Chowa — Press
April 22, 2025
T: The New York Times Style Magazine
“He asked me thousands of questions. And then toward the end of that trip, he basically told me, ‘I don’t know anything about the luxury market in New York, but now I know you. I’ll do whatever you ask.’” — Nick Haramis
Read the articleSeptember 12, 2024
T: The New York Times Style Magazine
“Suzuki hopes to share the story of not just the box, but the culture surrounding it that’s unique to us.” — Deborah Lev-Tov
Read the articleMarch 26, 2026
T: The New York Times Style Magazine
“the design firm Chowa — which specializes in kiribako, the more than 300-year-old Japanese art of hand-making containers out of Asian paulownia wood — to decorate a second guest bedroom” — Jason Chen
Read the articleNovember 1, 2024
Monocle
“Kiribako have been used to package premium products in Japan for centuries,” says founder Ray Suzuki, who grew up between New York and Tokyo. “These boxes also have an afterlife; repurposing is a huge part of [Japanese] culture.” — Chris Lord
Read the articleFebruary 7, 2025
Esquire
“Chowa, a company seeking to change how Western luxury companies approach their historically wasteful packaging practices.” — Christopher Fenimore
Read the articleJune 15, 2024
Airmail
“In the realm of deceptively simple wooden objects, the kiri-bako box, which has been produced in Japan for more than 300 years, has no equal.” — Nathan King
Read the articleNovember 27, 2024
The Local Project
““Basically, we make boxes,” says Suzuki from the studio’s Tribeca showroom and office – a pocket-like space within the Art Deco 401 Broadway building.” — Millie Thwaites
Read the articleJune 25, 2023
Hypebeast
“Chowa, a new, conceptual and creative platform has made its debut in tandem with Paris Fashion Week.” — Zoe Leung
Read the articleJanuary 3, 2025
Drake's
““Chowa means ‘pursuit of harmony,’ in Japanese,” says Ray Suzuki who, along with his friend Yudai Kanayama, opened the space last summer. ” — Drake's
Read the articleJune 23, 2023
Hypebae
“Emerging conceptual brand Chowa has just unveiled its first-ever collection. The New York-based label seamlessly merges century-old Japanese handcraft with contemporary culture, bringing people, ideas, experiences and products together.” — Sofia de la Cruz
Read the articleJune 7, 2024
The Mercer Hotel Website
“Chowa was founded by Ray Suzuki in 2023. Born in New York but raised in Tokyo, Ray Suzuki is a bi-cultural designer whose background directly mirrors the Chowa project.” — Mercer Hotel Management
Read the articleThe Chowa Community
Invitations to private events, limited releases, and occasional things we keep off the public feed. A few emails a year.
The Chowa Community
Thank you. You’re in good company, and we’ll write when there’s something worth sending.
