【DOMU】 Racing car technology envelops music. Making a Carbon Fiber Cello Case
Dome Co., Ltd. Press release: October 24, 2025 To Members of the Press Racing car technology envelops music. Dome creates carbon fiber cello case ~A fusion of function and beauty born from motorsports technology and Italian design~ Dome Co., Ltd. (Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture) has applied the composite material technology and structural design know-how cultivated through racing car development to create a custom carbon fiber cello case for cellist Kanon Shibata. The design was created by Norihiko Harada, chief designer at Zagato, the prestigious Milan-based coachbuilder in Italy. This project began with an idea from Kazumichi Go, representative of TEAM GOH. Noticing the
similarities between the carbon fiber case used by Kanon Shibata and the materials used in racing cars, the project was conceived as a new collaboration connecting music and motorsports, Italy and Japan. To preserve this masterpiece, which has a history spanning more than 300 years, Dome’s design and manufacturing, Harada’s design supervision, and OMP Racing S.p.A. collaborated in their respective fields of expertise. Tradition and innovation, sensibility and technology, and the shared craftsmanship of both parties have come together to create a one-of-a-kind cello case. The combination of Japan’s advanced carbon technology and Italian aesthetic design has resulted in a new form of beauty: “The racing spirit envelops music.” *This case will also be made to order.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-aa5670ac543b66066fb60831c21e7a99-3000×2000.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-cf804e923e1639f8b25d729ad31e7333-3000×2000.jpg Exterior: Full carbon fiber
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-b1a30f409d058f870e6328ce8994aa04-3000×2000.jpg Interior: Quilted Italian silk
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-5630d541a85c85b41135cf72516ec601-3000×2000.jpg Shoulder belt seat belt material
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-277b3fe92904a69f3ad15c04c76e416d-3000×2000.jpg Belt pad included
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-439673b3e32c7ffb76e9693b7fb7d295-3000×2000.jpg Steering wheel-style handle
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-25d44f1d461debc0fdced40a599c6eef-3000×2000.jpg Anti-theft key
■Comment from Dome ~Beauty Spoken Through Structure, Culture Supported by Technology~ Since its founding, Dome has pursued “light, strong, and beautiful” concepts in the world of motorsports. While pushing the limits of vehicle rigidity and aerodynamic performance, the structure naturally creates form. In creating this cello case, Dome’s
craftsmanship approach was projected into the cultural realm of music. Designed as an “exoskeleton” to protect an instrument passed down for over 300 years, the case was optimized for strength, weight, and shape, just like a racing car. It features a lightweight, highly rigid monocoque structure. The interior is made of silk sourced by Harada in Italy, which is designed to protect the instrument’s varnish and, unusually for a cello case, can accommodate four bows. This project represents a new challenge for Dome, demonstrating its belief that “motorsports technology supports culture.” It is a work of functional beauty born from the fusion of engineering and sensibility by skilled artisans. Furthermore, Dome engineer Amasawa, who designed this case, is a unique figure in the racing world, having been playing the violin since childhood. He has poured his long-cultivated understanding and dedication to stringed instruments, along with the essence of racing car design, into every detail to create this one-of-a-kind cello case. ■Comment from Norihiko Harada ~The ultimate cello case, its design~ Just as strings captivate with their taut tone, the beauty of an object’s shape, born from the tension of lines and surfaces, light and shadow, fills the heart of the viewer. This cello case is composed of extremely simple ridges that flow across the entire case, surrounded by rich, tense surfaces. This is the central theme of the ultimate cello case design, which abstracts the beautiful instrument housed within while combining the robust functionality of an exoskeleton of the instrument itself with the practicality of compact storage that takes user experience into consideration. In this design, the ridges that flow up and down the case have continuously changing radii (the roundness of the ridges where surfaces intersect) to express the constant transition from rich bass to vivid treble. These techniques are essentially the same as those used in designing high-performance sports cars in Italy. Combined with the advanced technology and passion poured into Dome’s racing machines, which fully cooperated in their development, they underlie the design of this cello case. ■Comment from Kanon Shibata ~”Rugged and Classical” – That’s my image as a musician~ In the six months since