Paul Heredia and Hiromi Komiyama ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ Memorial Capsule ᱡᱟᱱᱶᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱦᱚᱲᱢᱚ ᱫᱚᱦᱚ ᱵᱷᱟᱱᱰᱟ

Paul Heredia and Hiromi Komiyama ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ Memorial Capsule ᱡᱟᱱᱶᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱦᱚᱲᱢᱚ ᱫᱚᱦᱚ ᱵᱷᱟᱱᱰᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱵᱤᱪᱟᱨ ᱯᱨᱚᱛᱤᱡᱚᱜᱤᱛᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱜ ᱨᱮ 2026 A' Design Award ᱠᱟᱥᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ ᱟᱹᱰᱤ ᱢᱟᱱ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾

ᱠᱟᱥᱟᱵᱤᱪᱟᱨ· 2026

Memorial Capsule ᱡᱟᱱᱶᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱦᱚᱲᱢᱚ ᱫᱚᱦᱚ ᱵᱷᱟᱱᱰᱟ

Paul Heredia and Hiromi Komiyama ᱞᱮᱠᱟᱛᱮ

ᱜᱟᱦᱟᱠ: Dainichido Inc.

ᱵᱤᱪᱟᱨ ᱵᱷᱟᱜ ᱨᱮ A' Design Award ᱠᱟᱥᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ

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ᱡᱟᱸᱪ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱮᱣᱟᱨᱰ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ

#175843 ᱞᱟᱜᱤᱫ ᱮᱣᱟᱨᱰ ᱦᱟᱞᱚᱛ ᱡᱟᱸᱪ

ᱥᱟᱭᱤᱴ ᱧᱮᱞ ᱢᱮ A' Design Award ᱨᱮ ᱧᱮᱞ ᱢᱮ ᱯᱨᱮᱥ ᱨᱤᱞᱤᱡ ᱯᱩᱨᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱵᱮᱡ

ᱨᱚᱝ

ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ

Memorial Capsule ᱡᱟᱱᱶᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱦᱚᱲᱢᱚ ᱫᱚᱦᱚ ᱵᱷᱟᱱᱰᱟ ᱵᱟᱵᱚᱛ ᱛᱮ

ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱵᱟᱭᱳᱰᱤᱜᱽᱨᱮᱰᱮᱵᱩᱞ ᱡᱟᱱᱶᱟᱨ ᱦᱚᱲᱢᱚ ᱫᱚᱦᱚ ᱵᱷᱟᱱᱰᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱞᱟᱦᱟ ᱟᱨ ᱞᱟᱦᱟᱛᱮ ᱡᱩᱲᱟᱹᱣ ᱮᱢᱚᱜ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱛᱮᱭᱟᱨ ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ ᱾ ᱡᱟᱯᱟᱱᱤ ᱚᱲᱟᱜ ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ ᱥᱚᱬᱦᱮᱫ ᱨᱤᱫ ᱟᱨ ᱟᱡᱟᱨᱟᱜ ᱛᱚᱨᱮᱭᱚᱜ ᱠᱷᱚᱱ ᱮᱢ ᱦᱩᱭᱚᱜ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ, ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱡᱤᱭᱚᱱ ᱠᱚ ᱢᱟᱱ ᱮᱢ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱡᱩᱨᱟᱹᱣ ᱦᱚᱨ ᱮᱢᱚᱜ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ ᱾ ᱵᱟᱨ ᱦᱟᱹᱴᱤᱧ ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ ᱜᱚᱴᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱴᱷᱨᱮᱰ ᱫᱷᱟᱠᱱᱟ ᱥᱟᱱᱟᱢ ᱛᱮ ᱩᱛᱷᱟᱹᱣ ᱟᱨ ᱛᱚᱨᱮᱭᱚᱜ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱨᱟᱠᱷᱤ ᱫᱚᱦᱚ ᱨᱚᱠᱟᱭᱟ, ᱟᱨ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱡᱚᱛᱚ ᱪᱟᱨᱢ ᱫᱚ ᱢᱟᱲᱮ ᱟᱲᱟᱜ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱦᱚᱲ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱥᱚᱬᱦᱮᱫ ᱦᱤᱥᱟᱹᱵᱛᱮ ᱛᱟᱦᱮᱱᱟ ᱾ ᱵᱟᱭᱳᱯᱞᱟᱥᱴᱤᱠ ᱟᱨ ᱩᱲᱟᱹ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱚᱭᱥᱴᱚᱨ ᱡᱟᱲᱟᱛᱮ ᱛᱮᱭᱟᱨ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ, ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱱᱰᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱟᱡᱟᱨᱟᱜ ᱛᱮ ᱚᱛ ᱨᱮ ᱨᱩᱣᱟᱹᱲᱟ ᱾ ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ ᱢᱮᱴ ᱯᱷᱤᱱᱤᱥ ᱟᱨ ᱟᱞᱜᱟ ᱛᱚᱨᱮ ᱡᱩᱛᱮ ᱦᱟᱛᱟᱣ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱮᱢᱚᱜ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ, ᱫᱩᱠ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱚᱠᱛᱚ ᱨᱮ ᱟᱨᱟᱢ ᱟᱨ ᱨᱤᱫ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱮᱢᱚᱜ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ ᱾

ᱢᱟᱱᱟᱱ

A' Design Award ᱠᱟᱥᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱵᱟᱵᱚᱛ ᱛᱮ

Memorial Capsule ᱡᱟᱱᱶᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱦᱚᱲᱢᱚ ᱫᱚᱦᱚ ᱵᱷᱟᱱᱰᱟ ᱫᱚ A' Design Award ᱠᱟᱥᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱧᱟᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ, ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱱᱟᱣᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱵᱱᱟ ᱛᱮ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱠᱚ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱮᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱥᱚᱢᱟᱱ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾ ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱠᱚ ᱫᱚ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱᱟᱨ ᱠᱚ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱵᱷᱟᱵᱱᱟ ᱟᱨ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱠᱟᱢᱤ ᱡᱷᱟᱞᱠᱟᱣ ᱠᱚ᱾ Memorial Capsule ᱡᱟᱱᱶᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱦᱚᱲᱢᱚ ᱫᱚᱦᱚ ᱵᱷᱟᱱᱰᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱠᱚᱞᱟ, ᱣᱤᱜᱭᱟᱱ, ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱟᱨ ᱴᱮᱠᱱᱚᱞᱚᱡᱤ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱥᱤᱢᱟ ᱵᱟᱲᱦᱟᱣ ᱟᱨ ᱫᱩᱱᱤᱭᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱜᱚᱲᱚ ᱮᱢ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾

ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱯᱤᱪᱷᱟ ᱨᱮ

ᱯᱨᱮᱥ ᱠᱤᱴ

ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱᱟᱨ ᱧᱮᱞ ᱠᱷᱚᱱ ᱠᱨᱮᱰᱤᱴ, ᱴᱤᱢ ᱥᱫᱚᱥᱭ ᱟᱨ ᱴᱮᱠᱱᱤᱠᱮᱞ ᱵᱤᱵᱚᱨᱚᱬ ᱮᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾

ᱟᱞᱜᱟ ᱜᱩᱱ ᱠᱚ: This product is a biodegradable urn supporting grieving pet owners through a gentle, continuous farewell. Inspired by Japanese home memorials and natural burials, it offers an intimate, sustainable way to honor life. A two-part structure with threaded lid keeps ashes secure while allowing burial with the urn; a small charm stays with the owner. Made from bioplastic with powdered oyster shells, it naturally biodegrades. Warm matte texture and soft contours invite touch, easing grief.
ᱢᱟᱯ ᱟᱨ ᱯᱮᱠᱮᱡᱤᱝ: Urn dimensions Diameter 120 x H195 mm, capacity approximately 950 cc. Total weight (urn and charm) approximately 420 g. Charm size varies by design. Made from ECOSHELL (bioplastic with powdered oyster shells), charm crafted in silver, copper, and gold alloy. Two-part body with threaded lid ensures stability and prevents accidental spillage. Matte finish and soft contours enhance tactile comfort. Packaging for urn: W170 x H246 x D140 mm, for charm: W80 x H80 x D35 mm.
ᱴᱮᱜ ᱠᱚ: pet urn, pet memorial, biodegradable urn, grief care, eco-friendly design, sustainable product, natural burial, oyster shell bioplastic, home memorial, tactile design
ᱛᱮᱭᱟᱨ ᱛᱮᱠᱱᱚᱞᱚᱡᱤ: This urn is made from ECOSHELL, a biodegradable material created by blending finely crushed oyster shells into a biomass-based resin. Its lid and base are joined with a precisely engineered screw thread, ensuring the contents remain secure even if the urn is tipped over, an advantage over conventional urns. A small charm, crafted from an alloy of silver, copper, and gold, remains with the owner as a keepsake. The urn itself has a warm matte texture and soft contours, inviting touch, fostering new rituals, and easing the pain of loss.
ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱱ ᱪᱮᱞᱮᱧ: The main challenge was designing an urn that fosters emotional healing while redefining traditional perceptions of memorialization. We overcame difficulties in translating intangible emotions into tangible design features, integrating Japanese home memorial traditions with natural burial practices. External limits included sourcing and molding a biodegradable yet durable material, and ensuring a secure screw-top structure without sacrificing warmth and tactility.
ᱜᱚᱵᱮᱥᱚᱱᱟ: This qualitative design research identified a lack of meaningful mourning rituals for bereaved pet owners. Through literature review, cultural analysis, and interviews, we examined emotional changes, recovery processes, and posthumous communication with pets. Insights informed the form, structure, and materials, designing not only a physical urn but also a process that naturally supports emotional healing through use.
ᱯᱨᱮᱨᱚᱱᱟ: The design was inspired by the emotional gap many pet owners face after loss: the absence of meaningful mourning rituals. Drawing on Japanese customs of keeping ashes at home and the emerging practice of natural burials, it enables a continuous, personal farewell from collection to burial. Insights from grief care research and dialogues with bereaved owners shaped the structure, materials, and tactile qualities, offering a nature-connected and emotionally supportive alternative to traditional urns.
ᱯᱨᱚᱡᱮᱠᱴ ᱥᱚᱢᱚᱭ: The project commenced in October 2022 in Hiroshima, Japan, where planning and development took place, and the design was completed in June 2023. Released in March 2025, it continues to be available.
ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱦᱚᱨ: After cremation, the pet’s ashes are placed into the urn and taken home. It can be kept nearby for home memorialization, with the charm attached as a daily reminder. Owners can hold, stroke, or speak to it as they would in life, offering comfort and time for grieving. When ready, the ashes and urn can be buried to return to nature, while the charm is removed and kept close as a lasting keepsake.
ᱯᱮᱴᱮᱱᱴ ᱠᱚ: Pending Patent Application No. 2024-125606, DAINICHIDO Inc., Japan
Trademark (2024) DAINICHIDO Inc., Japan
ᱴᱤᱢ ᱥᱮᱫᱟᱭ ᱠᱚ: Designer : Paul Heredia
Designer : Hiromi Komiyama
ᱪᱤᱛᱟᱹᱨ ᱥᱟᱹᱦᱟ: Image #1: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
Image #2: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
Image #3: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
Image #4: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
Image #5: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.