TPH Cypress Tissue Paper Holder

The design began with a desire to bring the inherent beauty of Kiso cypress—material that has long supported everyday life in Japan—into a contemporary lifestyle product. Known for its antibacterial properties, refined grain, and refreshing aroma, the cypress is shaped into an inverted V-form using a traditional hikimagé bending technique, resulting in a simple yet highly functional structure for holding tissue paper.By avoiding industrial press machines and instead polishing only the bark through meticulous handcraft, the natural warmth and dignity of the material remain intact. Because this product is touched daily and directly by the user, we focused on preserving the gentleness and comfort of natural wood.Ultimately, the fusion of an ancient artisanal technique with a minimalist modern form allows each to enhance the other. I believe it has resulted in a universally elegant tissue paper holder that harmonizes gracefully with a wide variety of interior environments.

The TPH Cypress Tissue Paper Holder is actually the third iteration of this inverted-V structure, following previous versions crafted in leather and then in steel. Through those developments, I learned that the balance between weight and friction in the upper tray is crucial for a seamless tissue-pulling experience.Cypress offers a comforting tactile quality and aroma, but its lightness posed a challenge: the upper tray needed just enough weight to remain stable while still allowing the tissue to slide smoothly. The brass hemisphere became the ideal solution — it adds a precise amount of weight and creates a subtle point contact that reduces excessive friction.This combination allows the tray to move naturally with the user’s gesture, achieving a tactile satisfaction unique to wood, while maintaining the engineering precision refined through past materials.

Beyond simply holding tissue paper, Kiso cypress enhances the user’s experience on multiple sensory and emotional levels. Its inherent antibacterial properties provide peace of mind, especially for an item frequently touched and used around the face and hands.At the same time, the refined grain pattern and gentle, refreshing aroma create a subtle connection to nature within daily life. Every interaction — seeing, touching, and even smelling the material — adds comfort and a moment of calm.By integrating these natural qualities into a minimalist form, the product offers more than functionality; it brings a sense of wellbeing and quiet luxury to ordinary gestures, transforming a familiar act into a pleasant, mindful experience.