Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kisu cha Jikoni by Kairi Eguchi

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kisu cha Jikoni by Kairi Eguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Vyombo vya Kuokea, Mezani, Kunywa na Kupikia Competition Category.

FedhaVyombo vya Jikoni· 2025

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kisu cha Jikoni

by Kairi Eguchi

Client: Hatsu

Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award Winner in Vyombo vya Jikoni Category

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Colors

The Design

About Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kisu cha Jikoni

Hatsu Tomoe-ha ni kisu cha jikoni kinachochanganya kazi za kisu cha matumizi yote na kisu cha kumenya katika ubapa mmoja. Ubapa umekatwa kwa leza kutoka kwa chuma cha pua kisichoshika kutu na kisha kunolewa ili kuwa na ukali wa kudumu. Ubapa una upana wa milimita 40 kwenye msingi na hupungua kuelekea nchani. Mpini umetengenezwa kwa mbao za Hoonoki, ambazo huifanya kisu kuwa chepesi na cha ukubwa mdogo. Umbo la mpini hurahisisha utumiaji wa nguvu, hivyo wapishi wanaoanza wanaweza kutumia kisu kwa urahisi. Ukubwa wake mdogo unafaa jikoni ndogo na hutoshea kwenye ubao wa kukatia.

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award

Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kisu cha Jikoni ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima kubwa ya ajabu unaotolewa kwa miundo ya hali ya juu kabisa, ya kupendeza na ya kuvutia. Washindi wa Fedha ni kazi zinazong'aa mno na bunifu kupita kiasi zinazoonyesha utaalamu bora, kipaji na busara ya wabunifu wao. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kisu cha Jikoni inatarajiwa kuwa kazi nzuri ya kuigwa ambayo ni ya kitaalamu kwa kiasi kikubwa na yenye ubunifu wa kina. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award ni uvumbuzi unaojulikana sana na kupendwa, unaonufaisha na kupanua mipaka ya sanaa, sayansi, usanifu na teknolojia. Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kisu cha Jikoni ni kazi inayotamaniwa mno inayochochea hamu, huleta hisia chanya na huzua mshangao na mastaajabu.

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.