Gold Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design · 2023
Sakura Cup
- A' Design Award 2023 Gold Winner in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: Sunsetclimax
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 726,106
- Verification code 5A360C91C8 · Verify this award
About Sakura Cup
He designed the Sakura in order to make efficient use of wooden materials without wasting natural resources. The symmetry shape features curved surfaces that offer a natural both-hands fit and it enhances a beautiful wooden grain. A fine finish of the rim creates a soft reaching to the mouth, which is handmade individually by Japanese traditional craftsmen. The white and beige mixed color rope is decorated as a cup holder with a tiny tied snake knot is an accent of the design not to be simple.
Takanori Urata's Sakura Cup emerges from the rich intersection of traditional Japanese woodworking heritage and contemporary Scandinavian design sensibilities, presenting a drinking vessel that transcends mere functionality to achieve the status of contemplative object. The work demonstrates exceptional technical accomplishment in its lathe-turned construction, where the challenging hourglass profile demands precise tool control and deep understanding of wood behavior under rotational forces. The cherry wood selection proves particularly apt, as this timber species carries profound cultural significance in Japanese aesthetic traditions while offering the practical benefits of fine grain structure, natural antimicrobial properties, and warm chromatic character that deepens beautifully with age and use. The distinctive central flange, projecting outward like stylized cherry blossom petals, serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it provides an intuitive grip point that guides the hand naturally to the vessel's center of balance, creates visual interest through its unexpected geometric intervention, and offers an attachment point for the accompanying braided cord that enables portable carrying. This marriage of sculptural ambition with ergonomic consideration exemplifies the best principles of contemporary craft practice, where aesthetic decisions emerge from and reinforce functional requirements rather than opposing them. The surface treatment achieves that elusive quality sought by woodworkers across cultures: sufficient protection to ensure durability and food safety while preserving the sensory qualities that distinguish wood from other materials, including its warmth to the touch, its subtle natural fragrance, and its visual depth that invites prolonged examination. The cord element, woven in muted cream, grey, and golden tones, introduces textile softness as counterpoint to the wood's firm presence while referencing traditional Japanese packaging and carrying traditions. Viewers might contemplate how this vessel transforms the quotidian act of drinking into an opportunity for mindful appreciation of natural beauty and human craftsmanship.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Takanori Urata studied and finally found how to show the most beautiful wooden grain in the cup. So it looks so smooth like a river. The shape of the cup is easy holding. The design is inspiration from wrapping by the both hands. Its unique shape expresses the love for natural resources. When you use the cup to drink something and it close to your mouth, soft wooden scent flow in the air. White and beige mixed color rope attached as a cup holder. A tiny tied snake knot is an accent of the design not to be too simple. Handmade finished individually. More often you use it, more and more charm it has.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 95mm x Depth 95mm x Height 72mm
volume : 145ml - Tags
- cup, wooden cup, camping gear, product design, kitchen equipment, cherry blossom, thinned wood, sustainable
- Production Technology
- Tochigi in Japan is a blessed land to grow a beautiful and healthy forest while well plan and manage the number of trees by thinning. Skilled carpenters and craftsmen were used to gather to build Nikko Toshogu shrine which is now very popular as a World Heritage site and their skills have taken root in Kanuma, Tochigi. Japanese craftmen made and finished by hand individually. A manufacture of the cup has been challenging environmental issues since 1945. They are passing on Japanese tradition and accurate knowledge to the next generation how wooden materials are important.
- Design Challenge
- Since it suffered Covid pandemic, camping activities has been getting popular in Japan because of well air circulation outside. He believes that a special experience through outdoor activities not only make people relaxed but also make family and friendship ties stronger. He doesn't want to finish this positive movement in a short time so that he is trying to create something high quality and a long life product which fascinates people until this movement becoming a kind of culture.
- Project Duration
- This cup was released in June, 2022, which has been on sale by sunsetclimax in Japan.
- Operation Flow
- There are Sakura trees which are thinned to keep a beautiful and healthy forest while well plan and manage the number of trees. We design Sakura in order to make efficient use of them which have various looking of beautiful grain pattern without wasting those thinned wooden materials. Its shape is just fit in hands and a thin lip of the cup makes a soft touching, which is created by Japanese traditional craftsmanship. A cup handle made by a rope is a beautiful snake knot. While making a cup of tea, we shall start talking about a natural resources which we must hand over to the future generation.
- Research
- People have to cut some trees properly to keep a forest healthy. We should not misunderstand about it. Cutting tree is not a bad behavior if it can be controlled and managed well. There are Sakura trees which are thinned to keep a beautiful and healthy forest while well plan and manage the number of trees. The design, Sakura cup in order to make efficient use of them which have various looking of beautiful grain pattern without wasting those thinned wooden materials. This is the vision he wants to appeal through Sakura cup. Firstly, it took a much time to find a factory that would help produce Sakura cup which was exactly same as his drawing. Because his design looks simple but it is difficult to make it. It have to be made individually with high skilled craftsman's hand made. While carefully sharing his vision with a manufacture, he finally found craftsmen who understood the vision and accepted our deal to start manufacturing Sakura cup.Secondly, it took a lot of time to reach the final design of joint between the detachable handle and the cup. He discussed about the shape with the craftsmen and considered to make the samples. Finally, they made it. Its shape is just fit in hands and a thin lip of the cup makes a soft touching, which is created by Japanese traditional craftsmanship. He thinks that Sakura cup never make it without Japanese craftsmen skill. He wants to serve some tea which is served with Sakura cup in break time. While enjoying tea break, let's start talking about a natural resources which people must hand over to the future generation.
