The Stickley Brothers Furniture Co. brought James Seino to the city in 1914 to head the furniture decoration department. While known for their plain style, Stickley introduced a line of furniture called "Quaint American" that was often painted and decorated in the Japanese style. Another line introduced later, "Adam Colonial," was also painted and decorated.

Furniture decorating departments hired Japanese artists and also women with artistic abilities. The workrooms, lighted only with factory windows and crowded with furniture, were probably the only place in a furniture factory that either Japanese or women would be found.

Oriental designs were very popular during this period. Folding screens often featured floral or water scenes that might include birds and gold leaf was frequently used. Furniture, especially tables and chairs, was decorated in a more subdued fashion often using small floral motifs.

Seino and Kaoru had two sons, James Jr. and Robert, born in Grand Rapids between 1925 and 1930. Mrs. Seino and the boys happen to appear in the center of this photograph of the Infant Feeding Clinic taken in 1929.