News room
NII Presents Three New Seating Collections at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026
Three innovative yet standard products will be unveiled at Milan Salone 2026 and are scheduled for release from June 2026 onwards.
ITOKI CORPORATION (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koji Minato) has announced NII presents three new seating collections: HAKUSAN, BIWA and ALLROUND. Developed for contemporary workplaces in constant evolution, the new launches refl ect the brand’s philosophy of Ingenious Design — an approach that combines functionality, comfort and clarity of form to support the many ways people meet, work and interact today.
Presented for the first time internationally at Hall 22 – Stand A27, the three collections further articulate NII’s vision of the office as a dynamic, open environment shaped by movement, collaboration and wellbeing. Distinct in character yet united by a quiet sense of versatility, each design integrates naturally into a wide range of settings, from meeting rooms and shared spaces to lounges and informal work areas.
From left to right: "ALLROUND", "BIWA", "HAKUSAN"
A New Approach to Seating — Innovative Yet Standard and Effortlessly Usable
Built on the concept of “Ingenious design”, NII is a furniture brand that transforms the office into a vibrant stage where people gather, connect, and inspire one another. Through innovative collections developed in collaboration with designers both in Japan and internationally, NII encourages thinking, collaboration, and new challenges, creating environments where people take center stage in generating new value.
The new collection announced here comprises three products developed in collaboration with the London-based design studio Industrial Facility, alongside ITOKI designers Kohei Wada and Hirotaka Tako. The lineup consists of HAKUSAN by Industrial Facility, BIWA by Wada, and ALLROUND by Tako.
Rooted in the idea of connecting people, this lineup supports a wide range of activities, including work, meetings, and communication. While distinctive in design, each piece integrates naturally into its surroundings, drawing out movement and interaction among people, and presenting a new approach to seating.
PRODUCT VIDEO
HAKUSAN
DESIGN
HAKUSAN is a chair that combines a distinct character with a sense of universality. It is composed of a steel and die-cast aluminum armrest with a single molded plywood shell. Its forward-moving silhouette expresses both lightness and structural strength, bringing a quiet yet confi dent presence to any space.
By using steel tubing with a larger diameter than that of typical stacking chairs, it achieves an appearance that balances visual lightness with the solidity and presence of a dining chair. The contrast of materials and its carefully balanced proportions allow it to blend naturally into a variety of settings while expressing subtle individuality.
FUNCTION
HAKUSAN is designed to ensure ease of handling in everyday actions such as stacking and carrying. By positioning the center of gravity directly beneath the armrest, it minimizes sway when lifted and creates a sense of lightness beyond its actual weight.
Its structure allows the chair to be easily gripped from the front, enabling smooth stacking with minimal eff ort. Through repeated use, this ease of handling becomes intuitive, establishing it as a new standard in stacking chairs.
DESIGNER’S
COMMENT
HAKUSANは普遍性を備えたチェアです。シンプルな素材を用い、簡潔で洗練されたシルエットが特徴です。あらゆる面で親しみやすく、目にも身体にも心地よく作られています。つまり、身近な要素を調和させ、特別な存在へと昇華させたことが、HAKUSANの普遍性を形作っているのです。その一例が、チェアの重心を中央に据えたデザインです。これが、持ち上げや水平方向への積み重ねを驚くほどスムーズにしています。
チェアの扱い方や移動の仕方、そして時間の過ごし方にまで抜かりなく正統な視点を反映した、普遍的な喜びをもたらすプロダクトです。
Photo by Kane Hulse
Industrial Facility
In 2002 Kim Colin (b. Los Angeles) and Sam Hecht (b. London) formed the design office Industrial Facility. Their approach reflects both a thoughtful consideration of form and a unique understanding of contemporary life, creating beauty out of utility in the products, furniture and exhibitions they design. They are sought for both their philosophical and pragmatic approach. Colin and Hecht have held creative director positions within Muji, Herman Miller and Mattiazzi and their international clients include Wästberg, &Tradition and Santa&Cole. They are Royal Designers for Industry with works held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Helsinki Design Museum; and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In 2018, Phaidon Press published the complete works of Industrial Facility.