- Inspiration
- Takanori Urata designed it for Japanese outdoor brand, which is called sunsetclimax. They has their own concept, such as a portable villa. As one of their outdoor items, Sakura has a beautiful and exclusive shape to be used in an extraordinarily situation. Sakura must be used in a long time because of its simple and beautiful shape which you never tired of. sunsetclimax is stick to the quality instead of mass production. Products are not only wasted, those must be loved by users. Any natural resources must have a story which impress people to realize how there are so important. He believes a long life product is a best solution against environmental problems. This cup tells the branding story to people use the cup in future.
- Image Credits
- Main image: Takanori Urata (2022)
Optional Image #01: Takanori Urata (2022)
Optional Image #02: Takanori Urata (2022)
Optional Image #03: Takanori Urata (2022)
Optional Image #04: Takanori Urata (2022)
Colors of Sakura Cup
Get Sakura Cup
Award-Winning Product and Package Design Services
We create timeless product designs that exceed expectations. From tableware to packaging, our Tokyo-based studio transforms your vision into elegant, functional designs. With international recognition including A' Design Awards, we bring expertise in creating products that tell your brand's story.
G0E3 ShopDesign Interview about Sakura Cup
I am the designer and president of a camping gear brand called sunsetclimax, and I created this cup as one of the sunsetclimax products.
I designed this cup for campers, many of whom appreciate and enjoy nature, by making effective use of natural resources.
This cup is made from rare thinned cherry trees, which are not easily caught even during the year.
I designed this cup for campers, many of whom appreciate and enjoy nature, by making effective use of natural resources.
This cup is made from rare thinned cherry trees, which are not easily caught even during the year.
We considered what shape would best express the beautiful grain of cherry wood in the simplest possible form.
We also considered the shape to fit in your hand when you hold it.
After much consideration, I came up with this design, which I believe is exactly what I had in mind.
We also considered the shape to fit in your hand when you hold it.
After much consideration, I came up with this design, which I believe is exactly what I had in mind.
I am already selling them under my brand sunsetclimax. My brand is very small, but I want to connect directly with users, so I sell only through direct sales.
I have already received inquiries from many potential buyers, so I am currently working on production.
I have already received inquiries from many potential buyers, so I am currently working on production.
The design itself took 1~2 months to decide on the direction, but after that, we work on finalizing the design while making various adjustments in discussions with the craftsmen and factories that will produce the product. It took about 5 years from the design I envisioned to the actual completion of the design I had in mind.
As I answered in the interview of 01, it is one of the products of my own brand, sunsetclimax, and I designed the cup.
We produce and sell our own products. We are not considering wholesaling to other companies at this time, but will consider it depending on conditions.
There are many wooden cups in the world,
We aimed to create a design that is unique.
In the process of designing,
When you use your hand to drink water
There is a way to put both hands together to make the hand look like a vessel,
The shape of the hands gave me an image of the shape of this cup.
This design fits well when you wrap your hands around it.
We aimed to create a design that is unique.
In the process of designing,
When you use your hand to drink water
There is a way to put both hands together to make the hand look like a vessel,
The shape of the hands gave me an image of the shape of this cup.
This design fits well when you wrap your hands around it.
I have always been influenced by the designs of my mentor, Tokujin Yoshioka.
It is not just about the shape of the appearance or the feel of the material,
I am influenced by the process of realizing the design I have in mind.
There are many difficulties before a design is completed.
I learned from Tokujin Yoshioka the importance of overcoming these difficulties with a strong spirit.
It is not just about the shape of the appearance or the feel of the material,
I am influenced by the process of realizing the design I have in mind.
There are many difficulties before a design is completed.
I learned from Tokujin Yoshioka the importance of overcoming these difficulties with a strong spirit.
Our main target is sunsetclimax users and campers.
Unique shape.
The material used is rare thinned cherry trees.
The woodworking factory in the prefecture where the cherry trees are harvested makes this product.
The combination of these factors makes it different from other products.
The material used is rare thinned cherry trees.
The woodworking factory in the prefecture where the cherry trees are harvested makes this product.
The combination of these factors makes it different from other products.
Simply, we named the raw material, cherry blossoms, SAKURA, which is the Japanese word for cherry blossom.
handwritten sketch
CAD
handwritten sketch
CAD
3D modeling software
3D Printer
Prototype in wood
Up to this point, we have been working on the design.
CAD
handwritten sketch
CAD
3D modeling software
3D Printer
Prototype in wood
Up to this point, we have been working on the design.
Central overhanging shape.
This shape expresses the unique grain of the wood.
This shape expresses the unique grain of the wood.
Located in Tochigi, Japan
To a craftsman in a woodworking factory
We asked for their cooperation in various ways to realize the ideal shape.
To a craftsman in a woodworking factory
We asked for their cooperation in various ways to realize the ideal shape.
During the review phase, we repeated the prototyping process with a 3D printer, and at that point we were able to study the project in considerable detail, so I think we benefited from the advances in technology in that area.
When considering this design, the wooden cups on the market were well researched.
This cup is carved from a block of cherry blossom. It took a lot of effort to create a beautiful, smooth finish.
I have previously applied for and won other international design awards.
Winning an award is also a way for me to connect with myself,
but most of all, it is a great pleasure for me to make my customers happy.
Winning an award is also a way for me to connect with myself,
but most of all, it is a great pleasure for me to make my customers happy.
Every time,
The challenge is to not give up in order to achieve the ideal design.
The challenge is to not give up in order to achieve the ideal design.
A'DESIGN AWARD is a wonderful award that offers very generous support compared to other design awards, and you can sense the strong desire to spread good design to the world.
I would like to continue to apply and challenge myself in the future.
I would like to continue to apply and challenge myself in the future.