A fascinating eraser from Japan.
This eraser is a 2 x 2 x 5 block of 10mm sided cubes, with half the cubes scooped out.
There is apparently a “big brother” U800 with 15mm cubes, and a version with a strap, for attachment to a cell phone. I’m not making that up.
It is intriguing and geometric. The many corners and edges and scoops create interesting shadows, and make it very eye catching. Yet, it remains just an eraser.
Introduced in 2003, the eraser is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, and was featured in a 2004 exhibition, “Humble Masterpieces”.
The eraser was designed by Hideo Kanbara as an entry in a competition held by Kokuyo.
It is also a commercial success, having sold over 6.5 million erasers in the first three years after the launch.
The Kokuyo website says the eraser has 28 edges. Of course, they mean corners. External corners in particular.
I was curious about what else Hideo Kanbara has designed. While there are a few concept drawings on the web, an intriguing “plug pin” was the only other commercially offered item that I found.
Links:
Official Kadokeshi website
Kadokeshi in the Museum of Modern Art
The plug pin by Hideo Kanbara