I received this special, one-of-a-kind cello case, I’ve been constantly accompanying it on domestic and international travels and performances. What I strongly feel while using it is its overwhelming sense of security and unique presence. Its design is more than just a case; it’s a work of art. Its streamlined form makes it stand out even backstage, and it has become an important part of my activities. In particular, the handle features elements resembling a racing car steering wheel, and the shoulder strap uses a seatbelt used in actual racing cars. These were provided with the cooperation of OMP Racing S.p.A., an Italian racing equipment manufacturer. They serve as a testament to the intersection of the worlds of motorsports and music. The steering wheel is essential for controlling the car, and the seatbelt is essential for protecting the driver’s life. With these two features, I feel this case truly supports and protects my instrument. No matter where I travel, knowing this case is with me allows me to continue my journey with complete peace of mind. Furthermore, I’m often approached by members of the public at airports and on the street, and I’ve often received interest from people in the music industry and fellow cellists. Each time, I realize that this case is more than just a case; it’s a special piece that enhances my work. The design theme of this case is “rugged and classic.” It combines a simple, powerful presence with a timeless, universal quality. This is exactly what I aspire to be as a musician. I want to sincerely confront the essence of music, inherit its history and tradition, and faithfully express my own voice. I feel this case symbolizes that desire. This cello case is an irreplaceable “partner” that will accompany me through the rest of my musical career. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in this miraculous project, which brought about the meeting of a historic instrument with cutting-edge technology and the reunion of Japanese and Italian cultures.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-0735bff3cb64191464f4f2f87e21da62-1200×1200.jpg Design: Tenjiro Amasawa
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-8cd52b48330dd256c7d314887ae26667-451×451.png Design Supervision: Norihiko Harada
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/48582/19/48582-19-41b7eec236f3fd87c0576351f72e694b-1108×1108.jpg Cellist: Kanon Shibata ■Tenjiro Amasawa / Development Department Manager, DOME Co., Ltd. Joined Dome Co., Ltd. as a new graduate in 1998. He was responsible for a wide range of tasks, from Junior Formula to LMP and GT vehicles, primarily body design and aerodynamic development. He then gained on-site experience as a race engineer and was also involved in team management. He has been in his current position since 2013. In his private life, he has played the violin for many years and served as concertmaster in an amateur orchestra. He also has a deep knowledge of classical music, and currently performs live concerts in his spare time. ■Norihiko Harada / Zagato Chief Designer Born in Tokyo in 1959. After graduating from Keio University, he studied abroad at Are Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, USA, where he received specialized training to become a car designer. After graduation, he began his career as a car designer at IDEA in Moncalieri, Italy in 1989. At the invitation of
world-renowned car designer Ercole Spada, he moved to Zagato in 1994, where he serves as chief designer to this day and has been involved in numerous projects. While a student in the United States, he also worked part-time on a Giotto Caspian project, and has maintained a friendship with Dome ever since. He currently resides in Italy. ■Kanon Shibata / Cellist Born in 2000 in Aichi Prefecture, Kanon Shibata is one of the young cellists attracting attention both in Japan and abroad for her outstanding technique and rich expressiveness. She won second place in the cello category at the 92nd Japan Music Competition and first place at the 14th Viva Hall Cello Competition. She also won the Grand Prix at the 2022 Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition (Canada), among numerous other awards. In 2025/26, he was selected as the first Japanese Rebank Fellowship Artist at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He plays a G. Grancino (1694) on loan from the Munetsugu Collection and an E. Sartory bow on loan from the Kenji Nishimura Collection. He is currently studying under Hans Jensen as a special scholarship student at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University in the United States. He is a CHANEL Pygmalion Days 2025 Artist. He has received support from the Tokuji Munetsugu Music Scholarship Fund, Rotary Showa, Yamaha Music Foundation, Rohm Music Foundation, and the Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation. In 2025, he was selected as a Fellow in Classical Music by the Luminarts Foundation in Chicago, USA.
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