Ria — Sakurai
In an era where greenwashing is rampant, Ria Sakurai stands as a rigorous exception. Her studio in the outskirts of Yokohama operates on a zero-waste, off-grid system. She refuses to ship her large pieces by air freight; all international orders go by sea, a decision that cuts her profit margins significantly but aligns with her Kankyo principles.
Furthermore, Sakurai is a vocal critic of "disposable luxury." In a viral LinkedIn post from 2023, she wrote: "If your design cannot last 200 years, do not make it. We are not creating for Instagram likes; we are creating for grandchildren." This stance has made her a polarizing figure in the fast-paced world of consumer design but a saint in the sustainable architecture community.
As we stand on the precipice of the Metaverse and virtual reality, the work of Ria Sakurai feels paradoxically essential. She is the anchor reminding us that the physical world—the texture of paper, the weight of a bowl, the silence of a room—still has value. She represents a shift away from the loud, the logoed, and the viral, toward the quiet, the personal, and the permanent.
For the design connoisseur, the eco-conscious investor, or the spiritual materialist, Ria Sakurai is not just a designer; she is a destination. Searching her name is the first step into a slower, more deliberate way of seeing the world.
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This article is part of our "Visionaries of the New Age" series. Last updated: October 2024.
Ria Sakurai was a 25-year-old freelance photographer living in Tokyo, Japan. She had always been passionate about capturing the beauty of the world around her through her lens. Growing up, Ria was fascinated by the works of her grandmother, a renowned Japanese photographer who had traveled extensively throughout Asia.
After completing her studies in photography, Ria decided to take a break from the conventional 9-to-5 life and start her own business. She spent her days roaming the streets of Tokyo, camera in hand, looking for unique and captivating subjects to photograph. ria sakurai
One day, while exploring the trendy Harajuku district, Ria stumbled upon a small, quirky café tucked away on a side street. The sign above the door read "Sakura Dreams," and the windows were filled with a dazzling array of colorful flowers and eccentric decorations. Ria was immediately drawn to the café's whimsical atmosphere and decided to venture inside.
The café was run by an elderly woman named Yumi, who welcomed Ria with a warm smile. As Ria sipped on a cup of delicious matcha latte, she noticed that Yumi seemed to be surrounded by numerous peculiar objects, including vintage cameras, antique dolls, and rare books. The two quickly struck up a conversation, and Ria discovered that Yumi was not only a kindred spirit but also a fellow photography enthusiast.
Yumi shared with Ria her own story of traveling throughout Japan, capturing the country's hidden gems and secret landscapes through her lens. Inspired by Yumi's tales, Ria decided to embark on a photography project to document the lesser-known corners of Tokyo. Yumi, sensing Ria's creative potential, offered to collaborate with her on the project.
As they explored the city together, Ria and Yumi developed an unbreakable bond. They would spend hours wandering through Tokyo's streets, capturing the city's vibrant energy, and sharing stories about their lives. Ria's photography began to flourish, and her unique perspective on the city started to gain attention from local art critics and enthusiasts.
However, just as Ria's career was taking off, she received some unexpected news: Yumi was planning to close down Sakura Dreams café and retire to a rural town in Japan. Ria was heartbroken, realizing that she would soon lose her mentor, friend, and creative partner.
Determined to preserve the memories of their time together, Ria proposed an idea to Yumi: a photography book showcasing the beauty of Tokyo, as seen through their combined lenses. Yumi, touched by Ria's gesture, agreed to collaborate on the project.
The resulting book, titled "Tokyo Dreams," became a critical and commercial success. The photographs, a testament to the bond between Ria and Yumi, captured the essence of Tokyo's eclectic spirit and inspired a new generation of photographers. In an era where greenwashing is rampant, Ria
Years later, Ria would look back on her journey and realize that her chance encounter with Yumi had been a turning point in her life. The experience had not only shaped her photography style but also taught her the value of mentorship, collaboration, and the importance of preserving memories through art.
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For those inspired to look deeper, Ria Sakurai does not have a traditional retail store. She operates an "Apartment Gallery" by appointment only in Setagaya, Tokyo. She also has a permanent installation at the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany, where her "Shadow Pavilion" uses light and smoke to project the silhouette of furniture that isn't there—a commentary on digital consumption.
Online, you can find her sporadic essays on Substack, where she writes about the intersection of AI and tactility. She warns that while AI can generate blueprints, it cannot replicate the "sweat of the brow"—the subtle flaw that makes an object human.
Her university years were crucial: she landed her first commercial gig for a local beverage brand, and her senior thesis—a short film titled “Echoes in Neon”—won the Best Student Film award at the 2020 Tokyo Short Film Festival. This article is part of our "Visionaries of
Her public persona balances glamour with relatability, a combination that has broadened her fan base beyond traditional entertainment circles.
| Name | Ria Sakurai (桜井 リア) | |---|---| | Born | 12 September 1997 – Tokyo, Japan | | Profession | Actress, Model, Voice‑over Artist, Social‑media Influencer | | Height | 167 cm (5 ft 6 in) | | Agency | Starlight Talent (signed 2022) | | Languages | Japanese (native), English (fluent), Basic Korean | | Known For | Lead role in the TV drama “Midnight Bloom” (2023), voice of Miyu in the anime “Eclipse of the Heart” (2024), runway work for Shiseido and Uniqlo |
| Platform | Handle | Tips | |----------|--------|------| | Instagram | @ria.sakurai | Turn on post notifications for behind‑the‑scenes updates. | | TikTok | @riaofficial | Look for “#RiaActingChallenge” – a great way to interact. | | YouTube | Ria Sakurai Official | Subscribe and enable “bell” for monthly “Ria’s Corner”. | | Official Site | www.ria-sakurai.com | Offers a mailing list for early ticket sales and merch drops. | | Fan Club (Japan) | Sakura★Fans | Membership provides exclusive livestreams and limited‑edition photobooks. |
The driving philosophy behind Ria Sakurai’s oeuvre is a concept she calls Kankyo no Shizuka, or "The Silence of the Environment." In her 2021 manifesto published in Design Anthology, Sakurai argued that modern life is plagued by "visual noise"—aggressive branding, jarring angles, and disposable materials.
Her work aims to reintroduce silence through three core tenets:
Searching for Ria Sakurai often leads collectors to waitlists that span two to three years, not because of mass production, but because each piece is crafted with a meditative slowness reminiscent of a Zen garden.