[Seto, Aichi] "Katamukete Neko Chawan (Multi-angle Cat Bowl)" Made by Pottery Chikudouen!

"Chikudouen" is a pottery manufacturer located in Seto City, Aichi. With the motto of "enjoying your daily meals with high-quality ceramic tableware," the company mainly manufactures and sells "children's tableware" that is both cute and functional.

Chikudouen has put together the techniques they have acquired over the years to create a bowl for cats. The "Katamukete Neko Chawan (multi-angle cat bowl)" took more than two years to develop, and is packed with all the requests from users who wished for something like it.

Editorial Team, being cat lovers, also wanted to get their hands on a "Tilt Cat Bowl" so we visited the store and factory in Seto City, Aichi.

▼Click here for the previous article

Life Designs

2023.12.11

[Aichi/Seto] Buy Tableware with Child's Name at Chikudouen Direct Sales!

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/chikudouen-store

Access to Chikudouen The store is located in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture. It is about an hour's drive from Nagoya. There is a parking lot in front of the store. <By bus or train> ●Take a cab from Kozoji Station (JR Chuo Main Line) (about 20 minutes) ●Take a bus bound for Shinano from Owari Seto Station (Meitetsu Seto Line) and get off at Baba (5 minutes walk) or take a cab (15 minutes) <By car> ●Take the Seto Shinano IC (Tokai Kanjo Expressway) (about 5 minutes) ●Follow the signs for Seto from Nagoya and turn left at the Yakusa IC on the Sanage Green Road. Follow the sign for Seto from Nagoya to Sanage Green Road, turn left at Yakusa IC, and take Route 155 to Shinano ●Three minutes by car from Michi no Eki Seto Shinano&nb...

Access to Chikudouen

The exterior of Chikudouen

Chikudouen is located in Seto City, Aichi. It is located about an hour by car from Nagoya. There is a parking lot in front of the store, so you can come to the store with peace of mind.

<If coming by bus/train>

Take a cab from Kozoji Station (JR Chuo Main Line) and get off at Baba (20 minutes).
Take a bus bound for Shinano from Owari Seto Station (Meitetsu Seto Line) and get off at Baba (5-minute walk).
Or 15 minutes by taxi

<If coming by car>

●About 5 minutes from Seto Shinano IC (Tokai Kanjo Expressway)
●From Nagoya, follow the signs towards Seto on Sanage Green Road. Turn left at Yakusa IC and take route 155 to Shinano.
●About 3 minutes by car from the roadside station Seto Shinano

Please note that the location of the store is a little difficult to find. There is a signboard along the road, so just keep going and you will arrive in front of it.

Factory Shop

Chikudouen has a store and a factory, and if you buy the popular personalized tableware at the factory shop, you can get a 20% discount! In addition, anyone can casually observe the molding and painting process.

Outlet section on the second floor of the factory

On the second floor of the factory, there is also an "outlet section" unique to a pottery manufacturer, where you may find some great bargains.

Be sure to check this out too!

I want to make a rice bowl for cats!
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From left: Toyoshima-san, Nagase-san, and Ogura-san

First, we asked about the development story behind the "Katamukete Neko Chawan" that was created this time.

Nagase-san: "For many years, Chikudouen has been making a wide range of tableware, including tableware for children. We received requests from our users for tableware for pets, so we thought, instead of the typical cat food bowls, we want to make a bowl for cats! That's how we decided to create the "Katamukete Neko Chawan."

In order to make tableware for cats, we felt we needed to know more about cats and their owners, so we spoke to people involved in cat rescue activities and people who own cats. We also set up shop at cat-related markets and events to hear directly from users, and we experimented with the shape of the tableware."

Nagase-san: "In talking to owners, we found that many of them use bowls with the base attached to the bowl. We heard many concerns about bowls, such as "easy to use but hard to wash," "water pools after washing," "food spills," and "I want a simple and stylish bowl that fits in with any interior design," and we realized that they had problems but were patiently using them.

