How it began . . .

A simple wish to share the essence of design sparked everything. Ritsuko Yagi approaches design not only through what’s seen, but through what’s sensed — a kind of listening. Trained at Central Saint Martins, London, her perspective has been shaped since early childhood by the creative energy of her own community — rooted in diverse cities, shared rituals, and ongoing exchange across art and design. Through it all, her sense of artistry deepened: observant, formed by experience, and always led by curiosity — her most trusted guide.

What would become Chariots on Fire began with quiet encounters — moments that shaped a way of seeing rooted in our cultural heritage, where subtle elements such as the delicate, shifting hues of seasonal wagashi formed our sensibility; expanded through a California lens: vivid, open, alive; and sparked by a Victorian jet locket that felt way ahead of its time. What began as collecting became curating. What was kept became a way of living.

We specialize in sensing the emerging — in design, in visual culture, in the mood of what’s next. Whether it’s stories of design recalled from familiar places or colors found in nature, we use the language of design to cultivate elevated presence — not just to decorate, but to reveal what’s essential. Design becomes a way to blend time, to connect, to celebrate life. That belief is the central force behind Chariots on Fire.

From these moments, a way of seeing took shape — and what emerged became Chariots on Fire.

About Chariots on Fire —

Art/Design for Living

Chariots on Fire presents art/design for inspired living. We seek the rare, the stirring, the quietly bold — collected and made in places that hold meaning.

Rooted in a collector’s instinct and a designer’s eye, we drift towards the timeless — forms meant to be lived with, not just looked at. Shaped by care, enriched by memory, made to move with you and stay with you.

The Chariots on Fire Collection is available on our site and found in select places including Arcana, Books on the Arts, Los Angeles and POST Books, Dover Street Market, Tokyo. We also look forward to welcoming you via our happenings; “Chariots on Fire Presents” in Los Angeles and beyond.

What others say . . . Chariots on Fire Press