We are pleased to announce that our company’s product, "Blaster Z," has won the Good Design Award 2014. The "Blaster Z" is an innovative brace hardware that utilizes the strength of braces supporting wooden structures while simultaneously providing flexibility and resilience. Its most notable feature is the V-shaped slit incorporated into the main body. This V-shaped slit successfully makes effective use of the buckling phenomenon, which is often considered taboo in construction. As a result, it has become possible to satisfy both a certain level of strength and resilience simultaneously. [Judges' Evaluation] Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, a variety of seismic, vibration control, and seismic isolation methods have been proposed for traditional wooden frame construction. However, many of these systems are overly complicated, require specialized and difficult construction methods, and are expensive, which has hindered their widespread adoption. In contrast, this construction method, which involves simply making partial cuts in steel plates and bending them, offers a straightforward system that connects the frame members with just nails, making it a highly accessible product that can be easily implemented in standard carpentry work. [Good Design Award 2014 Winning Rate] Total applications: approximately 3,601; Awards: approximately 1,258; Winning rate: 34.9%