Among the Nychair X lineup, Nychair X 80 was introduced in 1980 as a chair designed to be lighter, more compact, and easier to sit down in and stand up from, thanks to its seat height. We have visited three creators and their households who have recently incorporated Nychair X 80 as a part of their interiors and daily lives. Each of them brings their own unique, expressive lifestyle, and the way Nychair X 80 blends into those spaces shows three completely distinct styles of living. The chair has made their relaxation time feel freer and richer. 

This a vol. 2 of 3. 

See vol. 1 dedicated to Aya Courvoisier. 

Mitsugu Uehara has photographed many scenes involving Nychair X, including the pictures for this article. Because he’s seen the chairs in so many people’s lives and settings, he has a deep sense of their appeal and a unique perspective. He’s lived in a suburban apartment with a splendid view on the city in the outskirts of Tokyo for about four years now, and his interior is finally taking on its ideal form.

“I chose this place because I wanted to move someplace more spacious. Recently, I finally found a display shelf I liked. It just arrived. Before, when I wanted to unwind, I’d sit in a Nychair X, but now I do that while gazing at this shelf. I wanted the view when I’m most relaxed to feel nicer. Maybe because of my work, Iam wary about thetall pieces that obscure line of sight, and I pay close attention to visual flow and proportions.”

Originally the shelf was sold as a twotier unit. He tried arranging it in its original stacked form, verifying how it looked relative to the Nychair X or to the view when seated. But when he tried placing them side by side, suddenly it “fit perfectly”, as he phrases it. His sense of negative space and meticulous adjustment feels like the instinct of a photographer. Throughout the carefully considered layout of the furniture, various handcrafted folk art items and objects from abroad are placed. The way he comes across these is interesting, too. 

“Often when I travel for leisure or work, I find something by chance. For example, I walked into a clothing shop in Kamakura, and behind the register I noticed a taiko drum. I was told it had remained unsold for 30 years,” Mitsugu laughs. “Also, a chair I liked at a hotel during a trip in Shimoda—after asking the staff, I was directed to a shop that sold it, and I went to buy it.” 

One room on the second floor is like a gallery, where he displays his collection. Against a backdrop of monotone, antique furnishings, a blue Nychair X 80 has been added. 

“I had never used vivid color in furniture before. Since everything else was mostly black and white, I thought this would really stand out. If I had chosen a darker color, the impression of the room would’ve been totally different. Here I sit in the Nychair X 80 and read. Unlike the Nychair X I placed downstairs, the arm height is just right when seated — you can keep reading without strain.” 

When asked what, in spaces he crafted for specific purposes: relaxing, reading, or working, is the element he cherishes the most over time, he answers that he can’t choose a single thing — they all are equally precious to him. 

“I’m unable to choose a single thing I would be ready to part with,” he answers, laughing. “I think there is nothing in this house that I could call unnecessary. Even if I moved someday, there might not be anything I’d pass on to someone else.” 

Whether it’s something he has sought for a long time or something he intuitively picked up in a trip, he cherishes everything equally. Perhaps that stems from trusting one’s sensibility and gradually refining it. No matter how location or the interior style changes, one can easily imagine Nychair X continuing to be part of their life’s setting. 

Mitsugu Uehara 

Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1989, he began studying photography in earnest after moving to Paris, France. 

He travels primarily through Asia and Europe, taking photographs along the way. He works as a freelance photographer in Tokyo. 

mitsuguuehara.com