Chikudouen 's motto of "We want you to enjoy your daily meals served in high-quality ceramic dishes" is the same for cats.

We focused on making sure that the food is not only easy for cats to eat, but also easy for the family to use, and that it can be used for a wide range of cats, from kittens to senior cats, and can be used for a long time. As a result, this separate type design was born.

Nagase: "The base and bowl are separate, so it can be used in 3 ways to suit your cat's preferences.

There are six colors available, but I wanted to include colors that have a Seto feel, so I added two colors, "Oribe" and "Kiseto," which are glazes that represent Seto ware and Mino-yaki (Mino ware). While retaining the good qualities of traditional glazes, I adjusted the glaze tone so that it can be used on modern dining tables.

We would be happy if you could choose one that matches the atmosphere of your home or the color of your cat's fur. We also offer free personalization, so you can create a special vessel.

It took about two years to complete, but I think we've created something that everyone will be happy to use."

-I understand that you also tried crowdfunding before releasing the product. What was the response?

Nagase: "We wanted to see if what we created was truly needed by the public, so we decided to take on the challenge.

We achieved our sales target within about a week of starting, and ultimately received support that was more than 2,800% of our target, far exceeding our expectations.

We received a lot of positive feedback from our customers, such as, "It's easy to use," "He doesn't leave any leftovers and eats all of it now! We have received many positive comments such as "easy to wash and hygienic" and "fits in well with the interior design," which is very encouraging. We will continue to do our best so that we can bring more of these products to everyone's hands.

-Do you have any future goals?

Ms. Nagase: "After cats, we are now developing a bowl for dogs. Unlike cats, dogs vary in size depending on their breed, so we are working through trial and error to create tableware suited to their physique.

I am sure that we will be able to deliver it to you soon, and I hope that you will look forward to it as well.

Another big advantage of Chikudouen is that we are a pottery manufacturer. We will continue to listen to our users' opinions and turn their ideas of 'I wish there was something like this,' into reality."

Six Features of the "Katamukete Neko Chawan"

From here, we will introduce the six special features of the "Katamukete Neko Chawan."

① It is a separate type so it can be used in 3 ways!

The separate bowl and base can be used in 3 ways to suit your cat's preferences.

1. Remove the base and use only the bowl.
2. Place the bowl straight on the base before using.
3. Tilt the tea bowl at the angle you like.

Another convenient feature of the separate type is that if the bowl or base breaks, you can just purchase the broken part.

② Stops perfectly at any angle you like

The base has anti-slip silicone, so you can adjust it to your preferred angle. It's great that you can adjust it to the angle that's easiest for your cat to eat.

The ability to adjust the angle of a tea bowl freely is a unique feature.

The base of the pot is designed to be difficult to tip over, so you can use it without worrying about it falling over.

The silicone in three places is what keeps the product stable. This silicone has also been improved many times so that it won't come off easily even after washing.

③ Choose from 6 colors

From the top left, there are six colors: Kiseto, Kinako, Nadeshiko, Mizuiro, Oribe, and Usuhai. We have paid special attention to the glaze and color so that it will blend in with any interior.

*All glazes have undergone and passed the lead-cadmium leaching test in accordance with the Food Sanitation Act, so you can use them with confidence.

④ Fish-shaped protrusions to prevent slipping and spillage

The dish also has this ingenious feature. To make it easier for kittens who cannot eat well to eat, the inside of the bowl has a cute non-slip surface in the shape of a fish and a curved protrusion to prevent spills.

The attention to detail in the design is something that only a pottery manufacturer can offer.

⑤After use, all you need to do is wash the bowl!

The separate base makes cleaning easy. You can wash only the areas you want to wash and keep it clean at all times.

Since it is semi-porcelain, it does not retain odors or stains, which is a nice feature. In addition, the base is cylindrical, making it light, easy to wash, and quick to dry.

*The tea bowls can be washed in the dishwasher.

Our attention to detail extends to the back of the dish.

