Hatsu Tomoe-ha Mpeni wa Kukhitchini by Kairi Eguchi

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Mpeni wa Kukhitchini by Kairi Eguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award in Mapangidwe a Zophikira, Zodyera, Makopo ndi Zophikira Competition Category.

SilivaZida za Kukhitchini· 2025

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Mpeni wa Kukhitchini

by Kairi Eguchi

Client: Hatsu

Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award Winner in Zida za Kukhitchini Category

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The Design

About Hatsu Tomoe-ha Mpeni wa Kukhitchini

Hatsu Tomoe-ha ndi mpeni wa kukhitchini womwe umaphatikiza ntchito za mpeni wogwiritsira ntchito zosiyanasiyana ndi mpeni wosenda mu tsamba limodzi. Tsamba lake limadulidwa ndi laser kuchokera ku chitsulo chosapanga dzimbiri (stainless steel) ndipo kenako limanoledwa kuti likhale lakuthwa kwa nthawi yaitali. Tsamba lake lili ndi m'lifupi mwa 40 mm pansi pake ndipo limacheperachepera kupita kunsonga. Chogwirira chake chimapangidwa ndi matabwa a Hoonoki, omwe amasunga mpeni kukhala wopepuka komanso waung'ono. Mapangidwe a chogwirira amapangitsa kuti kugwiritsa ntchito mphamvu kukhale kosavuta, kotero kuti ophika oyamba kumene angagwiritse ntchito mpeni mosavuta. Kukula kwake kochepa kumayenerana ndi makhitchini ang'onoang'ono ndipo umakwanira pa bolodi lodulira.

The Recognition

About the Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Mpeni wa Kukhitchini ndi mmodzi mwa opambana a Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award, kuzindikirika kolemekezeka modabwitsa komwe kumaperekedwa kwa mapangidwe a pamwamba, okongola ndi ochititsa chidwi. Opambana a Siliva ndi ntchito zowala kwambiri ndi zolenga kwambiri zomwe zimaonetsa ukatswiri, luso ndi nzeru zakuthwa za opanga awo. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Mpeni wa Kukhitchini akuyembekezeka kukhala ntchito yodabwitsa yoonetsedwa, yaukatswiri wapadera ndi yatsopano kwambiri. Mapangidwe opambana Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award awa ndi chopangidwa chodziwika kwambiri ndi choyamikiridwa chomwe chimapindulitsa ndi kukulitsa malire a luso, sayansi, kapangidwe ndi ukadaulo. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Mpeni wa Kukhitchini ndi cholengedwa chomwe anthu ambiri amachichitira nsanje, chomwe chimadzutsa zilakolako, kubweretsa maganizo abwino ndi kuyatsa kudabwa ndi chidwi.

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.