The Takeda Katsuya Design studio has recently completed an excellent project in the Ho.Re.Ca. sector: the exclusive Ruri Kaiseki, a fine dining restaurant that celebrates the authenticity of Japanese dishes, located in the heart of Naples, just a short walk from Piazza dei Martiri.
The restaurant is the result of a collaboration between an Italian entrepreneur, who decided to embark on a journey to explore Japanese culinary roots, and architect Takeda Katsuya, known for his ability to integrate traditional elements with modern aesthetics. The project, initiated in 2023, transformed the space into an environment where every detail tells a story, from the choice of materials to the furnishings and lighting, which evoke the sophisticated and intimate atmosphere typical of Japanese culture.
Ruri Kaiseki aims to be a one-of-a-kind restaurant, standing out from the many “Japanese” establishments already present in the Neapolitan city. The owners wanted to create an environment that was not only aesthetically pleasing but also deeply reflective of Japan’s essence, bringing to Naples an unprecedented culinary authenticity. The goal is to offer guests a sensory journey that embraces both the flavors and the art of presentation, characteristic of Kaiseki cuisine, a high form of Japanese gastronomy that combines taste, aesthetics, and the seasonality of ingredients.
The restaurant is the result of a collaboration between an Italian entrepreneur, who decided to embark on a journey to explore Japanese culinary roots, and architect Takeda Katsuya, known for his ability to integrate traditional elements with modern aesthetics. The project, initiated in 2023, transformed the space into an environment where every detail tells a story, from the choice of materials to the furnishings and lighting, which evoke the sophisticated and intimate atmosphere typical of Japanese culture.
Ruri Kaiseki aims to be a one-of-a-kind restaurant, standing out from the many “Japanese” establishments already present in the Neapolitan city. The owners wanted to create an environment that was not only aesthetically pleasing but also deeply reflective of Japan’s essence, bringing to Naples an unprecedented culinary authenticity. The goal is to offer guests a sensory journey that embraces both the flavors and the art of presentation, characteristic of Kaiseki cuisine, a high form of Japanese gastronomy that combines taste, aesthetics, and the seasonality of ingredients.
THE DESIGN
The environment of Ruri Kaiseki has been conceived to express a refined balance between Japanese tradition and the Western world. The 80-square-meter space, distinguished by its high ceiling of approximately 6 meters, welcomes guests into an intimate and sophisticated setting that transports them on a journey to discover the authentic flavors of traditional Japanese cuisine in an elegant and immersive atmosphere.
The authenticity of Japanese design is reflected in the decision to create a restaurant with a sushi bar only, featuring a long table made from a single 9-meter wood slab, free of joints, to preserve the integrity and natural beauty of the material. The sushi bar accommodates 12 seats, providing an intimate and privileged position facing the chef’s show-cooking area, offering direct contact with the techniques of Japanese culinary art.
The table of the counter is made of wood, while the structure is crafted from Neapolitan tuff, a covering material that evokes the traditional Japanese Oya-Ishi stone. This use of tuff not only gives the counter a solid presence but also continues harmoniously on the restaurant’s external walls, creating a visual dialogue between the interior and the exterior.
The layout and design of the counter are inspired by the Japanese Nō theatre, where culinary art takes center stage and the chef performs like an actor on stage, highlighting the skill and precision involved in preparing the dishes.
The environment of Ruri Kaiseki has been conceived to express a refined balance between Japanese tradition and the Western world. The 80-square-meter space, distinguished by its high ceiling of approximately 6 meters, welcomes guests into an intimate and sophisticated setting that transports them on a journey to discover the authentic flavors of traditional Japanese cuisine in an elegant and immersive atmosphere.
The authenticity of Japanese design is reflected in the decision to create a restaurant with a sushi bar only, featuring a long table made from a single 9-meter wood slab, free of joints, to preserve the integrity and natural beauty of the material. The sushi bar accommodates 12 seats, providing an intimate and privileged position facing the chef’s show-cooking area, offering direct contact with the techniques of Japanese culinary art.
The table of the counter is made of wood, while the structure is crafted from Neapolitan tuff, a covering material that evokes the traditional Japanese Oya-Ishi stone. This use of tuff not only gives the counter a solid presence but also continues harmoniously on the restaurant’s external walls, creating a visual dialogue between the interior and the exterior.
The layout and design of the counter are inspired by the Japanese Nō theatre, where culinary art takes center stage and the chef performs like an actor on stage, highlighting the skill and precision involved in preparing the dishes.
The lighting, soft and subtle, is designed to recreate a theatrical effect, emphasizing the chef’s figure and the movements involved in the creation of the dishes. Delicate and discreet light points are elegantly integrated into the counter, not only serving a functional purpose but also becoming an essential part of the design, designed to illuminate without distractions. Strategically positioned, these lights add a sophisticated touch.
In the choice of materials used, Takeda Katsuya creates a perfect blend of East and West, where Japanese stylistic influences are intertwined with a selection of European materials.
One of the most significant examples of this fusion is the use of an internal European coating with dark tones, chosen to mimic traditional Yaki-Sugi, also known as burnt pine. This material, widely used in Japan for exterior cladding due to its enhanced durability, fire-resistant, and waterproof properties, is reinterpreted for the interior, offering a touch of tradition enriched by contemporary aesthetics.
The restaurant is also inspired by the Japanese technique of Kintsugi, an art of restoration designed to repair ceramic cups by highlighting the break lines with gold dust, accentuating the beauty and turning fragility into a point of strength and perfection. In the restaurant, this technique is honored through the resin concrete flooring, deliberately created with cracks that simulate the refined traditional technique, making every line an artistic detail that enriches the space with symbolic meaning.
In the choice of materials used, Takeda Katsuya creates a perfect blend of East and West, where Japanese stylistic influences are intertwined with a selection of European materials.
One of the most significant examples of this fusion is the use of an internal European coating with dark tones, chosen to mimic traditional Yaki-Sugi, also known as burnt pine. This material, widely used in Japan for exterior cladding due to its enhanced durability, fire-resistant, and waterproof properties, is reinterpreted for the interior, offering a touch of tradition enriched by contemporary aesthetics.
The restaurant is also inspired by the Japanese technique of Kintsugi, an art of restoration designed to repair ceramic cups by highlighting the break lines with gold dust, accentuating the beauty and turning fragility into a point of strength and perfection. In the restaurant, this technique is honored through the resin concrete flooring, deliberately created with cracks that simulate the refined traditional technique, making every line an artistic detail that enriches the space with symbolic meaning.
The architectural element of the Koushi-Do, a typical wooden lattice, is incorporated by Takeda Katsuya at the entrance of the restaurant and in the sliding doors that separate the main dining area from the kitchen.
The sliding door is embellished with a Noren, a curtain made of raw linen, used to decorate the wall, which is covered in rough white plaster, evoking the simplicity and elegance of Japanese surfaces.
The interior hues of the restaurant feature dark and sophisticated tones, where black harmonizes with natural shades such as beige and gray. A touch of color is provided by the Ruri, the stone from which the restaurant takes its name, upon which the dish, in deep navy blue, is placed. Ruri, which translates to lapis lazuli, symbolizes beauty and purity, and is used to enhance and elevate the food due to its association with refinement. The navy blue of the Ruri also references the geographical location of Naples, a city by the sea, thus evoking its Mediterranean soul.
The wall behind the show-cooking area incorporates the Koushi-Do technique, with wooden slats arranged to create a play of solid and empty spaces. Small display cases are embedded between the slats, housing decorative bonsai and a display of chef knives. The ceiling of the restaurant also features a wooden grid, characteristic of many Japanese theatres, amplifying the sense of authenticity and referencing traditional Eastern architecture.
The sliding door is embellished with a Noren, a curtain made of raw linen, used to decorate the wall, which is covered in rough white plaster, evoking the simplicity and elegance of Japanese surfaces.
The interior hues of the restaurant feature dark and sophisticated tones, where black harmonizes with natural shades such as beige and gray. A touch of color is provided by the Ruri, the stone from which the restaurant takes its name, upon which the dish, in deep navy blue, is placed. Ruri, which translates to lapis lazuli, symbolizes beauty and purity, and is used to enhance and elevate the food due to its association with refinement. The navy blue of the Ruri also references the geographical location of Naples, a city by the sea, thus evoking its Mediterranean soul.
The wall behind the show-cooking area incorporates the Koushi-Do technique, with wooden slats arranged to create a play of solid and empty spaces. Small display cases are embedded between the slats, housing decorative bonsai and a display of chef knives. The ceiling of the restaurant also features a wooden grid, characteristic of many Japanese theatres, amplifying the sense of authenticity and referencing traditional Eastern architecture.
One of the most significant design elements is the Shichirin, a Japanese charcoal burner used to smoke fish and infuse the dishes with a unique and unmistakable flavor, deeply tied to tradition.
The bathroom area features a distinctive architectural touch with a vaulted tuff ceiling, a local material that echoes the structure of the counter, creating a harmonious continuity between the spaces while maintaining a strong connection with the local area.
The Ruri Kaiseki restaurant, designed by Takeda Katsuya Design, with its architectural and interior elements, transports guests to a timeless dimension, seamlessly blending the Italian culture of hospitality with the Japanese philosophy of Kaiseki. It offers an authentic and refined corner of Japan, capable of satisfying not only the palate but also the spirit and the eyes, creating an experience that remains etched in the memory of those who experience it.
The bathroom area features a distinctive architectural touch with a vaulted tuff ceiling, a local material that echoes the structure of the counter, creating a harmonious continuity between the spaces while maintaining a strong connection with the local area.
The Ruri Kaiseki restaurant, designed by Takeda Katsuya Design, with its architectural and interior elements, transports guests to a timeless dimension, seamlessly blending the Italian culture of hospitality with the Japanese philosophy of Kaiseki. It offers an authentic and refined corner of Japan, capable of satisfying not only the palate but also the spirit and the eyes, creating an experience that remains etched in the memory of those who experience it.
