Hokkaido furniture maker attracts big names with go-slow approach

The first signs of autumn are stirring in an old-growth forest in Hokkaido, northern Japan, as brothers Ryutaro and Yasushi Yoshida, co-founders of Time & Style, carry out an inspection. The leaves of beech and oak trees have darkened; some are falling to the ground, dancing on the breeze that blows through the evergreen spruces. Soon snow will come and temperatures will drop significantly, slowing tree growth. This makes the timber harvested here particularly dense -- and perfect for use in furniture.