Hatsu Tomoe-ha
Kitchen Knife for HATSU
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 combines the best features of the small Santoku knives (all-purpose knives) and petty knives (paring knives). 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.
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Download Press Kit № 163536 Kitchen Knife for HATSU by KAIRI EGUCHI to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
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HATSU Tomoe ha by KAIRI EGUCHI
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Kitchen Knife by KAIRI EGUCHI
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KAIRI EGUCHI HATSU Tomoe ha
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KAIRI EGUCHI Designer Portrait Photo
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HATSUBrand Logo
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Project Overview
Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kitchen Knife has been a Silver winner in the Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design award category in the year 2024 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
KAIRI EGUCHI was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2025, a testament to excellence of their work Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kitchen Knife.
KAIRI EGUCHI Press Releases
Attention press members and journalists: We offer a collection of press releases on KAIRI EGUCHI and their notable work, available for your unrestricted use. Available now: 3 press releases ready for immediate access by journalists.
KAIRI EGUCHI's Hatsu Tomoe-ha Kitchen Knife Wins Silver at 2025 A' Design Award for Innovative Dual Functionality
Osaka-based designer KAIRI EGUCHI has been honored with the Silver A' Design Award 2025 for the Hatsu Tomoe-ha, a compact kitchen knife that uniquely blends the versatility of a small Santoku and the precision of a petty knife, offering an elegant solution for modern, space-conscious kitchens in Japan and beyond.
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