Dynamic interior scenes in Europe are exciting.

The European interior design industry has continued to thrive over its long history. The home design market, in particular, is far larger than Japan's and in so many ways much richer in content. Roles played by interior designers in this industry are quite important and are watched with much expectation. Leading designers are celebrities of a sort and rarely disappoint their legion of fans. Designers are known by their trademark designs that followers and customers can spot at a glance. In England, many interior designers and architects are renowned for their successful works year after year in important markets such as Milan, Paris, and London.

I am fortunate to be working in a world center for interior and furniture design, where the trends and the colors of sophisticated design make London a landmark in these industries. To be outstanding, a designer must be wise enough to appreciate tradition, without allowing the weight of precedent to impede their creation of truly original and innovative interior spaces and furnishings. Working in this exciting and inspiring environment has made designing a passion for me and given me the inspiration to combine classic Japanese designs with the functionality and innovation of Western style rooms and furnishings.

My inspiration comes from beautiful old buildings and small natural settings.

Europe is populated with thousands upon thousands of historical buildings and monuments - a designer's paradise. Those which I include in my designs are usually 100 to 200 years old and oftentimes well-proportioned and pleasing to the eye. Buildings and everyday streetscapes are very important for me because they help me to maintain balance and perspective during the design process. When I stroll through the streets of Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital city, the buildings and furniture seem to speak to me much the same as the old buildings of Europe. It is not so widely known that many designers are inspired by antiques and old buildings. In my appreciation of things old and classic is the well-spring from which my most creatively inspired designs emerge.

Another source of inspiration is my home town area, where the rice paddies appear to crawl up the slopes of the mountains that surround my home. Showing a shifting beauty as the four seasons change year in and year out, the natural landscapes of this rural town have inspired me in ways I can hardly imagine. I live adjacent to Primrose Hill and Regent's Park, beautiful and quiet oases among the bustling streets and neighborhoods of metropolitan London. I take my dog for walks through these parks and sometimes bend down to view the world they see from several feet off the ground. What a surprise it is to view the vastness of the sky and the altered size of the buildings, people and other objects that make up the urban mosaic. These small but powerful images of nature, and the beauty reflected in these magnificent buildings and structures, are the source of inspiration that drives my creative spirit.

Japanese Elegance merges with Western styling

I find European furniture rather uninspiring. Although surrounded by furnishings of Western design, as a Japanese woman, I find my living space uninhabitable unless it is balanced with elements that are Japanese in design or content. Japanese furniture, in its straight-lined simplicity, seems incompatible with the masculine heaviness of Western furnishings. My vision of fine furniture melds the classic elegance of Japanese calligraphy and artistic patterns with the utility and strength of Western style living.

I believe furniture should be functional without sacrificing elegance, beauty and uniqueness. My "Len-Yu" series captures all of these very important elements. The techniques of calligraphy learned from my grandfather have taught me to appreciate the value of a single line. This calligraphic line forms the basis of my "Len-Yu" designs. The mass-produced look in furniture is not inspiring nor does it nourish the spirit. The "Len-Yu" series moves the heart and the spirit to new heights of appreciation and satisfaction.