HERITAGE

A Noh stage, tea room,
and the world-class interior and lighting that decorate SUIGIAN,
as well as a variety of arts such as dishware and trays,
textiles, and Ukiyo-e that pass on the Japanese tradition...
A singular space where Japanese and Western, tradition and innovation,
are fused in a world view as only the SUIGIAN, can do.
Lounge chairs modeled after sofas designed by Nabeshimadantsu and MISSONI,
carefully preserved and passed down
by generations of feudal lords of the Saga Domain,
food and drinks served in dishware and drinking vessels of the Edo, Meiji,
and Taisho Periods.
Traditional culture lurks in all these special little experiences at SUIGIAN.
Further, at SUIGIAN, we use many trays that are not now commonly used at tables.
Though these have gone out of use due to the westernization of modern lifestyle,
we use these beautiful trays in the present in multipurpose ways.
Many of these trays and dishes boast a history of more than 350 years in Nagasaki.
We inherited them from the famous FUKIRO,
which closed in 2017 and was frequented by the likes of Hirobumi Ito,
Ryoma Sakamoto, Shojiro Goto, Yataro Iwasaki, and Thomas Blake Glover.

Stage

Stage: Following the style of a Noh stage, SUIGIAN features a stage measuring approx.
5.4 m2, complete with a backdrop depicting an old pine tree.
This panel was originally the backdrop to a stage located in Kyoto’s Muromachi-Ebisugawa district that has ties to the Katayama Family of the Kanze School of Noh drama as well as the Inoue School of Kyomai dance.
The magnificent pine tree was painted in the style of the famous Kano school.
Through fortunate circumstances, we were able to acquire this deeply historical panel for the SUIGIAN stage, where Noh drama and various other traditional Japanese performing arts are presented on a daily basis.

Ukiyo-e Woodcut prints

Ukiyo-e / Woodcut prints: At SUIGIAN, we have transformed the corridor from the entrance to the seating area into an art gallery featuring ukiyoe woodblock and woodcut prints produced in the Edo (1603-1868), Meiji (1868-1912), and Taisho (1912-1926) periods.
This collection includes a wide variety of ukiyoe woodblock and woodcut prints, including The 53 Stations of the Tokaido (running script version), One Hundred Noh Dramas (which depicts scenes from Noh performances), and Graphic.
Depiction of Mitsui, Surugacho Tokyo (which depicts scenes of the Nihonbashi-Muromachi district of Tokyo in days gone by).
The displays will be alternated regularly, enabling visitors to enjoy different works each time they visit SUIGIAN.

Ceramics lacquerware trays

Ceramics, lacquerware, trays: Many of the trays and dishes used for serving SUIGIAN’s cuisine were acquired from Fukiro, a long-established traditional Japanese restaurant on the tranquil grounds of a shrine in faraway Nagasaki.
Having been established some hundred or so years ago, Fukiro boasts a long, deep history.
It is said that the restaurant was even visited by Prince Ito Hirobumi, Japan’s first Prime Minister.
Having provided hospitality to many guests over many years, FUKIRO sadly closed its doors in 2017. However, the service of numerous FUKIRO dishes and utensils—imbued with some 100 years of heartfelt hospitality—is being continued at SUIGIAN.

Eight-four Noh masks

Eight-four Noh masks: In 2017, the Osaka Nohgaku Kaikan Hall regrettably lowered the curtain on about 60 years of history as a beloved base for Nohgaku performances in Osaka.
To this hall had been donated for display eighty-four (miniature) Noh masks created by the Nijo Ningyo Kobo (Nijo Doll/Puppet Workshop), which boasts a history of some 80 years handcrafting Noh dolls/puppets.
SUIGIAN has acquired these eight-four Noh masks and is displaying them around the restaurant/lounge.
Having watched over the history of the Osaka Nohgaku Kaikan Hall, these richly individualistic masks will now be watching over the history of SUIGIAN.