Classic design of Japan that has not changed for over 50 years, Kikkoman's "Sho-yu desk top bottle" birth announcement story

On March 30, 2018, the "soy sauce desk top bottle" that Kikkoman has been selling without changing its shape for more than 50 years is managed by the Patent OfficeI received a registration of "three-dimensional trademark". From the appearance of the gentle side that connects from the widened foundation and the appearance of the red cap attached to the top, even if anyone sees it "Really soy sauce", it can be understood reflexively, deeply entering people's lives is. Bloomberg, an American telecommunications giant, has summarized how this soy sauce desk bottle was born with a movie.

The Soy Sauce Bottle Designed to Bring Happiness - YouTube


Kikkoman 's soy sauce tabletop bottle was born, and dates back to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.


You will design the bottle laterEikuan KenjiMr. was 16 years old at that time, when he was dropped the atomic bomb, he was away from his parents Hiroshima and was at Naval Academy in Etajima. Mr. Yugaku returned to Hiroshima in order to inherit the trace of his father who died of an atomic bomb at his parents' house and entered the way of monks for a while for a while.


In the eyes of Mr. Egaku who returned to Hiroshima, in contrast with the Japanese who was in trouble with supplies, in the form of soldiers of the resident forces who also gave gum and chocolate on a jeep. Based on this experience, Mr. Egakuan began to adore "goods" and "happiness" brought about by "Mr. Egakuan", and eventually he came to advance to the design world.


Kikkoman's soy sauce tabletop bottle designed by Mr. Eikuan came out in 1961 (1960). It will lead to a huge hit by receiving the concept that it was not easy to use easily.


In Japan at that time, soy sauce was sold in a big bottle etc and it was common to be used in a small soy sauce at home.


It was the design of Mr. Ejikuan that changed this common sense. Three years after the concept passed through over 100 prototypes, finally the soy sauce table bottle was released in 1961.


The bottom is wide and the neck part is constricted to the shape based on Japanese traditional container, "Toguri (Tokutoshi)" used when drinking sake.


This shape increases stability, so there is a merit that it is difficult for the desk to collapse. In addition, it is said that aims such as "easy to hold and easy to pour" and "beauty when pouring in hand" are included in this shape.


The angle of 60 degrees is attached to the pouring spout, and by attaching the notch downwards, realizing the merit of "out of liquid" that the soy sauce does not drip even after use. That is why the design has been given excellent looks and usability.



Mr. Eikuan has since worked as a pioneer in Japanese industrial designers and has retained numerous designs.


Yamaha's first motorcycle car of the world to be released "YA-1"Used in Akita Shinkansen" Komachi "Shinkansen E3 trainMr. Egaku has been involved in numerous designs, such as railroad cars such as JR Chuo Line and Narita Express, symbol marks in Tokyo.


Now Kikkoman Soy Sauce has been exported to over 100 countries worldwide.


Also in 2015, Kikkoman's soy sauce tabletop bottle will be on display at the Museum of Modern Art, New York (MoMA). Mr. Egakuan who designed a soy sauce desk top bottle that can be said to be an iconic exactly left this world at the age of 85 in February 2015.


For details on the social background and circumstances of Mr. Egakuan et al. Leading to the design of soy sauce desk top bottle, please see the following link details in detail.

Nippon · Longseller Consider vol.008 Kikkoman Soy Sauce Desk Bottle | OMZINE by ntt Comware
http://www.nttcom.co.jp/comzine/no008/long_seller/