Subscribe to our newsletter
Get a dose of Japanese inspiration delivered to your inbox.
A selection of objects, artisan stories, recipes and new products in preview.
About Léonard
Léonard, the person behind Dogou
I come from the world of design, where I question how objects are conceived and what they bring to the people who use them. I created Dogou out of that curiosity, which has stayed with me since my first trip to Japan.
During that first month-long stay, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, I started noticing everyday objects that offered solutions different from the ones I was used to. Since then, my regular trips to Japan, and then my life with my wife and her family in Yokohama, have let me discover these objects in context, through habits, gestures and traditions.
Dogou was born from this desire: to introduce objects not because they are Japanese, but because they are well thought out.
What Japan taught me to look at
In Japan, I often find myself noticing things I would probably have overlooked elsewhere: a utensil in a bath, a small individual nabe at an inn, the knives in the shops of Kappabashi, or a furoshiki used to carry a meal.
These discoveries taught me to look at everyday objects differently. Some stand out for the simplicity of their use, others for their design, the precision of their making or the gestures they are tied to.
By taking part in tea ceremonies in Japan, I also discovered the chasen, the bamboo whisk, the chawan, the tea bowl, and the kama, the traditional kettle. Objects whose function only makes full sense in the gestures and rituals they belong to.
My designer's eye leads me to ask the same questions: what is this object for, why was it designed this way, and what does it really bring to the person who uses it?
This curiosity guides my discoveries and the Dogou selection.
How I choose
-
01
I discover objects on the spot
My stays in Japan and conversations with my family in Yokohama let me discover objects in context and better understand the uses they answer.
-
02
I start from their usefulness
A utensil must have a real reason to exist: make a gesture easier, be pleasant to use, or offer a simple solution to a concrete need.
-
03
I look at the places where they are designed and used
In Tokyo, Kappabashi and its shops specialised in kitchen tools are a source of inspiration. I find there an interest in objects whose design, precision or simplicity deserve a closer look.
I don't try to multiply references. I prefer a tight selection in which every object has a reason to be there.
What I check before offering an object
I look at the design, the materials, the finish, and how easy the object is to use and to care for. I also take durability and price into account, to assess what the object really brings.
An object can be beautiful or original without being essential. At Dogou, I favour those whose usefulness, design and quality justify their place in the selection.
From Japan to your everyday life
The selected objects join the Dogou collection, then are prepared and shipped from Paris. Orders are generally shipped within one to two business days.
My aim is to help you discover objects that bring something concrete to daily life: a simpler gesture, a better thought-out use, or a different way of approaching a familiar habit.
A question, or advice on how to use an object?
Would you like to know more about an object, how to use it or how to care for it? You can write to me through Dogou's Contact page. I would be happy to hear from you.