The Kiku Handle®, a valve handle, has surpassed 100 million units in cumulative global sales and won the 2026 Long Life Design Award and Good Design Award simultaneously.
The Kiku Handle was developed in 1978 with a rounded, three-dimensional design inspired by chrysanthemum petals. The design was developed to harmonize with the valve as a whole under the auspices of a collaborating organization led by industrial designer Yanagi Sori (柳宗理).
Since its launch in 1980, valves fitted with the Kiku Handle have exceeded 100 million units in cumulative global sales. They are used in a wide range of applications, from building equipment to industrial plants, and have long been supported as a symbol of the KITZ CORPORATION brand.
The awards are said to recognize the value created by the pursuit of ease of use and safety. The company has indicated that it will continue developing products that support social infrastructure as a leading fluid-control technology company.
In its Good Design Award review, the Kiku Handle, designed by Yanagi Sori (柳宗理) and launched in 1980, was recognized as a representative work embodying “beauty in utility.” The review also noted that it has maintained its basic form for nearly half a century and continues to be used as a symbol of the brand. It is scheduled to be exhibited at the Good Design Award exhibition and “My Selected One 2026.”