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C   Photo / KINTO




                                                                                                                             Bringing Inspirations



                                                                                                                                            to Daily Life








                                                                                                                                                    KINTO’S SLOW LIFESTYLE





                                                                                                                             N        amiko Kajitani is a flower designer in   “All of our products have a subtle elegance, de-
                                                                                                                                      Japan, who recently worked on styling
                                                                                                                                                                    signed to blend in harmoniously with the living
                                                                                                                                      for KINTO’s new product launch ex-
                                                                                                                                                                        In such ways, KINTO’s presence has ‘touched
                                                                                                                                      hibition. If you click open her story   space while adding a unique touch.”
                                                                                                                             page on the Journal section of the company’s   up’ many of our life moments.
                                                                                                                             website, you will be amazed at how beautiful her
                                                                                                                             works are until you notice: KINTO is in the frame   A Balance of Usability and Aesthetics
                                                                                                                             too. By expanding its designs into lifestyle acces-
                                                                                                                             sories, such as plant pots, KINTO can be seen in   The consistency in design in KINTO flows
                                                                                                                             more daily scenes nowadays, from homes to cof-  across the categories and lines of product. A
                                                                                                                             fee/tea shops, florists, and even gyms (its colorful   balance between usability and aesthetics is em-
                                                                                                                             WORKOUT BOTTLE). This is a big advance from   phasized in all products. “We believe that busi-
                                                                                                                             its very first days back in 1972 when KINTO was   ness and home users appreciate that,” Takemoto
                                                                                                                             a wholesaler of tableware.             pointed out. Many people may wonder, what
                                                                                                                                 Since it set out to design its own products,   makes a KINTO mug different from all the other
                                                                                                                             KINTO’s brand image has been getting stronger   mugs? The answer is usability. She explained:
                                                                                                                             both in Japan and worldwide.           “We believe in products that are easy to use
                                                                                                                                 In Tokyo, a dedicated store opened recently   daily; human movements such as holding, pour-
                                                                                                                             to visitors as a bid to “express the comfort and   ing, and drinking are carefully considered in the
                                                                                                                             richness in our daily life that we value,” explained   design details.” For example, the functionality of
                                                                                                                             Laura Takemoto from the Communications De-  FARO dripper lies in the single hole  at  its  flat
                                                                                                                             partment at KINTO. From time to time, the place   bottom, which helps to limit the flow rate and brew
                                                                                                                             is also deployed as a venue for displays and work-  a better cup. The matching mug to be placed under
                                                                                                                             shops.  For  example,  a  tea  demonstration  by  Mr   the dripper is perfect for 1-serving brew, a best pal
                                                                                                                             Onishi, owner of tea shop Uf-fu, was held there   on a busy morning or simply for a coffee break.
                                                                                                                             last month.                                Across the lines, you may notice the changes
                                                                                                                                 Aspiring to enrich daily life and help people   of designs and materials. According to Takemoto,
                                                                                                                             to embrace a thoughtful yet casual lifestyle, KIN-  the product development team works on product
                                                                                                                             TO’s passion to create products that bring comfort   concepts, and thinks about the feeling of enrich-
                                                                                                                             and inspiration has attracted users from all back-  ment and comfort they wish to convey through
                                                                                                                             grounds and from different regions. Takemoto said:   different forms, materials, and textures.









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