Description

In 1974, when white was the standard for interior tiles and even so-called color tiles were mostly limited to pale tones such as gray and beige, Ina Seito released Inax, an interior tile series offering 48 vivid and unprecedented colors.
The name Inax was derived from “Inax-kai,” a tile research group formed in March 1973 by six architects and product designers: Kazuaki Ito, Katsuki Iwabuchi, Hajime Tsuboi, Takashi Hirai, Yoichiro Hosaka, and Tadashi Wakanabe.
Developed through the exchange and organization of diverse opinions—ranging from expectations to criticisms—based on each member’s daily professional perspective on Ina Seito, the tiles initially raised concerns such as whether such bold colors were suitable for interior use. Nevertheless, upon release they attracted widespread attention and gained popularity among people with a keen sense of contemporary design.
The color system was later expanded to sanitary ware and bathtubs, becoming a trend within the interior design industry.