The distinctive beauty found in Japan's beloved kissaten (traditional coffee shops) — their wooden motifs, chandeliers, and stained glass — is being reimagined as textile design by illustrator Kata Yukiko. Lifestyle shop Watashi no Heya is turning that charm into a new scarf collection, made to appeal to longtime kissaten fans and newcomers to the culture alike.
How the Scarf Collection Began
The idea took shape following the July 2026 event "Kuusou Kissa Watashi no Heya x Rina Namba." Building on that collaboration, Watashi no Heya and Rina Namba decided to continue developing kissaten-inspired designs as an ongoing series, approached through Watashi no Heya's own distinct perspective.
The first installment features scarves designed by Kata Yukiko. Beyond simply wearing them, customers are encouraged to find their own ways of styling the pieces.
Product Details
The scarves are made from a material with a silk-like sheen that brings out the charm of each pattern, and are finished slightly larger than usual so the design can be fully appreciated.
They work well as the centerpiece of an outfit, and are also recommended tied onto a bag as an accent.
Material: 100% polyester, Size: 65 x 65 cm, Price: ¥3,960
Designs and Featured Cafés
Kissa Soirée (Shijo Nishikiyamachi, Kyoto)
Soirée takes its name from the French word for "evening gathering." The wood carvings found throughout the blue-lit building's interior and exterior, and among its furnishings, were made by sculptor 池野禎春, a Nitten-exhibiting artist who was a friend of the shop's founder. The finely carved grapes became the motif for this scarf.
Kojo (Ueno, Tokyo)
Kojo, a kissaten in Ueno, is known for an interior modeled on European castles and palaces, built with genuine materials such as marble and brass to create a dreamlike, dramatic space. The scarf design draws on the refined aesthetic of this Showa-era Western-style building.
Coffee no Daigakuin, Lumière de Paris (Kannai, Kanagawa)
Located in Kannai, Yokohama, Coffee no Daigakuin, Lumière de Paris feels like stepping into a medieval European castle or noble residence, with its ornate chandeliers, suits of armor, stained glass, and marble tables. Its striking stained glass became the motif for this scarf.
Kata Yukiko Goods Fair: "The World of Kata Yukiko"
Period: September 14 (Mon) to October 12 (Mon, holiday)
Store: Watashi no Heya Jiyugaoka
For a limited time, the Watashi no Heya Jiyugaoka store will offer an exclusive lineup of goods designed by Kata Yukiko, filled with items that capture her retro, slightly wistful world.
Postcards (assorted designs)
Postcards with carefully chosen paper and coloring
¥330
Stamp-style masking tape
Masking tape shaped like postage stamps
¥1,320
Large masking tape Width 25 mm x 5 m ¥880
Roll sticky notes
Width 40 mm x 4 m
¥1,210
Square Square
8 x 8 cm adhesive memo pad
Printed with riso printing for vivid, charming colors
¥715
Every design is different
MEMO*MEMO
A riso-printed memo pad where every sheet has a different design
¥2,200
Assorted acrylic keychains
Keychains packed with the collection's world
Great as a bag charm as well as a keychain
¥1,650
Handkerchief towels, tote bags, notepaper, an art book, and more are also planned for sale.
Produced and Supervised by Rina Namba
Second-generation director of 東京喫茶店研究所 (Tokyo Kissaten Kenkyujo)
Author of 16 books on kissaten culture and a leading voice in passing on Showa-era coffee shop culture to today's readers.
She selected the participating shops and supervised how each café's world was translated into a scarf motif.
Her latest book, "Junkissa to Amai Mono Tokyo Hen," was published in June 2026 by Seibundo Shinkosha.
Textile Design by Kata Yukiko
Illustrator
Kata Yukiko creates illustrations centered on a girl living on a planet somewhere else entirely, working across formats that include "THE DROS" at Tokyo Station, confectionery packaging for Taiyo no Tou Yogashiten, book cover art, and stationery illustrations.
Her retro, faintly melancholic world invites a bit of everyday escape.
