Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kichemesser by Kairi Eguchi

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kichemesser by Kairi Eguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award an Sëlwer in Backformen, Dëschgeschier, Drénkgeschier a Kachgeschier Design Competition Category.

SëlwerKichegeschier· 2025

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kichemesser

by Kairi Eguchi

Client: Hatsu

A' Design Award an Sëlwer Winner in Kichegeschier Category

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Verified Award Winner
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Colors

The Design

About Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kichemesser

Hatsu Tomoe-ha ass e Kichemesser, dat d'Funktioune vun engem Allzweckmesser an engem Schielmesser an enger eenzeger Kleng kombinéiert. D'Kleng gëtt mam Laser aus rostbestännegem Edelstol geschnidden an duerno geschlaff, fir eng laang unhalend Schäerft ze garantéieren. D'Kleng ass um Fouss 40 mm breet a gëtt Richtung Spëtzt méi schmuel. De Grëff ass aus Hoonoki-Holz gemaach, wat d'Messer liicht a kompakt hält. D'Form vum Grëff mécht et einfach, Kraaft auszeüben, sou datt och Ufänger an der Kichen d'Messer ouni Problemer benotze kënnen. Déi kleng Gréisst passt gutt a kompakt Kichen a fënnt op engem Schneidbriet Plaz.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award an Sëlwer

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kichemesser ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Sëlwer, enger aussergewéinlech prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un Designe vun der héchster Qualitéit, prächteg a beandrockend vergi gëtt. Sëlwer-Gewënner si bemierkenswäert brillant a ganz kreativ Wierker, déi d'erausragend Expertise, d'Talent an d'Schaarfsënnegkeet vun hire Designer weisen. Et gëtt erwaart, datt Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kichemesser e wonnerbart, mustergëlteg, bemierkenswäert professionellt an déif innovatiivt Wierk ass. Dëst mam Sëlwer ausgezeechent Design ass eng bemierkenswäert, bewonnert Erfindung, déi dozou bäidréit, d'Grenze vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie ze erweideren. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kichemesser ass eng Kreatioun, op déi vill neidesch sinn, déi Wënsch erweckt, positiv Gefiller bréngt an Erstaunen a Wonner erweckt.

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.