PRESS RELEASE
N O. 1 6 - 1 4 / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6
New HIBI Tableware,
Everyday Basics with
Pleasant Texture
KINTO is introducing new tableware from the collection HIBI, based on the concept
SEPTEMBER 2016 Debut
this was the concept of the HIBI series. The products that your hands unconsciously reach
‘everlasting basics’, in late September 2016 in Japan. Please check with your local contact
for the availability of the products in your country.
'Tableware basics that would be at the core of your everyday life for decades to come' —
for and repeatedly appear on your table give you a special sense of comfort only truly
recognized by touching and using them. The new Japanese tableware, featuring pieces
with varying shades of glaze and wood grain textures, subtly integrate into the modern
dining scene. Each urushi bowl is milled by the hands of a master craftsman to give
shape. With a special method of applying urushi (lacquer) that involves applying, wiping,
Brand message
and reapplying layers, the natural texture of cherry trees shines with a gentle radiance.
HIBI
everyday life;
day by day;
ordinary days;
days and years;
collection of passing moments.
Giving thought to the everyday life.
Never forgetting that we are the end users.
The warmth and kindness one feels in touching
it and using it... grows to be a fond connection.
What we believe is reflected in Hibi, a tableware
series that is simple but can be used through
passing days and years.
Take a moment to choose what feels right for you,
now and decades to come.
Contact : Fukuko Laura Takemoto (Marketing) | Email : [email protected] | www.kinto.co.jp | KINTO Co., Ltd.
PRESS RELEASE
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Product information
The series of Japanese tableware designed for everyday use.
The slightly narrowing base of the rice bowl and urushi bowl fit your
fingers naturally. The plates are slightly deepened in the center
and allows an attractive presentation of dishes. Porcelain pieces
highlight the subtly varying shades of glaze. The urushi bowl made
from cherry trees is carefully given shape and finessed by master
craftspeople. Each shape is milled by hand, and urushi (lacquer)
is applied by a special method that involves applying, wiping, and
reapplying layers.
HIBI rice bowl
HIBI plate 120mm
HIBI plate 200mm
HIBI chopstick rest
HIBI urushi bowl
color: white / black
W45 x D40 x H13 mm
φ120 x H18 mm
φ200 x H25 mm
φ120 x H60 mm
φ115 x H65 mm / 340 ml
[rice bowl, plate, chopstick rest] porcelain / microwave and dishwasher safe
[urushi bowl] cherry (urushi coating)
Designers comment
'Tableware that satisfies the senses with every touch and use.'
ーStaying true to this identity of HIBI, I designed new products that
can be used to enjoy everyday “washoku” (Japanese meals).
When having a Japanese meal, bowls for rice and soup are items
that we take into our hands many times. So in designing their
shapes, I made sure that they fit comfortably in our hands. I also
made the base slightly curving outwards to make them easy to lift
off the table when set upside down. For the plate, it is deepened
in the center just enough so that you can serve grilled fish as well
as boiled fish with broth. With the raised edge, you can fit your
fingers beneath the plate and lift it off the table easily. The plate
and chopstick rest both have a thickness which is ideal for daily
use and adds a characteristic edge. Looking back, I feel that the
rough ceramic ware from Bizen area that I used at home while
growing up served as an inspiration for these designs.
In designing products for everyday use, I believe it is very
important to examine various existing products and find details
that cause discomfort or satisfaction. Finding ways to incorporate
these discoveries is the starting point of my design. I hope that
users can experience this through HIBI tableware. About the Designer Shin Azumi Shin Azumi established London based design company ‘a studio’. Working with
a variety of clients on consumer products, furnitures, lightings, electronics and
audio equipments, his works have gained worldwide recognition and added as the
permanent collections in many museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum (UK),
the Stedelijk Museum (Holland) and the Die Neue Sammlung (Germany). Awards
include several Good Design Awards, Classic Innovation Award, and Restaurant &
Bar Design Awards 2009.
ABOUT KINTO
Established in 1972 in Shiga, Japan, KINTO is
a tableware company that develops original and
OUR STORY
OUR PRODUCTS
–Let your day be filled with what inspires you–
–Usability and aesthetics–
customized products. Launching “atelier tete” in
To slow down and see the beauty of nature.
Products with an ease of use is comforting to all
2013 and “SLOW COFFEE STYLE” in 2014, our
To unwind and feel wholesome with your loved ones.
the senses and tableware with elegant presence
products are recognized and well received not only in
We imagine the scenes that enrich your life
blends naturally with the living space. We value
Japan but also across Europe, Asia, Scandinavia and
to develop and bring you products with
the balance between these two elements to create
the USA.
genuine creativity and thoughtfulness.
products that stand by you in your everyday life.
Contact : Fukuko Laura Takemoto (Marketing) | Email : [email protected] | www.kinto.co.jp | KINTO Co., Ltd.
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HIBI Urushi Bowl
Product Story: HIBI Urushi bowl created by masterful craftsmanship
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'Tableware basics that would be at the
core of your everyday life for decades to
come'—this was the concept of the HIBI
series. The new HIBI urushi (lacquer) bowl
was born out of collaboration among the
KINTO team, product designer Shin Azumi,
and master craftspeople of urushi ware.
The development began by studying afresh
the essence of the traditional Japanese
tableware and putting it into perspective
with the dining scene today. Seeking to
maximize the natural beauty of wood, the
form and finish was done to bring life to
a simple yet exquisitely refined design.
Ishikawa prefecture in Japan is historically
reknowned for its three regions that produce
urushi ware —Yamanaka, Wajima, and
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Kanazawa. To achieve a design that fits
with the concept of HIBI, KINTO worked
with the Yamanaka region which is known
for its techniques that bring out the beauty
of the natural material of wood. The slightly
narrowing base of the bowl is designed to
fit your fingers perfectly and the smooth
continuous line connecting the base to the
top rim gives it a sophisticated presence
that blends well in modern table settings.
The form could not be produced by
machines, so a master wood craftsman
mills each bowl by hand, in a calm and
disciplined manner with a superb control
of hand movement and pressure. It is
then finessed with urushi applied by a
special method called "fukiurushi", which
involves meticulously applying, wiping, and
reapplying layers. By repeating this process
five times, a subtle yet elegant texture
is created.
Enjoy the natural elements of wood and
urushi, the thoughtful design that brings
in these elements into people's daily lives,
and the brilliant craftsmanship that bridges
quality material and design.
1.The bowl after milling.
2.Where milling takes place, surrounded by mountains.
3.High skills and precise hand work is necessary
for milling.
4.Using sandpaper to smoothen the outside
surface of the bowl.
5.Hand made tools used for milling.
6.Mastering the “fukiurushi” technique requires
long experience.
Contact : Fukuko Laura Takemoto (Marketing) | Email : [email protected] | www.kinto.co.jp | KINTO Co., Ltd.