Katsuya at Citizens is bursting with references to several rich traditions of Japanese craftsmanship and artistry. This attention to culturally significant markers is apparent from the get-go; the restaurant’s entryway, painted in a deep red color of urushi lacquer, evokes the upwardly curved lintels of torii gates or the dramatic swoosh of a pagoda’s roof. The word “Katsuya” is laser cut out of the curving ceiling panel, nodding to a fundamental Japanese art and interior design concept called ma, or negative space.

Moving into the sushi bar, the deep red color coats the floors, ceiling, and the bar itself. The lounge tables opposite the bar are separated by three ribbed glass screens with a blue-to-red ombre effect, which are meant to echo the translucence of shōji paper in a modern material. A custom wallcovering by Moss and Lam Studio adorns the sushi bar’s back wall.

The interior dining rooms take a maximalist approach to Japanese aesthetics, an entertaining departure from the contemporary minimalist vogue. The printed glass screens re-appear in the central room, hung from blackened metal bracings evocative of kumiki joinery. A communal table, finished with red lacquer, is illuminated by a custom chandelier with a lazily undulating form that appears like waves rendered in ink. The standout feature of these three rooms is the series of portals that delineate between them. Organic in shape and yawning in scale, the portals are framed by red lacquer panels and the wooden insides are treated with a vermillion stain. Ornamental kumiki joinery in black powder coated metal is affixed to the ceilings of the flanking dining rooms. Fans, and the performers who historically danced with them, emblazon several walls. Finally, the checkerboard pattern on the oak wood floor is a direct reference to kabuki theater, as this pattern was named after a popular Edo period actor (Sanogawa Ichimatsu) who frequently wore it. Other wagara patterns, like kikkou (tortoiseshell) and kagome (basket weave), add a sense of dynamism.

The intimate, 10-seat private dining room is located between the dining room and the terrace. The centerpiece of the PDR is a photographic print by Erik Madigan Heck titled “Without a Face 13.” A checkerboard wood floor, wood paneling, and a red tonal fan pattern wallcovering add warmth to the space.

Outside, the terrace dining area looks to autumnal Japanese gardens for inspiration. The color palette is mostly organic and muted, with the exception of bold Japanese maples adding a dash of red. Teak furniture, soft upholstery, and portable table lamps create an ambience of relaxed elegance.