BIWA
DESIGN
BIWA is a work chair defined by its soft, organic form that gently embraces the body while bringing a calm presence to any space. Its smoothly continuous shell and a shoulder rest that appears to float create a sense of both lightness and comfort, allowing for flexible seating that is not confined to a single posture.
While it carries a lounge-like character, BIWA is fully equipped with the functionality required for work, offering a new style of chair that bridges comfort and performance.
A wide range of color variations is also available, enabling the chair to harmonize with a variety of interior settings.
FUNCTION
BIWA is equipped with essential functions required for work, including seat height adjustment, smooth synchro-tilt, and tilt lock at the initial reclining angle.
The backrest is designed to accommodate flexible seating styles, with gently enveloping side panels that can also function as armrests. By embracing the subtle movements that occur with each change in posture, it enables a seamless transition between focus and relaxation.
The floating shoulder rest, while visually light, provides a reassuring sense of support through its carefully shaped form, allowing users to rest their body comfortably without interrupting their flow of thought.
DESIGNER'S COMMENT
BIWA aspires to resonate with human emotions through a timeless design that transcends typical task chair aesthetics.
More than ever, offices are evolving into vibrant spaces where ideas and collaboration generate new value. It follows that furniture design should also evolve beyond the conventional notion of “office furniture.”
The soft silhouette, reminiscent of a lounge chair, features a separate shoulder rest that appears to float in space, creating a magical focal point. The embracing form draws inspiration from the shape of the traditional Japanese instrument biwa, from which it takes its name, and Japan’s Lake Biwa, where the chair is produced.
Kohei Wada (ITOKI Product Design Department)
Product designer at NII DESIGN TEAM. Drawing on his engineering experience in mechanical and structural design, and his knowledge of ergonomics, he specializes in chair designs that seamlessly integrate functionality, comfort, and styling. At ITOKI, he has consistently designed "things you sit on," including office task chairs, meeting chairs, lounge chairs, sofas, and lobby chairs for public spaces. As a product that sits closest to the human body, his passion for chair design, which deeply impacts daily life, is endless. He has received numerous awards, including the iF Design Award GOLD, Red Dot Design Award, and GOOD DESIGN Award.
ALLROUND
DESIGN
ALLROUND is defined by its gently rounded form and smooth, continuous surfaces, giving it a friendly and lightweight presence. Its simple structure, defined by a single central column and the use of metal, creates a minimal presence that allows it to blend quietly into its surroundings, harmonizing with the space without asserting itself.
Its sculpted form, refined to its essence, becomes more expressive as it catches and refl ects light. The soft curvature subtly shifts in appearance, creating a quiet yet distinctive presence within the space.
FUNCTION
ALLROUND features integrated casters concealed within the base*, enabling smooth, gliding movement without disrupting its clean appearance. It can be moved effortlessly when needed, allowing positions to shift naturally in response to people’s movements and the flow of interaction.
Beyond its use as a stool, it can also function as a side table, enhancing flexibility in layout across workshops, meetings, and lounge settings. Designed for versatility, ALLROUND adapts seamlessly to a wide range of situations within the office environment.
*Casters are integrated in the stool type only.
