Soroban Colette
Abacus for Asahi Printing Co., Ltd.
Previously, the abacus had square corners, but it has been reborn having a gentler design featuring rounded corners so that children can use it without worrying about damaging something with the item. The design does not use screws, nails, or adhesive, making it a safe product for younger children. By having a variety of colors that children like, the options have expanded. Additionally, the number of parts has been reduced by 40%, making manufacturing simpler and more efficient.
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Soroban Colette by Toshihiko Sakai
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Abacus by Toshihiko Sakai
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Toshihiko Sakai Soroban Colette
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Toshihiko Sakai Abacus
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Toshihiko Sakai Designer Portrait Photo
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Asahi Printing Co Ltd Brand Logo
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Soroban Colette Abacus Press Releases
For Soroban Colette, find press releases in a variety of languages: English.
Soroban Colette Abacus Translations
Offering a diversity of language options for Soroban Colette translations: Telraam AF, Abak SQ, አባከስ AM, المعداد AR, Աբակուս HY, গণনাফলক AS, Abakus AZ, Abakoa EU, Абак BE, অ্যাবাকাস BN, Abakus BS, Сметало BG, ပေါင်းတန်း MY, Àbac CA, Abakus CEB, Chowerenga NY, Abaco CO, Abakus HR, Počítadlo CS, Kugleramme DA, Telraam NL, Abako EO, Arvelaud ET, Helmitaulu FI, Boulier FR, Àbacas GD, Ábaco GL, აბაკუსი KA, Abakus DE, Άβακας EL, Abaco GN, અબેકસ GU, Abak HT, Abakus HA, Papa Helu HAW, חשבונייה HE, अबेकस HI, Lub Lej Zauv HMN, Abakusz HU, Talnagrind IS, Abakọs IG, Sempoa ID, Ábacas GA, Abaco IT, そろばん JA, Sempoa JV, ಅಬಾಕಸ್ KN, Шот KK, គណូរ KM, Ikigabiro RW, چووچەڵە KU, Эсептегич KY, ລູກຄິດ LO, Abacus LA, Skaitīklis LV, Abakus LT, Abakus LB, Сметалка MK, Abakiosy MG, Sempoa MS, അബാക്കസ് ML, Abaku MT, Taupapa Tatau MI, अबेकस MR, Самбар MN, गणनाफट्टी NE, Kuleramme NO, Kuleramme NB, Abac OC, ଆବାକସ୍ OR, شمیره PS, چرتکه FA, Liczyدły PL, Ábaco PT, ਐਬਾਕਸ PA, Yupana QU, Abac RO, Счёты RU, Abacus SM, गणनायन्त्रम् SA, Abakus SR, Abacus SN, اباکس SD, ගණකය SI, Počítadlo SK, Abakus SL, Abakus SO, Abakusi ST, Ábaco ES, Sempoa SU, Abakasi SW, Kulram SV, Abakus TL, Чўпчоқ TG, அபாகஸ் TA, Абакус TT, అబాకస్ TE, ลูกคิด TH, རྩིས་ཐིག BO, መቑጸሪ TI, Abaküs TR, Çotga TK, Рахівниця UK, گِنتارا UR, چوت UG, Cho'tka UZ, Bàn Tính VI, Abacws CY, Telrek FY, I-abakasi XH, רעכנבריטל YI, Ẹ̀rọ Ìkà YO, I-Abacus ZU, Abacus EN, to suit your project's needs.
Soroban Colette Abacus Media Articles
For immediate use: Soroban Colette articles, available in languages such as Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Korean, Arabic (Standard), Hindi, German, Spanish, Turkish, Indonesian, Dutch, Italian and English, to enrich your content.
Unique Properties
Previously, the abacus had square corners, but it has been reborn to gentler design having rounded corners so that children can use it without worrying about damaging something with the item. The design does not use screws, nails, or adhesive, making it a highly safe product for younger children. By having a variety of colors that children like, the options have expanded. Additionally, the number of parts has been reduced by 40%, making manufacturing simpler and more efficient.
Tags
pop, colette, eco, 20 digit, colorful
Production Technology
Traditionally, abacuses were made from hard, heavy wood such as boxwood, which are endangered species and hard to obtain. Over 60% of the product weight is of upcycled materials. By integrally molding the beam and shaft parts like a fishbone, we succeeded in reducing the number of parts by more than 30% compared to conventional products. With all the efforts combined, we have established manufacturing that does not rely too much on individual craftmen.
Design Challenge
A modern arrangement has been added without disrupting the traditional use of the abacus. Additionally, since it will be used by children, we aimed for a safe design with no angular corners and no screws or nails. The most time-consuming task was to come up with a frame structure that integrated the beam and shaft in order to reduce man-hours. In terms of materials, from a sustainability perspective, we had to maintain enough strength while using recycled resin, which was a challenge.
Project Duration
The project was started in January, 2021, and was completed in April, 2024, It took 3 years for us to reserch and realize an ideal product.
Operation Flow
An abacus is designed to make it easy to understand the decimal system, with each column representing one digit. The thing that runs horizontally and divides the bead into one and four parts is called a beam. The beads at the top of it are called 5-beads, and correspond to five beads at the bottom. Use your thumb to move a 1-bead, and your index finger to move the rest. With this small abacus, users can add, subtract, multiply, and divide.
Research
The traditional manufacturing of abacuses is a cottage industry, involving nearly 200 steps, each of which is highly specialized, requiring a large number of workers to manufacture one abacus. Due to the decrease in successors, the production volume has dropped to about 150,000 per year, about one-twentieth from the peak of 3 million abacuses, making it difficult for abacus schools to secure the necessary quantities. In addition, the raw material ebony is dependent on imports, and domestic boxwood is rated as endangered on the Fukuoka Prefecture Red List, making it depleted and in need of protection.
Inspiration
The abacus was introduced to Japan as calculator 450 years ago, and is popular even today as a traditional skill learning and brain training for children. However, as the design variations are limited because it is made of wood and traditional manufacturing process, children are currently unable to choose one that suits their preference. Manufacturing sites are facing problems such as aging of craftsmen, lack of successors, and less materials, and this shows the possibility that traditional abacus education will be reduced due to the shortage of abacuses, “sorobans” in Japanese. It is also required that newly developed products are eco-friendly.
Image Credits
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Project Overview
Soroban Colette Abacus has been a Bronze winner in the Art and Stationery Supplies Design award category in the year 2024 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Bronze Recognition
Toshihiko Sakai was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2025, a testament to excellence of their work Soroban Colette Abacus.
Toshihiko Sakai Press Releases
Journalists and media members can enrich their content with our press releases on Toshihiko Sakai, available for free use. Unlock 1 press releases now, directly accessible to journalists.
Toshihiko Sakai's Soroban Colette Wins Bronze A' Design Award for Eco-Friendly, Child-Centric Abacus Innovation
On April 2024 in Shibuya, Japan, designer Toshihiko Sakai unveiled Soroban Colette, a modern, eco-conscious abacus reimagined for children, which has just been honored with the Bronze A' Art and Stationery Supplies Design Award 2025 for its sustainable materials, safety features, and vibrant design that revitalizes traditional Japanese learning tools.
Toshihiko Sakai Newsroom
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