The Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles is home to the newly remodeled Mikado Hotel, whose ground floor is now occupied by the modern Japanese concept Sake Dojo. A collaborative design conceived by locally based Wick Architecture & Design and Land Design Studio, the interior explores the ancient art of Japanese tattooing as a signature motif.
“We wanted the space to feel fresh and vibrant, and to express the cohesion of our impressions with art and cultural objects at the core,” says David Wick of Wick Architecture & Design. Wick’s partner Andrew Lindley adds, “We wanted to recognize Japan’s worldwide reputation for exceptional tattoo art in a way that reframed the experience. By reimagining the scale of its application to beyond life-size, we took tattoo art from personal expression to a sensorial group experience.”
The “body art” was conceived in collaboration with tattoo artist Horifuji and Printer Michael Hill. Imagery of waves, water petals, and Koi fish exude an aquatic theme articulated on undulating wood panels in the main dining room and bar. Spread across 3,300 square feet, the tongue-in-cheek setting features vintage décor ranging from vintage cameras and sake bottles to American movie posters. Above the bar, a large steel liquor cage showcases more than 120 varieties of sake. Perforated plywood panels further punctuate the atmosphere.
