Sakura カップ by Takanori Urata is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award 金賞 in ベイクウェア・テーブルウェア・ドリンクウェア・クックウェアデザイン Competition Category.

金キッチン用品· 2023

Sakura カップ

by Takanori Urata

Client: Sunsetclimax

A' Design Award 金賞 Winner in キッチン用品 Category

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Colors

The Design

About Sakura カップ

彼は天然資源を無駄にすることなく、木材を有効活用することを目的として「Sakura」をデザインしました。左右対称の曲面形状は両手に自然にフィットし、美しい木目を引き立てます。日本の伝統工芸士が一つ一つ手作りした、口あたりの柔らかな口当たりを生み出す繊細なリム仕上げ。ホワイトとベージュのミックスカラーのロープをカップホルダーとしてあしらい、小さく結ばれたスネークノットがシンプルにならないデザインのアクセントになっています。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 金賞

Sakura カップは、まさに素晴らしく傑出した第一級のデザインに授与される、計り知れないほど権威ある評価である A' Design Award 金賞の受賞作品です。金賞の受賞作品は、きわめて革新的で、先見性に富み、きらびやかに輝く創造物であり、デザイナーの天才性、叡智、卓越した技量を映し出しています。Sakura カップは、最も称賛される、流行を牽引する記念碑的な発明であり、前例のない価値をもたらすことが期待されます。この A' Design Award 金賞を受賞したデザインは、壮観で尊敬されるプロジェクトであり、芸術・科学・デザイン・技術の境界に大きく寄与し、それを前進させます。Sakura カップは、強い欲求を生み出し、情熱を呼び覚まし、創造性を促し、私たちを引きつけます。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Takanori Urata studied and finally found how to show the most beautiful wooden grain in the cup. So it looks so smooth like a river. The shape of the cup is easy holding. The design is inspiration from wrapping by the both hands. Its unique shape expresses the love for natural resources. When you use the cup to drink something and it close to your mouth, soft wooden scent flow in the air. White and beige mixed color rope attached as a cup holder. A tiny tied snake knot is an accent of the design not to be too simple. Handmade finished individually. More often you use it, more and more charm it has.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 95mm x Depth 95mm x Height 72mm
volume : 145ml
Tags: cup, wooden cup, camping gear, product design, kitchen equipment, cherry blossom, thinned wood, sustainable
Production Technology: Tochigi in Japan is a blessed land to grow a beautiful and healthy forest while well plan and manage the number of trees by thinning. Skilled carpenters and craftsmen were used to gather to build Nikko Toshogu shrine which is now very popular as a World Heritage site and their skills have taken root in Kanuma, Tochigi. Japanese craftmen made and finished by hand individually. A manufacture of the cup has been challenging environmental issues since 1945. They are passing on Japanese tradition and accurate knowledge to the next generation how wooden materials are important.
Design Challenge: Since it suffered Covid pandemic, camping activities has been getting popular in Japan because of well air circulation outside. He believes that a special experience through outdoor activities not only make people relaxed but also make family and friendship ties stronger. He doesn't want to finish this positive movement in a short time so that he is trying to create something high quality and a long life product which fascinates people until this movement becoming a kind of culture.
Research: People have to cut some trees properly to keep a forest healthy. We should not misunderstand about it. Cutting tree is not a bad behavior if it can be controlled and managed well. There are Sakura trees which are thinned to keep a beautiful and healthy forest while well plan and manage the number of trees. The design, Sakura cup in order to make efficient use of them which have various looking of beautiful grain pattern without wasting those thinned wooden materials. This is the vision he wants to appeal through Sakura cup. Firstly, it took a much time to find a factory that would help produce Sakura cup which was exactly same as his drawing. Because his design looks simple but it is difficult to make it. It have to be made individually with high skilled craftsman's hand made. While carefully sharing his vision with a manufacture, he finally found craftsmen who understood the vision and accepted our deal to start manufacturing Sakura cup.Secondly, it took a lot of time to reach the final design of joint between the detachable handle and the cup. He discussed about the shape with the craftsmen and considered to make the samples. Finally, they made it. Its shape is just fit in hands and a thin lip of the cup makes a soft touching, which is created by Japanese traditional craftsmanship. He thinks that Sakura cup never make it without Japanese craftsmen skill. He wants to serve some tea which is served with Sakura cup in break time. While enjoying tea break, let's start talking about a natural resources which people must hand over to the future generation.
Inspiration: Takanori Urata designed it for Japanese outdoor brand, which is called sunsetclimax. They has their own concept, such as a portable villa. As one of their outdoor items, Sakura has a beautiful and exclusive shape to be used in an extraordinarily situation. Sakura must be used in a long time because of its simple and beautiful shape which you never tired of. sunsetclimax is stick to the quality instead of mass production. Products are not only wasted, those must be loved by users. Any natural resources must have a story which impress people to realize how there are so important. He believes a long life product is a best solution against environmental problems. This cup tells the branding story to people use the cup in future.
Project Duration: This cup was released in June, 2022, which has been on sale by sunsetclimax in Japan.
Operation Flow: There are Sakura trees which are thinned to keep a beautiful and healthy forest while well plan and manage the number of trees. We design Sakura in order to make efficient use of them which have various looking of beautiful grain pattern without wasting those thinned wooden materials. Its shape is just fit in hands and a thin lip of the cup makes a soft touching, which is created by Japanese traditional craftsmanship. A cup handle made by a rope is a beautiful snake knot. While making a cup of tea, we shall start talking about a natural resources which we must hand over to the future generation.
Image Credits: Main image: Takanori Urata (2022)
Optional Image #01: Takanori Urata (2022)
Optional Image #02: Takanori Urata (2022)
Optional Image #03: Takanori Urata (2022)
Optional Image #04: Takanori Urata (2022)