DESIGNER’S
COMMENT
ALLROUNDという名前は、すべてのエッジに施した大きな曲面(フルフィレット)と、多様なシーンで使える“オールラウンダー”としての道具、というダブルミーニングが込められています。
堅牢な金属製でありながら多彩な色と仕上げで展開するカラーバリエーションは、大きな丸みのある形状と相まって、どこか溶けるような柔らかな印象を与えます。
また、エッジを取った形状による視覚的なやさしさに加え、フラットパック可能な梱包も、人と環境の双方に配慮したデザインです。
座面と同形状の脚置きを備えたハイスツールも展開し、同様にミニマルな回転体として、空間や建築に自然に馴染み、長く愛用される存在を目指しています。
Hirotaka Tako (ITOKI)
NII Creative Director Hirotaka Tako takes a comprehensive approach that bridges and integrates seemingly opposing elements—object and experience, digital and physical, space and product—while striving for a creative expression that is both primitive and clear. During his ten years based in London, he was involved in the development and branding of products for global markets, as well as spatial design for offices and events, and participated multiple times in exhibitions at Salone del Mobile.Milano. After working at TOTO and Sony, he joined ITOKI. In addition to his role within the company, he is also active as an independent designer, creating furniture and objects. He has received numerous awards, including the the iF Design Award GOLD, Red Dot Design Award Best of the Best, and the Good Design Award Gold Prize, and has served as a guest lecturer at design universities in Japan and the UK.
PRODUCT OUTLINE
| product name | HAKUSAN | BIWA | ALLROUND |
|---|---|---|---|
|
release date |
July 2026 |
June 2026 |
June 2026 |
| Price (incl. tax) | From 62,000 yen | From 122,300 yen | From 86,200 yen |
|
size |
ARMCHAIR W505×D525×H785 ARMLESSCHAIR W490×D525×H785 |
HIGH(5star
base) W640×D645×H975 LOW (4star base) W640×D590×H765 |
STOOL W415×D415×H450 BARSTOOL W415×D415×H750 |
|
variation |
ARMCHAIR /ARMLESSCHAIR |
HIGH /LOW |
STOOL /BARSTOOL |
|
Color |
Body color: 10 colors |
Body color: 6 colors Back and seat upholstery: 4 types, total of 21 colors |
Body color: 7 colors |
|
Main features |
Stackable and lightweight design |
Seat height adjustment, synchronized rocking, and locking of initial rocking angle. |
Built-in casters (STOOL) and swivel seat (BARSTOOL) |
|
Product page
|
HAKUSAN | BIWA | ALLROUND |
Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026 Exhibition Overview
| Exhibitor | ITOKI CORPORATION |
|---|---|
| Exhibition period | April 21, 2026 (Tuesday) - April 26, 2026 (Sunday) |
| time | 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM |
| venue | Rho Fiera Milano Hall 22 / Stand A27 |
| location | Strada Statale Sempione, 28, 20017 Rho MI, Italy |
About "NII"
Ingenious design
NII is a furniture brand built on the concept of ingenious design, transforming the office into an engaging and vibrant stage. Working closely with globally-acclaimed designers, NII creates innovative collections with a strong commitment to quality, comfort, and craftsmanship in every last detail. The distinctive design pursued by NII brings energy and inspiration into space—energizing teams, spurring communication, collaboration, and imagination. By connecting people, encouraging new ways of thinking and working together, and supporting new challenges, it becomes a driving force for creating new values.
BRAND OUTLINE
|
Brand name |
NII |
|---|---|
| Items available | office furniture |
| Creative Director | Hirotaka Takou / ITOKI |
| designer |
AMDL CIRCLE |
| URL |
https://www.nii-ingenious.com/ (English) https://www.nii-ingenious.com/ja/ (Japanese) |
| @nii.design.official | |
| Planning, manufacturing, and sales | ITOKI CORPORATION |
About Itoki's Workplace Business
ITOKI CORPORATION was founded in 1890. With the mission statement We Design Tomorrow. We Design WORK-Style." the company manufactures and sells office furniture, designs office spaces, provides work style consulting and office data analysis services, and also supports the creation of various “Space," “Environment," and “Place" by leveraging its strength in "AI x Design based on people."
As hybrid work becomes more widespread and the places and styles of work diversify, we are also developing spatial DX to enhance productivity and creativity, as well as consulting services that provide ongoing support for optimal office management. We actively collaborate with external designers and partner companies to propose new work styles and workplaces for the future.
press personnel
Contact information
ITOKI CORPORATION
Corporate Communications Headquarters Public Relations Department
TEL:03-6910-3910
- The information posted is current at the time of publication. Please note that the information may differ from the latest information.
