LUXE Magazine – Makiko Takahashi and Sugatakatachi

In this exclusive LUXE Magazine feature, we discover how Makiko Takahashi is preserving her late husband’s vision of creating Japan’s most beautiful door handles, transforming everyday objects into works of art that carry the soul of their creator.

In a gallery converted from a cherished family home, Makiko Takahashi stands as the guardian of an extraordinary craft legacy. Sugatakatachi, founded by her late husband Takahashi Yasufumi, represents something increasingly rare in our age of mass production: functional objects elevated to the realm of fine art through patience, precision, and profound dedication.

Unlike conventional hardware manufacturers who prioritize efficiency over emotion, Sugatakatachi operates on an entirely different philosophy. Each wooden door handle begins with timber allowed to slumber for years, developing the perfect amber tone that speaks of time’s patient work. These are objects meant to be touched daily, yet crafted with the reverence usually reserved for museum pieces.

What sets Sugatakatachi apart in the luxury crafts world is the depth of human connection embedded in every piece. Yasufumi’s approach was revolutionary in its simplicity: he understood that a door handle, something we grasp dozens of times each day, deserves to carry aesthetic pride and maker’s passion. His handcrafted pieces fit doors with an almost miraculous precision, a testament to his intimate understanding of both material and purpose.

The company’s story took a poignant turn when Yasufumi passed away, leaving behind not just a workshop but a vision of beauty that refused to fade. After two years of profound grief, Makiko emerged with firm conviction to continue her husband’s legacy. She didn’t merely reopen the business; she became its living embodiment, standing between master woodworkers as the workshop’s representative, breathing new life into the craft while honoring every memory embedded in the tools and timber around her.

Today, the Sugatakatachi gallery houses pieces that span decades, including works from Yasufumi’s school years, each item speaking to the couple’s shared journey. The handles themselves, attuned to diverse tastes yet unified by meticulous craftsmanship, demonstrate how functional design can transcend utility to become vessels of human spirit.

Makiko’s commitment extends beyond the workshop walls. While stewarding her husband’s vision, she has resumed supporting international students in France, embodying the philosophy that a life well-lived leaves behind something into which we’ve poured our souls. This remarkable blend of personal devotion, artistic excellence, and cultural preservation shows how Sugatakatachi is redefining what luxury craftsmanship means in the 21st century, not as mere objects of desire, but as tangible expressions of love, legacy, and the indomitable human spirit.

Alfie Goodrich : PHOTOS / Masako Teddy : STORY

Check out the Sugatakatachi Website -> In Englishand In Japanese