Riki Watanabe/Riki Watanabe

Born in Tokyo in 1911. After graduating from the Wood Crafts Department of Tokyo Higher Polytechnic School (currently Chiba University) in 1936, he worked at the Gunma Prefectural Crafts Center, where Bruno Taut taught, before becoming independent. In 1952, he attracted attention with the chair ``Himois'', and in 1957, his tri-stool and circular center table won the gold medal at the Milan Triennale. Hibiya Daiichi Life's Paul Clock, designed in 1972, is widely loved as a masterpiece. He is a pioneer who brought about innovation at the dawn of postwar Japanese design.