Hatsu Tomoe-ha Sukaldeko Labana by Kairi Eguchi

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Sukaldeko Labana by Kairi Eguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award in Laberako Tresna, Mahai Tresna, Edontzi eta Sukalde Tresnen Diseinua Competition Category.

ZilarSukalde Artikuluak· 2025

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Sukaldeko Labana

by Kairi Eguchi

Client: Hatsu

Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award Winner in Sukalde Artikuluak Category

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The Design

About Hatsu Tomoe-ha Sukaldeko Labana

Hatsu Tomoe-ha sukaldeko labana bat da, erabilera anitzeko labana baten eta zuritzeko labana baten funtzioak xafla bakarrean biltzen dituena. Xafla laser bidez ebakitzen da herdoilaren aurkako altzairu herdoilgaitzez, eta ondoren zorroztu egiten da zorroztasun iraunkorra lortzeko. Xaflak 40 mm-ko zabalera du oinarrian eta estutuz doa punta aldera. Kirtena Hoonoki egurrez egina dago, eta horri esker labana arina eta trinkoa da. Kirtenaren formak indarra erraz aplikatzea ahalbidetzen du, eta, beraz, lehen aldiz sukaldatzen dutenek erraztasunez erabil dezakete labana. Tamaina txikia egokia da sukalde trinkoetarako eta ebaketa-ohol batean sartzen da.

The Recognition

About the Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Sukaldeko Labana Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award irabazlea da, goi-mailako, zoragarriak eta liluragarriak diren diseinuei ematen zaien ezohiko aitorpen prestijiotsua. Zilar-mailako irabazleak lan oso distiratsuak eta sormen biziko lanak dira, beren diseinatzaileen aditutasun, talentu eta zorroztasun nabarmenak erakusten dituztenak. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Sukaldeko Labana erakusleiho-lan zoragarria, nabarmenki profesionala eta sakonki berritzailea izatea espero da. Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award irabazi duen diseinu hau asmakizun oso nabarmena eta miretsia da, onura ekartzen duena eta artearen, zientziaren, diseinuaren eta teknologiaren mugak zabaltzen dituena. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Sukaldeko Labana jende askok inbidia duen sorkuntza da, desirak pizten dituena, sentimendu positiboak ekartzen dituena eta harridura eta txunditzea pizten dituena.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Tomoe-ha is a kitchen knife that incorporates the dual usage of an all-purpose knife and a paring knife into one single utensil. It is made for people who are starting to live alone or for those who want to enjoy cooking with their children. Especially in countries with small living quarters like Japan,
having a simple yet highly functional mini kitchen knife makes cooking in a limited kitchen space more enjoyable. Tomoe-ha enables the user for an easier daily cooking routine and sustains that lifestyle for a longer period of time.
Dimensions & Packaging: W225×D18×H40mm. Blade length: 130mm
Tags: Japanese, sharperner, knife, handcrafted, blade
Production Technology: Steel is laser-cut to take its unique shape and then sharpened to turn into a working blade. The blade is made of rust-resistant stainless steel (locally termed as
"VG7") for long-lasting sharpness. The handle is manufactured by a woodworks company specializing in making knife handles for Echizen blades. Made from Hoonoki wood, it makes the handle light and compact. The overall shape of the handle makes it easy to apply force, so that even first-time cooks can use this
knife with ease.
Design Challenge: Finding the right balance between an all-purpose knife and a paring knife. In the end, we end up with a blade with a new kind of shape that has not existed before in any kitchen knives.
Research: The shape of the hybrid blade is the result of comparing the shapes and sizes of various small Santoku knives and a petty knives. In order to be used for both functions, we came up with a blade width of 40 mm at the base and a narrower blade towards the tip.
Inspiration: The Tomoe-ha mini kitchen knife combines the best features of the small Santoku knives (all-purpose knives) and petty knives (paring knives). The Japanese characters used for the name "Tomoe-ha” means ‘having two characteristics in equal measure,’. The characteristics of the small Santoku knife (used for cutting big things) and the petty knife (used for cutting vegetables) represents the idea of Tomoe-ha by incorporating both functionality into a knife that bears a single blade.
Project Duration: Manufacturing was done in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture. Design was done in Osaka, with frequent visits to Fukui Prefecture for quality control.
Operation Flow: Tomoe-ha fits the right size to use for cutting fruits and sliced cabbages for quick and easy cooking. It is also small enough to fit on a cutting board, making it easy to use in a compact kitchen, thus making the daily routine of cooking easier for the user.
Team Members: Designer: Kairi Eguchi
Image Credits: #1 Kairi Eguchi (Product Designer) Yuma Ono (Assistant Designer), Main Image, 2024. #2 Kairi Eguchi (Product Designer) Yuma Ono (Assistant Designer), Zoom-in, 2024. #3 Tsutomu Ogino (Photographer), Kiwi, 2024. #4 Tsutomu Ogino (Photographer), Carrot, 2024.