luminous rice-shaped balloons invite sake lovers to taste the brew in open-air bar in tokyo

sake-tasting in the heart of tokyo’s business district

In celebration of Tokyo’s renowned Sake Jump festival, Japanese architecture office OKDO transforms the city’s bustling business district into an open-air sake-tasting bar with a pavilion of luminous balloon clouds. Amid the towering skyscrapers lining the Otemachi Naka-dori Avenue, the event brings the taste of 41 sake breweries from across the country to the metropolitan alley, gathering enthusiasts of the fermented beverage underneath OKDO’s inflatable rice-shaped clouds. Inspired by the process of sake brewing, the floating volumes evoke the image of inflated rice steamers, as they emit a soft glow of light and shelter visitors.

OKDO inflates rice-shaped balloons for Sake Jump in Tokyo | all images © Naomichi Sode / SS

okdo draws on inflating fermented rice forms

Bringing the beauty of sake brewing to the streets of Tokyo, OKDO’s Sake Jump derives its concept from the form of rice grains being fermented by koji mold. To celebrate the festival and gather sake enthusiasts from across Japan in Otemachi, the architects conceived the idea of drinking tables topped by floating rice-shaped clouds supported by thin steel rods that resemble mycelium. During the day, the balloons soften the harsh glare of sunlight, while at night, they emit a warm glow of light to illuminate the space like a delicate lantern. 

With their lightweight form, the inflatable balloons can be assembled or taken down within an instant, and can be easily transported around the country for reuse. Made from recyclable materials, they can also continue to be used for various purposes after the event is over without generating any waste.

OKDO’s design evokes images of inflated rice steamers during the fermentation process

the event took place in Tokyo’s skyscraper-lined Otemachi Naka-dori Avenue

Sake Jump gathers brewers, stockists and enthusiasts for sake-tasting

in the evening, the balloons softly illuminate the area like a lantern

the balloons filter harsh sunlight during the day

project info:

name: Sake Jump
designer: OKDO

location: Tokyo, Japan

site: 2,500 sqm

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom