Hey r/kickstarter — preparing to launch my first campaign and wanted to share the concept here for honest feedback before I go live.
I'm an 18-year-old engineering student in Kyoto, Japan. I work part-time at a chopstick-making workshop in Gion and spent the last few months designing a take-home chopstick making kit based on the traditional Japanese kanna (hand plane) technique.
The product is called KEZURIDASHI (削出箸) — "the chopstick drawn out from the wood."
What's in the box:
• A precision shaping jig designed from traditional Japanese kanna geometry, 3D printed in wood-filament PLA. Place the raw Hinoki blank inside, draw the scraper toward you, rotate 45° and repeat. The jig guides every angle — no skill needed.
• Steel-blade scraper rod
• Thickness gauge (4 holes — tells you exactly when each stage is done)
• 80 / 150 / 240 grit sandpaper
• Food-safe beeswax finish
• Two Hinoki cypress blanks
• Display stand
• Instruction card in English, Japanese and Chinese
• Laser-engraved paulownia sliding-lid box
The whole process takes 30 minutes. The result is a pair of chopsticks made entirely by your own hands that you'll actually use.
Planned price: $50 USD
Funding goal: ¥800,000 (~$5,300 USD)
That's 107 backers at full price.
A few things I'd love feedback on:
Does $50 feel right for this, or too high / too low?
Would you back this, and if not — what's missing?
Any Kickstarter veterans with advice on launching a physical product for the first time?
Still finalising the campaign page and product video. Planning to launch in a few months.
I've been documenting the whole process on Instagram (@kezuridashi.kyoto) if anyone wants to follow the build.
Thanks in advance — brutal honesty appreciated.