Shaping Wood

Tendo Mokko was founded in 1940 in Tendo, Yamagata, a region with a long history of woodworking. The company began as a cooperative of local woodworkers and in 1947 became one of the first manufacturers in Japan to put molded plywood into practical use. By layering thin sheets of wood and forming them with heat and pressure, Tendo Mokko developed furniture that could be both strong and lightweight, with curves difficult to achieve in solid wood. This expertise became central to collaborations with some of Japan’s leading designers and architects, including Isamu Kenmochi, Sori Yanagi and Kenzo Tange. More than eight decades later, Tendo Mokko continues to manufacture its furniture in Tendo, with many of these designs remaining in production today.