RICCA Sakura in a bar

Ryohei Kanda's spatial intervention deploys the cherry blossom as a powerful cultural symbol representing the philosophical acceptance of impermanence, beauty in transience, and the precious nature of fleeting moments, traditions deeply embedded in contemplative practices and aesthetic philosophy that have celebrated the brief flowering period as an invitation to mindful presence and gratitude. The suspended installation transforms the ceiling plane into a symbolic canopy that references both the natural phenomenon of petals falling from flowering branches and the architectural tradition of creating overhead garden environments within interior spaces, establishing the bar as a threshold between the mundane exterior world and an idealized interior realm of perpetual flowering. The chromatic progression from deep burgundy through rose to gold carries associations with precious materials, celebratory occasions, and the warm hospitality of gathering spaces, while the reflective quality of certain elements introduces themes of multiplicity and infinite extension reinforced by the terminal mirror. The bilateral symmetry of the spatial organization suggests ceremonial architecture and processional movement, positioning guests as participants in a ritualized experience of beauty rather than mere consumers of beverages. The contrast between the organic suspended mass and the geometric precision of the shelving and glassware arrangements creates a dialogue between nature and culture, suggesting how human refinement can frame and present natural beauty without diminishing its essential character. Numerologically, the countless individual elements resist enumeration, evoking infinity and abundance while the singular overwhelming impression speaks to unity in multiplicity, a contemplative theme inviting meditation on the relationship between individual moments and the continuous flow of experience.

RICCA is a bar, located at Kagurazaka.　 Even now, there are Japanese traditional atmosphere and alley in this town. I created this design to express Japanese aesthetic sense. In Japan, there is cultural event is known as “Hanami”, which means “cherry blossom viewing”. This unique event is happened only in couples of week of early spring. Inspired by this moment, I designed this bar with beauty, glamorous, strength and fragility of Hanami.