The Craft of Chowa

RAY SUZUKI（鈴木嶺） is a bi-cultural designer and the founder of CHOWA, a brand launched in 2023 to explore the intersection of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and modern New York aesthetics. Born in New York and raised in Tokyo, RAY bridges two distinct cultures, deeply influenced by both his mother’s roots, through which he learned tea ceremony and judo, and his father’s 35-year career as a fashion designer in New York City. Through CHOWA, RAY pays tribute to Japanese kiribako (paulownia wood boxes), reimagining them as sustainable luxury pieces that celebrate precision, heritage, and creative collaboration.

 

IROHA: What projects are you currently working on? What have you most recently completed or do you plan to do in the near future?

RAY: I’m currently collaborating with brands like Dom Pérignon, Drake’s (a British suit brand), District Vision, and New Balance. We’re pushing beyond just the “box”—CHOWA is becoming a design platform. I’m also excited about launching the Chowa Library, which documents our work and philosophy. We were featured in The New York Times, T: The New York Times Style Magazine and Monocle. Looking ahead, we’re expanding into furniture, starting with a stool made in collaboration with a factory in Japan. My mission is to elevate Japanese craftsmanship in a global luxury context.

IROHA: What are your thoughts regarding Asian hate and Asian glass ceiling issues?

RAY: Personally, I haven’t experienced discrimination directly, but I’ve observed how Asian professionals succeed financially yet often remain disconnected from their cultural roots. That’s something I’m passionate about changing. Many people define luxury in narrow, Western-centric terms—like champagne on a yacht in the South of France. But what about luxury rooted in differing heritage and harmony? My vision for CHOWA is to build a brand of autonomous Japanese luxury, one that doesn’t compete with the Western mold but stands proudly beside it. I want to empower Asian creators to celebrate their culture within the global luxury space.

 

IROHA: Based on your background, do you have any advice or a message for young people who want to follow in your footsteps?

RAY: I want the next generation of Japanese creatives to feel a deep sense of pride in their own culture. That confidence, paired with an open-minded curiosity about other cultures, is powerful. When you authentically pursue what’s true to you and seek harmony with others, you create something truly unique. Be proud of where you’re from while staying generously open-minded. Your story, told with honesty and heart, can resonate far beyond borders.

 

IROHA: Outside of work, what are you most interested in right now?

RAY: Honestly, 99.9% of my time is dedicated to CHOWA. But outside of that, I’m really into fashion and painting. I use drawing and abstract art to process my thoughts and emotions. Travel also inspires me. Ultimately, CHOWA is my way of speaking on behalf of the artisans in Japan—their energy, skill, and traditions that have lasted hundreds of years. My role is to bridge that legacy to new audiences with care, nuance, and vision, sharing the beauty of the craft that has been preserved for 300 years.

written by Jessica Woolsey 

 

RAY SUZUKI’s Instagram 

CHOWA