Est. 2016 — Kyoto • Lisbon • Oslo — Slow Design Studio
MAKE
QUIET
BEAUTY that lasts
NABISHO [ na-bi-sho ] — “to become beautiful slowly” is an independent studio crafting objects, interiors and rituals inspired by wabi-sabi. We design less, but better: handmade ceramics, tea spaces, mindful homes.
We design stillness into noisy lives
NABISHO began in a 12-tatami workshop in Kyoto with one wheel, three chisels and a belief: beauty should calm you, not impress you. Today we are 24 makers, architects and tea masters working between Japan and Europe.
We don't chase trends. We study shadows, clay, ash glazes, the sound of water in a tetsubin. Every object leaves our studio only when it feels inevitable — imperfect, warm, human. Our interiors are built for morning light, bare feet and long conversations.
▲ Our founders: Yuki Nabeshima (ceramicist) & Jonas Sho (architect) — documenting glazes in Uji, 2019.
What we believe
- Emptiness is luxury. 30% empty space in every room.
- Repair, don't replace. Lifetime kintsugi service.
- Touch first. No render without a material sample.
- Local & traceable. 92% materials within 300km.
Studio today
Kyoto flagship atelier + Lisbon clay lab + Oslo paper studio. Workshops every full moon. Residency for 6 young makers yearly. We publish Nabisho Notes — essays on slow living read by 48,000 subscribers.
Three principles
of quiet design
Not minimalism as emptiness, but as attention. Each project passes through Ma, Wabi and Yūgen.
Honor emptiness
We leave room to breathe. Negative space is not wasted — it holds light, sound and thought. Our floor plans always include a “nothing corner” for sitting and watching rain.
Love the crack
Hand-thrown asymmetry, lime plaster that patinas, wood that silvers. We specify materials that age gracefully and offer free kintsugi repair for life — because scars are history.
Mystery over display
Slatted screens, half-light, hidden tea gardens. We never reveal everything at once. A Nabisho home unfolds — entry, turn, glimpse, pause — like a haiku you walk through.
Objects & spaces with soul
Ceramics — from €48
Tea bowls, vases, incense holders. Wood-fired in Noborigama kiln, signed and numbered. Dishwasher of life-proof, soul intact.
Interiors — from €9k
Full homes, tea rooms, studios and slow offices. 3D + 1:1 material mockup + craftsmen on site. Average build 11 weeks.
Slow, but complete
Tea Spaces & Rituals
Design of chashitsu, morning corners, office still-rooms. Includes utensils, scent and sound curation + private tea lesson.
from €2,400 — 3 weeks
BOOK CONSULT →Mindful Interiors
Homes, rentals, hotels. Lime plaster, shou-sugi-ban, washi light, acoustic clay. Full project with makers, not contractors.
from €9,000 — 8-14 weeks
GET QUOTE →Objects & Tableware
Bespoke sets for restaurants and homes. 12–200 pieces, ash glazes from your region, stamped with your mon.
from €480 — 4-6 weeks
ORDER SET →From chaos to calm in 5 steps
No endless revisions. One clear path, weekly tea-checks, physical samples you can touch. You always know what happens next.
Start with listening →Listening Tea
90-min conversation + tea at your place or via video. We map light, habits, noises you hate, mornings you dream of.
Material Poem
Box with 12 real samples: plaster, wood, clay, paper, stone. You live with them 7 days, then choose by touch.
Quiet Plan
Drawings, light study and 1:1 mockup of key corner. Fixed price, fixed calendar — no surprises.
Making
Our makers build, fire, plaster. Weekly 15-min video from site. You can visit kiln and sign your beam.
Ritual Handover
Cleaning ritual, tea lesson, care book + lifetime repair. We return after 100 days to tune acoustics and light.
Loved by quiet seekers
“Nabisho turned our noisy flat into a temple. I drink tea every morning now and my anxiety is half. Worth every euro.”
Lisbon — Still Apartment
“The ash bowls feel alive. Guests always pick them up and go silent for a second. That’s magic you can’t render.”
Oslo — Restaurant Yūgen
“Professional, poetic, punctual — rare combo. Fixed price held, kiln visit was unforgettable. Our tea house is now booked months ahead.”
Kyoto — Uji Tea House
Slow news, deep reads
Essays on craft, tea, light and sustainable beauty. New note every Sunday morning — 5 minutes to slow down.
No stories yet — first firing soon. Check back Sunday.
What is Nabisho? +
Nabisho is a slow design studio blending Japanese wabi-sabi with Scandinavian warmth. We make handmade ceramics, mindful interiors and tea rituals that help you live slower and lighter.
Do you ship worldwide? +
Yes. Ceramics ship carbon-neutral in 5–9 days with plastic-free packaging. Interiors currently in Japan, Portugal, Norway, Germany and remote design worldwide.
How long does an interior take? +
Tea corner 3 weeks, apartment 8–14 weeks, tea house 4–6 months. You get a fixed calendar and weekly video updates.
Can I visit the atelier? +
Every Saturday 10–16h in Kyoto and first Sunday in Lisbon. Full-moon workshops, kiln openings and tea tastings — book via contact form.
Autumn slots — 3 left for 2026
Let's make your life quieter
Tell us about your home, restaurant or morning dream. Reply within 24h with tea and a clear next step. No push, no spam — just attention.
