Cross Pod Inkoni Yihagarara Yonyine by Koji Sato

Cross Pod Inkoni Yihagarara Yonyine by Koji Sato is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Igishushanyo cy'Ibindi Bikoresho Competition Category.

BuronzeIbindi Bikoresho· 2026

Cross Pod Inkoni Yihagarara Yonyine

by Koji Sato

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Ibindi Bikoresho Category

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Colors

The Design

About Cross Pod Inkoni Yihagarara Yonyine

Iki gicuruzwa cyakozwe kugira ngo gikoreshe inkoni y'ingingo imwe mu buryo bworoshye kurushaho. Mu gihe cyo kugenda, igice cy'amaguru kiri ku musongo w'inkoni gifunga, bigatuma ikoreshwa mu buryo bworoshye nk'inkoni isanzwe y'ingingo imwe. Iyo uhagaze, gukwirakwiza amaguru bituma ihagarara neza kandi ako kanya. Amaguru azinga, yakozwe mu buryo budabangamira kugenda, atanga inkunga ihamye gusa igihe bikenewe. Ubworoherane n'igishushanyo mbonera cy'ubuhanga bizana ibyishimo. Iri shusho rituma bigaragara nk'ibirenze igikoresho cyo kugenda gusa. Byumvikana nk'igicuruzwa gishyigikira imibereho.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Cross Pod Inkoni Yihagarara Yonyine ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. Cross Pod Inkoni Yihagarara Yonyine biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. Cross Pod Inkoni Yihagarara Yonyine ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

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