SUNAO cutlery emphasizes artisan handwork to express its delicate design, such as the narrow-tapered form and the curves on the handle with a clear attitude that won't accept any compromise in craftsmanship.
Design that Prioritizes "Comfortable Use Defines Ease of Eating"
SUNAO cutlery was created in 2004 when Tsubame Shinko Industrial Co., Ltd. asked a creative team in Osaka named "graf" to design the products. The graf's product designers spent a year turning the concept into a product and created a design that prioritizes "Comfortable use that defines ease of eating (convenience)."
Design Sketches During Development
The graf designer who was responsible for the development mentions, "We considered a form that would associate everything with comfortable use, including tongue texture, effortlessness, and safety, since they go into your mouth. For instance, the handle's thickness and the dome-shaped underside contribute to these features. Enjoy setting your table and the importance of everyday activities (time) that make the dining experience delicious and fun. We created the cutlery, intending to realize something that won't get in the way of tasting or having a conversation, or let you forget you're using them (to be unconscious of them)."
Sunao Dinner Spoon
The dinner spoon's center (center of the round tip) is shifted toward the handle for a shallow and flat form toward the edge. This is to achieve a smooth touch and effortlessness.
Sunao Dinner Knife
The dinner knife features a shortened blade tip that even allows freedom of small hand movement on small plates, as if it's a part of your fingertips. The dinner knife was designed with an emphasis on placing your index finger on the section that separates the blade and handle when held. This section has a form that keeps the blade elevated when placed on the table so that it doesn't touch the surface. It was created with functionality and durability as an item in mind, along with ease of care. It was designed with consideration for long use.
Tsubame Shinko Industrial's Artisan Skills
Tsubame Shinko Industrial Co., Ltd. started manufacturing knives in Niigata prefecture's Tsubame city in 1919, one of the largest metal-processing regions that is known worldwide for its high techniques and artisan skills. It is currently a multi-functional manufacturer with basic businesses of traffic mirrors (installed at blind spots on the road) and road signs that utilize "polishing technology" that it accumulated through creating cutlery, instead of specializing only in metal cutlery. Particularly, the third president is working with front-line designers to develop many high-quality design cutlery. Despite being mass-produced, they emphasize hand work by artisans to express their delicate designs while keeping a clear attitude that won't accept any compromise in craftsmanship. For instance, the metal artisans' awareness of creativity and skills are maintained at a very high level, such as by repolishing half of the entire batch in one inspection.
