; turned and lacquered wooden tableware made in collaboration with Gato Mikio Shouten; Orin by the family of Rinyo Kobo; and Kintsugi Kits made in collaboration with Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Shop.
POJ Studio constantly introduces new artisans and their stories to take audiences beyond the basics. While many are familiar with kintsugi or washi in a broad sense, POJ provides layered opportunities to dive deeper. Whether through their DIY Kintsugi Kits and Paper Cord Stool Kits that reveal the making process, or unique applications of sashiko, washi and indigo, their products serve as an inroad to the immense richness of Japanese artisanship. POJ Studio hopes to inspire every visitor and to let their curiosity guide them.
A MESSAGE FROM THE STORE OWNER:
People can enjoy exploring POJ Studio both here in Kyoto and around the world in their own homes. We hope that you follow the feeling of curiosity that comes with interacting with Japanese craft heritage: it brings us a lot of joy to see the different ways people arrange these pieces in their homes and use them in their daily lives. The way these pieces interact with each other and the pieces people already have in their spaces creates an environment with layers and dimension. As each item carries the life story of the artisan and their legacy, their story becomes part of your home as well. We look forward to sharing even more of these stories with you all in the future.
DETAILS:
STORE CATEGORY & BUSINESS DESCRIPTION:
Retail Shop
OVERSEAS ONLINE SHOP & SNS:
HP&ONLINE SHOP: https://pojstudio.com
INSTAGRAM: @pojstudio
OVERSEAS PRESENCE (Past & Future):
Los Angeles, Culver city, U.S.A. (popup in 2024 and 2026)
8542 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
New York city, U.S.A. (popup in 2025)
180 Duane St, New York, NY 10013, United States
Hong Kong, China (popup in 2024)
Times Square Store
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
Courtesy of POJ Studio
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