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ITOKI CORPORATION (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Koji Minato) will release the new "vertebra ^{03 WOOD" which combines the warmth of wood with ergonomics to add to the vertebra 03}​ ​^* series, designed by Fumie Shibata and released in 2019, as a product that responds to the increased flexibility of future work styles. The new product will be released sequentially from Monday, December 25th. The new product will be the portable battery "hako," which allows users to "work casually without being bound by power source restrictions."

In today's world, work styles are increasingly diversified and liberalized. Due to advances in technology and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, social norms and people's values regarding work styles and places have changed significantly. Featuring the warmth of wood and Itoki's unique ergonomics, "vertebra ⁰³ WOOD" is the long-awaited latest model in the series, which expands the office environment and the consciousness of workers, which change with the times, more freely and flexibly. The production of the back and seat, which are cut and shaped from solid chestnut, a domestic hardwood, was supervised by Karimoku Furniture, one of Japan's leading comprehensive furniture manufacturers. Since its founding, the company's know-how, which has continued to create sustainable wooden furniture while interacting with wood, is combined with ITOKI's digital technology that utilizes body pressure measurement and seat tracers based on ergonomics and biomechanics. While making use of the texture of wood, we have achieved the optimal back and seat shape that follows the work posture, just like the previous model. The seat surface also has a non-slip coating to ensure a stable seating position. In addition, CMF's technology, which expresses delicate coloring while preserving the wood grain, brings even more originality and beauty to the universal form.

The wooden parts of the seat and backrest are available in three colors: clear, black, and green. Furthermore, you can freely mix and match fabrics from a total of 28 colors, including the original 14 colors of 2 types and the ``Knoll Textiles'', 14 colors of 2 types. More flexible and expandable customization is possible according to the concepts and functions of various spaces. We support people who want to work in their own way.

Name vertebra ⁰³ WOOD (Vertebra Zero Sunwood)
BODY TYPE 5 legs, 4 legs rotating
Size 5 legs W560 x D515 x H775-890 (SH425-540) mm
4 legs rotation W560 x D515 x H810 (SH455) mm
Color: Wood color (clear, black, green)
Body color (black, dark green, chestnut brown, pale olive)
Release date: Early January 2024
Price: 143,330 yen~ (tax included)

As free-addressing becomes widespread in office spaces, people are dependent on where they are located depending on the power source, and the atmosphere of the space is limited on OA floors where power can be accessed anywhere. "hako" was born as a solution to this problem, and is a portable battery with a beautiful appearance that harmonizes with your space, whether you use it, transport it, or charge it. The inspiration for the design is paper box. The simple and well-fitting form comes with a strap on the back, making it easy to carry when moving from place to place, such as during online meetings. Adjust the colors to a certain tone, such as colors that go well with the interior or colors that match the image of the paper. By reducing the gloss, we have achieved a design that does not look like a gadget and does not draw attention to the design. In terms of functionality, it has a large capacity of 115Wh that can charge a PC, tablet, and three smartphones at the same time. In addition, there is a sign that lets you know at a glance when it is time to discard, allowing for smooth replacement.

Name: hako
Battery body W86×H142×D86mm
Charger W383×H35×D86mm
Body weight 990g
Color black, gray, brown, green
Rated capacity 5150mAh
Input terminal USBType-CPD compatible, DC
Input voltage/current USBType-C PD compatible MAX30W (5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15V/2A, 20V/1.5A), DC 30W (24V/1.25A)
Output terminal: USB Type-A, USB Type-C PD compatible
Output voltage/current USB Type-A 7.5W (5V/1.5A), USB Type-C PD compatible
2 ports total MAX90W (5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/3A)
Release date: Monday, December 25, 2023
Price Open price

The product development secrets of "vertebra ⁰³​ ​^WOOD" and "hako" will be published on the journal page developed on the special page of vertebra 03 from November 15th (Wednesday).

• Part 1: https://vertebra.jp/journal/791/
• Part 2: https://vertebra.jp/journal/800/

• “Feel So Wood” special site
  https://www.itoki.jp/special/feel-so-wood/
• Proving that “wooden furniture is nice”
  https://www.itoki.jp/special/feel-so-wood/story/discussion/

Representative of Design Studio S. After graduating from Musashino Art University's Department of Industrial Design, he worked for a major home appliance manufacturer before establishing Design Studio S. We are currently working on projects with domestic and overseas manufacturers, including electronic products, daily necessities, medical equipment, and total hotel direction. He has received awards such as iF Gold Award (Germany), Red Dot DesignAward, Mainichi Design Award, G Mark Gold Award, Asian Design Award Grand Prize, Cultural Special Award, and Gold Award. Professor at Musashino Art University and chairperson of the 2018-2019 Good Design Award Judging Committee. He is the author of ``Another form inside one form''.

The origins of Karimoku Furniture date back to 1940, when founder Shohei Kato took over a long-standing lumber shop and started a small woodworking shop in Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture. They honed their skills by producing a variety of wooden products, and in the 1960s began selling their own wooden furniture. Advocating a manufacturing concept of "high-tech & high-touch" that combines advanced mechanical technology and craftsmanship, the company built a foundation in the wood production field and grew to become one of Japan's leading wooden furniture manufacturers.