TREE HANGER by Makoto Koizumi / Koizumi Studio — IDREIT®

Japanese furniture designer Makoto Koizumi first connected with furniture maker Taisetsu Mokko in 2013. Over the following years, he developed an ongoing initiative called the “Taisetsu no Taisetsu Project” (see this interview for details), which he has been continuing since 2015 to explore the future direction of the company. Koizumi explains, “It’s more important to create the desire to make something than to decide what to make.” Through dialogue with craftsmen and exhibitions of the creative process, a sense of pride and ownership gradually developed among the makers. One of the products released once the team felt ready is the simple Tree Hanger, a freestanding coat stand.

Tree Hanger, exhibited at the 'Taisetsu no Taisetsu Project 2023' at Taisetsu Mokko in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. photography: Koizumi Studio

Designed to look striking from every angle, the Tree Hanger is a three-part assembly that allows for compact packaging. Initially, the project used broad-timber hannoki, Japanese alder from Hokkaido—rarely employed in furniture making—but it now features Hokkaido ash (tamo) wood. This collaboration between Taisetsu Mokko, a company with over 40 years of furniture-making experience in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, and Koizumi, extends beyond product design. It represents a socially meaningful project that addresses the sustainability of Hokkaido’s forests, combining craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and environmental consideration.