The base of the cat bowl has a drainage hole to prevent water from accumulating. If you place the bowl face down with the drainage hole facing down, water will not accumulate and the bowl will always be clean.

The dish is also decorated with cats and fishes peeking out from the dish, reflecting Chikudouen 's desire to make customers feel warm and fuzzy after washing the dishes.

Even the smallest details have been carefully considered.

⑥ Perfect as a gift. Free name engraving available!

Another point is that you can put your name on the base. You can put your name in hiragana or romaji (up to 8 characters) for free. (It is also possible to choose not to have the name imprinted).

The name is handwritten by a craftsman using a brush and a type of paint called "uenogu", which is used for ceramics.

If you add your name, it will become a special, one-of-a-kind piece of furniture.

How the Neko Chawan is made at Chikudouen

Factory tours are also available at Chikudouen.

This time, we had the opportunity to observe the making of the "Katamukete Neko Chawan."

Chikudouen handles everything from planning to manufacturing. They use a molding method called "pressure casting," which is mainstream in Seto, using plaster molds and pressure tanks.

Using plaster molds and machinery, it is possible to mass-produce the base material for pottery. It is not fully automated, and manual work is still required at key points.

Once removed from the mold, burrs are removed with a special blade.

It's a simple task, but the end result will vary depending on the shape, type and condition of the soil, etc. Therefore, the craftsman's many years of insight and experience are required to determine the speed and amount of force needed to achieve a beautiful finish.

This is the process of applying the glaze by some of Seto's finest craftsmen. Using special scissors, which are used for applying glaze, the vessel is gently lowered into the glaze and then slowly pulled out. Every vessel is applied in this way by hand.

When you actually visit the pottery, you will see the time and effort people put into each and every process. To create beautiful pottery, each of the operations is the result of careful accumulation of time and effort.

The "Katamukete Neko Chawan" made in this way is then personalized with the pet's name and delivered to its owner.

I chose a dish for my beloved cat!

This time, we chose some tableware for a cat owned by one of Editorial Team staff.
At the official store, you can actually pick up the product and choose it, so you can get a feel for the texture and how it feels in your hand.

There are so many colors to choose from, it's hard to choose. My cat has yellow eyes, so I chose "Kiseto" to match the color of his eyes. I hope he likes it.

The product will be personalized and delivered in approximately 5 days.

Azuki-chan, a black cat (age 5)

The product arrived safely 3 days after I ordered it. Since it's my birthday soon, I asked for it to be gift wrapped. It's so cute!

Does she know it's hers?! She stares at me as if to say, "Open it!" (laughs)

Instead of taking a photo, I just stared at it as if to say, "Hurry up! Open it!"

When I told her, "It says Happy Birthday," Azuki stared intently at the message card.

"Oh, so this is a new dish. I like the color too."

I guess that's it.

I had my name written in hiragana as "Azuki." The cute font is heartwarming and soothing.

The size is perfect as it fits your face perfectly.

It is also extremely stable, and even when tilted, the plates do not slip off at all. The owner seems to really like it.

<Thoughts after use>
It takes a little time to get used to a new bowl, but my cat started using the "Katamukete Neko Chawan" right away. The non-slip rubber stops it in place more firmly than I expected, and the angle can be adjusted precisely, which is great. It looks like it will be very easy to eat both crunchy and wet food.

As a pet owner, I'm happy that it's easy to wash. Wet food can have a particular smell, but because it's semi-porcelain, dirt comes off easily and there's no smell to worry about.

I'm glad to know that I can personalize it for free and that it is the only one of its kind in the world. The handwritten message was also very relaxing. I recommend it as a gift for cat lovers!

Everyone at Chikudouen.

All of the tableware produced by Chikudouen is carefully crafted by artisans. At Chikudouen 's factory shop, you can see the popular children's tableware and even the actual Katamukete Neko Chawan.

Be sure to also visit the factory shop along with your factory tour.
You can purchase it at the factory shop at 20% off the regular price.