Katsuo Gravity: Kinetic Installation Uses Shaved Bonito Flakes as Continuous Display

UO creative studio has installed 'Katsuo Gravity,' a permanent kinetic installation at Kayanoya Kyoto Gion, the flagship Kansai store of a Japanese dashi brand. The work features a katsuobushi shaving machine that produces ultra-thin bonito flakes (0.01 mm) that drift and descend in irregular motion. A circular platform collects the flakes, tilting like a shishi-odoshi when accumulation reaches a threshold, then releases them to reset the cycle. The freshly shaved katsuobushi is collected by staff and used directly in dashi preparation, integrating the installation into daily culinary practice. The piece aligns with Kayanoya's concept of 'experiencing dashi culture through all five senses,' linking material process, food preparation, and spatial design.