Do you know that there is a renovated wooden apartment building along the railroad tracks at Shouinjinsha-mae Station? On the first floor of the building, which features a large staircase, is a flower store calledDOUFTThere is a "+".
The store, with its mortar-laid floor and white walls, is lined with German-made fixtures in silver, and the solid space is decorated with various types of flowers.
Owner Chiemi Wakai is from Hokkaido. After working at a flower shop in her hometown of Sapporo, she moved to Nakameguro'sFARVERHe trained in and started his own store, Duft, in 2016.
I like a space that is quiet and calming, like a museum or gallery. Therefore, I don't want the space to be surrounded by flowers on all sides, but rather a place to showcase flowers and flower bases without placing too many objects. I want people to look at them in a relaxed atmosphere and enjoy the fragrance of the flowers.
Mr. Wakai moved to Tokyo when he was 25 years old. He says that when he was working at Faber, he was very busy and just went back and forth between home and work.
When I came to Tokyo, I felt that everyone was very busy in the city. I didn't have the time to smell and feel the seasons myself. However, I can smell a nice fragrance at a moment's notice and feel the four seasons. I want my customers to smell the fragrance of flowers and plants and remember to feel the seasons. That is why I wanted Doft to be a space where people can genuinely enjoy flowers.
Mr. Wakai has seen the Shoin Shrine, where he has lived since moving to Tokyo, change over the years. New stores have been added and the area has become a place where young people visit, but the atmosphere of the town itself has not changed.
Shoin Jinja is conveniently located near the city center, but there are few tall buildings, and time passes slowly. I felt this was similar to the atmosphere of my hometown of Sapporo, and that is why I opened the store in its current location.
As is the case with many flower stores, the majority of "Doft" customers are women, but even so, more men than Mr. Wakai had imagined visit the store and buy flowers.
Many of our male customers come alone. People of all ages, from young to old, come to the store, and we are happy to say that they continue to come once a week or once every two weeks.
Not all of the men who come to the store have a specific flower they want or are regular flower lovers, but most of them choose flowers while talking with Mr. Wakai. Some of them just happen to find the store and want to start buying flowers, even though they have never bought any before.
I am very happy that men decorate their rooms with flowers. I wish everyone would decorate their rooms with flowers. I'd like to have them simply start with one flower and when it withers, I'll buy the next one. Many of the men who come to our shop seem to take good care of them.
The plate has a rugged atmosphere and the word "dufte" is written on it. It means "fragrance" in German. Below the plate is a bell made in England.
right nowInstagramMany young customers come to the store after learning about the store through the "Kochi" and "Kochi" etc. We would be happy if young people continue to decorate with flowers over the long term," says Wakai.
I think many people think that decorating with flowers is too difficult. I would like people to feel free to decorate with flowers, even a single flower, without thinking about decorating so many. In fact, a single flower is recommended for beginners who want to decorate with flowers. If you have more than one flower, you have to worry about the combination of flowers, how to match the flower base, the balance of the lengths, and so on. Also, care is important. Change the water to fresh water every day and cut the stems of the flowers a little. With multiple flowers, this process can be troublesome, so I think it's best to simply display a single flower that you like.
In the store, there are not only flowers but also flower vases. The store has carefully selected vases in unusual colors and shapes from Henry Dean (Belgium), Fidrio (Holland), and antiques. If you cannot find something you like, you can decorate it with cups you have at home.
The owner, Ms. Wakai, suggested three different flower styling patterns that can be displayed with as little as one flower and last a long time. Many have distinctive silhouettes and are not overly pretty. These flowers fit naturally into a man's room.
Anthurium. The exquisite colors are difficult to describe and the glossy texture is characteristic of many of them.
Colors. The sleek, slanting shape is beautiful. The inclusion of yellow, the opposite color of the flower vase, subtly inserts a hint of color on the desk.
Nadeshiko. Without thinking too hard, you can boldly display only one species in a large flower vase.
On "doft" stocking days, there can be more than about 30 different kinds of flowers on display. Flowers are changed three times a week, so you will encounter new flowers every time you visit. Please feel free to visit the store without any tension in your shoulders.
Photo_Shota Matsumoto
Edit&Text_Masato Saita
duft
Address: Shoin PLAT #B, 4-13-20 Setagaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6884-1589
Open: 13:00-19:00/open irregularly (see Instagram for regular closing days)
duft.com
www.instagram.com/chiemiwakai_duft
