Japanese design studio Nendo has collaborated with traditional manufacturer Hashikura Matsukan to create the Rassen chopsticks, an innovative dining utensil that challenges the conventional paired design of chopsticks. Unlike ordinary chopsticks that come as separate pieces, the Rassen chopsticks function as a single helically-mated unit that can be separated for eating and rejoined when not in use.
The unique design draws inspiration from Kaare Klint's iconic Propeller Stool, which features helical legs that nest together in a similar fashion. The chopsticks represent a fusion of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and modern manufacturing technology, combining the skilled handiwork of local artisans with precision multi-axis CNC milling techniques to achieve their distinctive interlocking form.
The chopsticks are manufactured in Obama, a town in Fukui Prefecture that has been producing lacquered chopsticks for over four centuries. Obama's lacquered chopsticks have earned recognition as the hardest and most beautiful Japanese lacquer chopsticks since the 17th century, when they became renowned under the name Wakasa-nuri. This traditional lacquering technique has been passed down through generations of craftsmen in the region.
Hashikura Matsukan, the manufacturing partner for this project, continues to preserve Obama's traditional manufacturing techniques in the modern era. The collaboration between Nendo and Hashikura Matsukan represents a successful marriage of contemporary design innovation and centuries-old Japanese craftsmanship traditions, resulting in a product that honors cultural heritage while introducing a fresh perspective on everyday dining utensils.
The project was featured as part of Core77's Industrial Design Resources, highlighting the intersection of traditional craft methods and contemporary design thinking. The Rassen chopsticks demonstrate how modern designers can reimagine functional objects while respecting and incorporating time-honored manufacturing processes and cultural traditions.
