Cross Pod Mkpanaka Na-eguzo Onwe Ya by Koji Sato

Cross Pod Mkpanaka Na-eguzo Onwe Ya by Koji Sato is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ihe Mgbakwunye Ejiji na Njem Competition Category.

BronzIhe Mgbakwunye· 2026

Cross Pod Mkpanaka Na-eguzo Onwe Ya

by Koji Sato

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz Winner in Ihe Mgbakwunye Category

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The Design

About Cross Pod Mkpanaka Na-eguzo Onwe Ya

E mere ngwaahịa a iji mee ka iji mkpanaka otu isi dị mfe karịa. Mgbe a na-eje ije, akụkụ ụkwụ dị na ọnụ mkpanaka ahụ na-emechi, na-enye ohere iji ya rụọ ọrụ ngwa ngwa dịka mkpanaka otu isi nkịtị. Mgbe mmadụ kwụsịrị, ịgbasa ụkwụ ahụ na-eme ka ọ guzosie ike ozugbo. Ụkwụ ndị a na-apịaji, nke e mere ka ha ghara igbochi ije, na-enye nkwado siri ike naanị mgbe achọrọ ya. Ịdị mfe na nhazi mara mma na-eweta obi ụtọ. Nhazi a na-eme ka ọ dị ka ihe karịrị naanị ihe enyemaka ije. Ọ dị ka ngwaahịa na-akwado ụdị ndụ mmadụ.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Cross Pod Mkpanaka Na-eguzo Onwe Ya meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Cross Pod Mkpanaka Na-eguzo Onwe Ya ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Cross Pod Mkpanaka Na-eguzo Onwe Ya na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: CrossPOD is a one point cane stably standable anywhere. Just open its four legs attached to the tip of the cane to allow it stand anywhere in situations you need to have your hands free.
When walking, you can close your legs to use it as a one point cane, allowing you to walk smoothly.
It was small and lightweight, and it was designed so that switching of the legs can be done with simple operation.
The pure one-point cane that can be stand is an unprecedent.
Dimensions & Packaging: Wide: 130mm
Depth: 50mm
Height: min750mm max 970mm /10 level adjustment
Weight: 360g
Material: aluminum,Wood,Resin
Tags: Cane, Health, Care, Wellness, Rehabilitation, Independence, Standing, Walking, #Senior, SDGs, CrossPOD, Onepoint
Production Technology: A one point cane is a portable item, it must be lightweight.
Therefore, complex mechanisms cannot be added.
It also requires simple and easy operation.
Considering this balance, we designed it using a spring and link mechanism.

The result is:
* Simple manual operation/ two actions: twist and slide
* An easy-to-grip handle
* A slim form that doesn't get in the way when closed like a bud before it blooms
* A wide leg span when opened
Furthermore, while maintaining a minimalist overall appearance, we incorporated vivid accent colors to create a fun and enjoyable product.
Design Challenge: The following are important for this product to be enjoyable.

*Comfort
*Stability
*Ease of Use
*Lightweight
*Form
*Cost

However, there are conflicting aspects, so we focused on balancing them when designing.
Research: *Type of Research
Design Proposals for the Ageing Society Ahead.

*Research Objectives
Enriching the lives of those with walking difficulties.

*Methodology
Fun to use!
Make the 1 point cane easier to use.

*Data Collection
Interviews with practitioners, workshops, etc.

*Participants or Experiments
Conducted load testing and other safety verification experiments.

*Results
Perfectly fine.

*Insights and Impacts,
Positive feedback from purchasers.
Design awards and patent contest accolades.
Export track record to Canada, Germany, Thailand,etc.
It is also commonly used as a gift.
Inspiration: A one point cane is the most common tool used to assist with walking.
However, when you want to let go of the cane, the tip is the point, so it is inconvenient because you cannot stand it up.
There are also canes with four rubber tips, but they make it difficult to walk smoothly, are unstable when standing up, and are a little heavy.
So we came up with the idea of solving this problem by adding opening and closing legs to the tip of the cane.
Project Duration: The project started in April 2018 in Oita Japan and was released for sale in Jan 2020.
Following several internal refinements, it evolved into the current model in October 2023.
Operation Flow: Closing the legs allows you to walk smoothly, and opening them when standing.
Opening the legs is a two step operation.
Slightly twist the grip to unlock, and slide the cane towards the tip to open and stand up.
Closing is the reverse operation.
Patents: Patented in Japan.
Patent No.6590177
Patent Holder. KOJI SATO
Year. 2019
Jurisdiction. Japan Patent Office
Image Credits: N/A