1RIN turns the number 1 into single-stem jars made all over Japan
Developed by Tokyo-based design firm KUManoTE, 1RIN is a collection of single-stem vases based on the shape of the number 1. The project originated from the idea of placing a flower in a single vessel, using the figure as a common design framework through which different materials, local traditions and construction techniques could be explored.
The inaugural collection brings together three styles Japanese craftsmanship: Hasmi porcelain from Nagasaki Prefecture, Takaoka bronze casting from Toyama and Yakumo Prefectures wood carving from Hokkaido. While every vessel follows the same numerical silhouettethe character of the object changes according to the properties of the material and the production methods associated with each of its regions Japan.
all images courtesy of KUManoTE / Hideyuki Kumagai
a common numerical form links three local craft traditions
The porcelain version, produced in Hasami, presents a refined white surface that emphasizes the relationship between the vessel and a single stem. Its understated form and neutral appearance allow the flower to remain the focal point while emphasizing the clarity of the numerical shape. The bronze version is made using traditional casting techniques from Takaoka, an area recognized for its metallurgical heritage. The material introduces a greater sense of weight and surface variation, allowing the object to develop a changing patina through handling and use over time. In Hokkaido, the design is reinterpreted through Yakumo woodcarving techniques. Known for its woodcarving tradition of the bear, the area contributes a distinctive approach to surface treatment, incorporating relief cuts and carved details. Rather than referring to figurative motifs, the wooden versions focus on translating these carving techniques into the abstract form of the number 1.
Each vase is approximately 111mm tall, extending the numerical concept beyond the object’s silhouette and into its dimensions. Through this consistent form, the collection shows how a single geometric form can be transformed through different materials, production processes and local craft traditions. Combining a common design language with diverse construction methods, KUManoTE’s 1RIN design studio it functions as both a flower vase and a framework for exploring contemporary applications of Japanese craftsmanship. The work highlights how material, technique and place can create distinct interpretations of the same form while maintaining a common conceptual basis.
the first collection brings together Hasami porcelain, Takaoka bronze and Yakumo woodcarving
the porcelain version has a clean, quiet presence designed for everyday interiors
a small opening at the top allows a single flower to stand within the figure-shaped form
