A rather unusual interpretation of the Blowfish, this Ichi Kitahara design features an orientation and shaping shaping elements that call two mind two other designs; the first Ichi's own "Kabin" that
we carried back in 2007
, which resembled the namesake Japanese style of vase turned on its head, and the second a standing, but rather stouter Blowfish created by his mentor Hiroyuki Tokutomi
some two years ago. While the deeply-bent sitter orientation and emphasis on birdseye-covered flanks bear a strong resemblance to the latter, the design's light, but lushly lined and more complexly organic form very much follows the spirit of the former. Regardless of all that, though, and whatever you may choose to call it, there's no mistaken that it is simply a beautiful piece that took great skill, and one very fine block of briar, to create.
- Eric N. Squires
