Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2010
Photos by Julio Shiiki
Few of the products featured in this column have caused as much of a stir around the Metropolis office as the Kasana did. Then again, when you’re sticking an authentic samurai sword handle on an umbrella, you’re probably asking for trouble—or, at the least, some spectacularly poor Seven Samurai impersonations. This is no mere novelty item, either: the handle in question is crafted by real-life katana makers in Gifu prefecture, and has a satisfying heft to it. Just try not to break anything, eh? Much as we dig the 108cm “Godzilla” model (pictured), the handbag-friendly 35cm Kasana Mini trumps it for practicality.
Kasana, ¥7,000-¥8,400. Available from True Beyond Design (www.truebeyonddesign.com)
