Philosophy

Knowledge and techniques cultivated over time
I have always felt a strong attraction to such things
Whenever I sense them fading,
I am overcome with impatience and sadness
It makes me feel as though a part of my body
Is being ripped away

To cherish tradition
Is to think of someone in the faraway past, someone who shaped me into who I am
Day after day
In the words we speak, in the food we eat, in the tableware we use,
There are many faceless people allowing me to be who I am
Within the vast flow, I too am merely a speck
The joy and sadness of this knowledge inspire me to create

By cherishing tradition, we give birth to a new era
Thinking of someone in the faraway future,
I am motivated to create something that can only be made at this moment
From Japan, brimming with tradition, to the world

Shinichiro Ogata

When I was young and didn't know much about the world, I longed for Western design and travelled many countries to see them with my own eyes. However, from a certain point, I started to realize that the most amazing designs were actually those around me at home, not those overseas. Japanese culture has continually influenced Western culture and art. What could I possibly express without knowing this important fact? No matter where I went, I always came to the conclusion that I was nothing other than Japanese. This certainty became the core of my existence as a designer. To be on equal ground with the world, I realized that I needed to learn my own culture, as well as to feel compassion and be proud of my heritage.

Since then, my firm belief has never changed ? the certainty that I have a message to share. An acute sensibility and palate cultivated in an abundant yet severe natural environment; an aesthetic that can be generous or daring; an attitude towards craftsmanship that never spares any effort; wisdom of living a modest and simple life. The culture of Japan is indispensable in a world seeking balance between mankind and nature. I continually strive to express this in my own way, through food, tableware and space. It is also what lies at the core of Simplicity and its activities today.

I have only taken a small step, and there are still many things to be practiced.
Simplicity's mission is to express Japan as one way of how things can be done, and to share this with the world. Cherishing the past, the present and the future of Japan and the rest of the world.

Shinichiro Ogata