Hatsu Tomoe-ha Icyuma cyo mu Gikoni by Kairi Eguchi

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Icyuma cyo mu Gikoni by Kairi Eguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza in Ibikoresho by'Igikoni Competition Category.

IfezaIbikoresho by'Igikoni· 2025

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Icyuma cyo mu Gikoni

by Kairi Eguchi

Client: Hatsu

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza Winner in Ibikoresho by'Igikoni Category

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The Design

About Hatsu Tomoe-ha Icyuma cyo mu Gikoni

Hatsu Tomoe-ha ni icyuma cyo mu gikoni gihuza imikorere y'icyuma gikoreshwa muri byose n'icyuma gito cyo gukata imbuto n'imboga mu cyuma kimwe. Icyuma cyakaswe hakoreshejwe laser gikozwe mu cyuma kitagira umugese (stainless steel) kandi nyuma gityazwa kugira ngo kigume gityaye igihe kirekire. Ubwaguke bw'icyuma ni milimetero 40 aho gitangirira kandi bugenda bugabanuka kigana ku musozo wacyo. Umukono ukozwe mu giti cya Hoonoki, gituma icyuma kigira uburemere buke kandi kikaba gito. Imiterere y'umukono ituma gukoresha imbaraga byoroha, ku buryo n'abateka bwa mbere bashobora gukoresha icyuma nta ngorane. Ingano ntoya yacyo ibereye amagikoni mato kandi ikwirwa neza ku kibaho cyo gukatiraho.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Icyuma cyo mu Gikoni ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza, ishimwe ridasanzwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo byo ku rwego rwo hejuru, byiza kandi bikora ku mutima. Abegukanye Ifeza ni ibihangano by'ubuhanga bukomeye kandi bifite guhanga kwinshi, bigaragaza ubuhanga bwimbitse, impano n'ubushishozi bw'ababihanze. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Icyuma cyo mu Gikoni biteganyijwe ko izaba igihangano cy'icyitegererezo, gifite ubunyamwuga bukomeye n'udushya twimbitse. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Ifeza ni igihangano kizwi kandi gishimwa, gifasha kugura imbibi z'ubuhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Icyuma cyo mu Gikoni ni igihangano benshi bifuza, gikangura ibyifuzo, gitanga amarangamutima meza kandi gitera igitangaza.

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.