Toshiyuki Kita was born in Osaka (Japan) in 1942, and graduated in industrial design in 1964 from the University of Osaka; in 1969 he opened a studio of research and design.  Since 1979 he has worked in Milan, making products for Italian and European companies while at the same time maintaining strict contacts and collaboration with his native land. 

His work is marked particularly by the use, research and revaluation of materials and working methods deriving from Japanese culture (he designs first-class utensils and vessels in lacquer, not to mention paper lamps), but Kita is able to turn his imagination to instances of the western world in which he works.

The Wink armchair (1980) and the little Kick table (1984), designed for Cassina, are in the permanent collection at the MoMA in New York. Kita has exhibited and won awards and prizes all over the world.