Utsuroi Ipakheji Yesake by Maho Sekizuka

Utsuroi Ipakheji Yesake by Maho Sekizuka is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lwePakheji Competition Category.

IsilivereIpakheji· 2025

Utsuroi Ipakheji Yesake

by Maho Sekizuka

Client: Takeda Shuzo Co., Ltd.

Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award Winner in Ipakheji Category

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Colors

The Design

About Utsuroi Ipakheji Yesake

Eli seti yeebhotile ezintathu zesake ye-Daiginjo ezibudala ibonisa ipakheji ye-slit-animation edityaniswe nobugcisa bemveli baseJapan. Ileyibhile eshukumayo ityhila iminyaka yokubruwisha—2004, 2012, no-2019—ngelixa ukuvula ibhokisi kumelela inkqubo yokubudala kwesake. Ivarnishi ecacileyo kunye nezitywino zefoloyi yesilivere zigxininisa imibala ye-amber yomhlobo ngamnye. Ngokulinganisela i-minimalism kunye nokusebenza kakuhle kweendleko, uyilo lugxininisa ubuhle bendalo besake kwaye lushiya impembelelo ehlala ixesha elide.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award

Utsuroi Ipakheji Yesake ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo ngokungaqhelekanga okunikwa imiyilo yomgangatho ophezulu, entle nechukumisayo. Abaphumeleleyo beSilivere ziimveliso ezikhazimlayo kakhulu nezidala kakhulu ezibonisa ubungcali obuphawulekayo, italente nobukrelekrele babayili bazo. Utsuroi Ipakheji Yesake iyathenjwa ukuba ibe ngumsebenzi omhle womzekelo, onobungcali obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha ezinzulu. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award yimveliso ebonakalayo kakhulu, ethandwayo enceda kwaye inyusa imida yobugcisa, inzululwazi, uyilo kunye nobuchwephesha. Utsuroi Ipakheji Yesake yimveliso enomona omkhulu kuyo evusa iinqwenelo, izisa iimvakalelo ezintle kwaye ivuselela ukumangaliswa nokumangala.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This set of three Daiginjo aged sake bottles features innovative slit animated packaging with changing logos to indicate the brewing years 2004, 2012, and 2019. Opening the box reflects the flow of time. The bottle seal highlights the progression of years using varnish and silver foil. The design emphasizes the amber color of sake, deepening with each vintage, adding a new layer of enjoyment to the sake experience.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 300 mm x Depth 232 mm x Height 64 mm
Tags: GraphicDesign, Utsuroi, PackageDesign, Branding, Sake, VintageSake, Katafune, Joetsu, Niigata, Japan
Production Technology: Specifications: Double printed with black ink + OP varnish. Gift box: Double printed with black ink + OP varnish. Material: PP transparent 0.25. Gift box: CB 270g/EF (single-sided white, C5).
Design Challenge: Achieving new concepts involved trial and error, applying slit animation to evoke the passage of time. Cost management balanced high-end design and budget limitations through careful material selection. The box design ensures ample white space and durability. Offset printing with double sumi ink achieved deep black sleeve animation. Bottle seal varnish highlights the vintage's amber beauty, fine-tuned for gloss. Packaging focuses on enriching the user’s luxurious sake experience.
Research: This research explores innovative packaging that transcends traditional boundaries, enriching the sake experience. Slit animation symbolizes time's passage upon opening, with varnish and silver foil on bottle seals highlighting the amber beauty of vintages. Stripping away decorations, the design emphasizes sake’s intrinsic charm. By balancing costs with luxury, it delivers exclusivity, ideal for gifting and creating memorable moments.
Inspiration: This product, limited to just 100 sets, aims to create a striking package that avoids classical styles and remains free from conventional constraints. It is designed to allow sake enthusiasts to focus on the tasting experience and fully enjoy a luxurious time for themselves. The package subtly communicates that it contains a set of sake from three different vintages. Despite keeping printing and processing costs low, the package maintains a significant presence suitable for gifting. These conditions, including the naming, were all carefully considered in the design.
Project Duration: This product was released on Friday, November 19, 2021, in a limited edition of 100 sets by Takeda Shuzo in Ogata, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.
Operation Flow: Using the principle of slit animation, opening the sleeve showcases the brewing years shifting from 2004 to 2012 and then to 2019. This conveys the concept of the passage of time from the moment the box is opened. The seals on the bottles represent the flow of time through the use of varnish and silver foil. The design eliminates decorations to emphasize the amber color of the sake, which becomes richer with each vintage.
Image Credits: Image #1: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Image #2: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Image #3: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Image #4: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Image #5: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Video Credits: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.