Kai, in collaboration with Kyoto City University of Arts and HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO, will hold an art and design exhibition themed "Journey"

Kai Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Hiroaki Endo), a global blade manufacturer, will hold the art and design exhibition "New Design, New Journey" themed "Journey" as part of its industry-academia collaboration with Kyoto City University of Arts, now in its third year.

HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO communicates "the current state of Kyoto's ever-changing art & culture" through its in-house gallery and various events, and actively holds special exhibitions introducing next-generation artists and creators.

Background of this Industry-Academia Collaboration

Kai has been pursuing industry-academia collaboration with institutions such as Tohoku University of Art and Design and Gifu University, and has been eager to deepen its initiatives in "Kyoto," a city where tradition and innovation coexist.

This project began not merely from an aesthetic perspective, but from the alignment of Kai, which advocates for its unique "design management" and leverages its blade-making technology, with Kyoto City University of Arts, which inherits the spirit of crafts and manufacturing and values "design." This initiative, born from the deep resonance between the two parties to "respect past traditions and support contemporary and future design," marks its third year.

Kai, which contributes to society through design, will hold the art and design exhibition "New Design, New Journey" in collaboration with 15 groups and 21 students from the Department of Comprehensive Design at Kyoto City University of Arts. The exhibition interprets "Journey" from unique perspectives, transforming the entire first floor of the hotel into a space where visitors can experience a new moment of travel through various expressions including objects, light, video, and sound.

About "New Design, New Journey"

Exhibition Overview

Kai x Kyoto City University of Arts x HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO Industry-Academia Collaboration Project

Exhibition Title: Art & Design "New Design, New Journey"

Overview: Exhibition of collaborative art between Kai and Kyoto City University of Arts themed "Journey"

Period: Saturday, July 18, 2026 - Sunday, August 16, 2026, 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Admission: Free

Venue: HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO 1F "GALLERY 9.5" (7 Aketacho, Higashi-kujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)

Distribution of Limited Edition Original Paper Razors®

In this initiative, original Paper Razors® designed in collaboration by students from Kyoto City University of Arts and Kai will be distributed exclusively to guests staying at HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO and visitors.

*Distribution of collaborative design Paper Razors® will end when supplies run out.

About Kyoto City University of Arts

Kyoto City University of Arts is the oldest art university in Japan, with its roots in the Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting, established in 1880 as Japan's first public painting school.

With art and music as its dual pillars, the university has produced outstanding individuals active in the arts and industry both domestically and internationally for 140 years, drawing on the rich artistic tradition accumulated in the cultural capital of Kyoto. The Department of Comprehensive Design offers a curriculum that allows students to learn across flat, three-dimensional, and spatial design, fostering an ability to grasp design from a broad perspective while deeply cultivating their specialized skills. It aims to nurture highly capable designers who can propose new values to society by acquiring advanced expressive abilities through a step-by-step process from foundational courses.

©Kyoto City University of Arts

About HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO

HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO opened in 2011 after converting a building that had been used as a student dormitory.

The hotel features an in-house gallery, breakfast restaurant, and bar. In a 2016 renovation, 67 new rooms were added, bringing the total to 127 rooms, and "Japanese" was added to its concept of "Art & Culture."

Anteroom currently communicates "the present of Kyoto" by interpreting these three themes from a contemporary perspective.

@UDS Ltd. all rights reserved.

About Paper Razor®

"Paper Razor®" is a disposable razor developed by Kai, the domestic market share leader* in disposable razors, leveraging its extensive knowledge as a global blade manufacturer. By using paper for the handle and metal for the blade (including the entire head), it has been developed as a plastic-free item.

It has received multiple prestigious awards, including the "iF Gold Award 2022," the highest prize at the "iF DESIGN AWARD 2022," the "2021 Good Design Award," and the "2021 Japan Packaging Contest Grand Prize, Director-General of the Agency for Technology and Environment, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry."

Product Page URL: https://www.kai-group.com/products/kamisori/product/kamikamisori.html

* Estimated sales volume for disposable razors in the Japanese market, INTAGE SRI+ data, July 2024 - June 2025.

How to Use Paper Razor®

Paper Razor® Product Information

Product Name: Paper Razor®

Product Size: <Before Assembly> 131.5mm (H) x 59.7mm (W) x 3.1mm (D)

<After Assembly> 96mm (H) x 41.6mm (W) x 17mm (D)

Product Weight: Approx. 4g

Kai Corporation

Founded in 1908 in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, a renowned blade-making town. It is a global blade manufacturer that offers approximately 10,000 items, primarily daily necessities and beauty tools such as razors and nail clippers, as well as kitchenware including knives and confectionery tools, and medical blades. The company handles the entire process from product planning and development to production, sales, and logistics. Headquarters: 3-9-5 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

President & CEO: Hiroaki Endo

https://www.kai-group.com

Inquiries regarding this matter from readers:

Kai Corporation Customer Service Center

3-9-5 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8586

TEL: 0120-016-410 (Toll-free, Hikari Wide)

https://www.kai-group.com