Alan Toriyama

Kiyo is a timer that relies on a natural mechanism rather than digital technology, using a Japanese system called “Shi-shi odoshi.” Sound is created through the interaction of bamboo, water, and stone. This sound lets users know to take a short break from their current task.

“Shi-shiodoshi” is a Japanese traditional system that creates sound through the interaction of bamboo, water, and stone. Originally used to scare animals away from fields, it’s now appreciated for its unique, relaxing tone. In KIYO, this sound serves as a gentle reminder for users to stay focused and signals when to take a short break.

The design includes three disks with varying hole sizes to release water at specific rates, allowing users to choose 10, 30, or 60-minute intervals. Water drips from the filter into the bamboo, and once full, the bamboo releases water into a glass, tilting to strike a stone and produce a sound. This sound signals the end of the interval, prompting the user to take a short break.

As a reaction to releasing water, hit the stone and make a sound. Within an interval, the bamboo hits the stone twice. The first sound serves as a checking point whether users are focusing on their tasks, and the second tells users to have a short break.

Normal timers require the user to stop the timer, which tends to cause distraction afterward, but KIYO does not require the user to stop it and does not require any action to stop it, so the user's attention on their tasks is less likely to be distracted. In addition, by placing the phone behind a cloth called a “Noren”the user is less likely to be distracted by the phone.

The zine was created to introduce how KIYO was developed. This handy-sized zine allows readers to become familiar with KIYO’s concept and understand how the “Shi shi odoshi” was traditionally used and how it has been integrated into my design.