Kanami Minami – Rivions

After spending 40+ hours with the Kanami Minami, I can finally share my thoughts on this visually striking glass mousepad. This limited edition collaboration between Kanami, Arbiter Studio, and artist Opal_00_58 brings something fresh to the expanding glass mousepad scene.

Full Disclaimer: Kanami sent me this mousepad for review purposes. However, this doesn’t affect my opinions or the content of this review. All thoughts are my honest assessment based on my time with the product.

Specifications

First Impressions

The unboxing experience matches the premium price tag. The packaging showcases the same artwork found on the pad, immediately signaling this is as much a collector’s item as a performance tool. Inside, the pad comes well-protected with several extras: a microfiber cloth featuring the same design, a matching rubber coaster, three stickers (including one with my unit’s unique number #1126), and a set of Unusual Way Sport Silver Fox skates.

The design jumps out right away. Unlike most gaming gear that goes dark and aggressive, the Minami uses bright blues and turquoise with Opal_00_58’s anime-style character artwork. The thin 1.5mm glass keeps the illustration clear and vibrant without distortion. My unit’s numbered label (#1126) confirms its limited status, though I’m unsure how many were made.

The pad, including the silicone backing, is 3 mm thick and feels premium without being bulky. It sits closer to your desk than many competitors. In my collection, it’s much thinner than the Tekkusai Beast/Guardian while slightly thicker than the SP-004.

Surface Feel

The Minami’s surface is absurdly smooth, gliding effortlessly under your fingers. Where pads like SP-004 or Beast offer tactical feedback through texture, the Minami goes for a silky, almost velvety feel. Running your hand across it reveals virtually no texture – easily one of the smoothest glass pads I’ve tested.

This smoothness creates a unique sensation during gameplay. As someone who typically prefers textured pads, I was surprised by how luxurious the Minami feels. Your arm moves across it with minimal resistance, and the consistency spans the entire pad.

Like most glass surfaces, it picks up fingerprints easily, but they wipe away quickly with the included cloth. During longer sessions in humid rooms, I noticed slight arm stickiness not present on more textured glass. You might want arm sleeves for marathon gaming depending on your room’s conditions.

After 40+ hours of testing, the surface maintains its original smoothness with no inconsistencies or worn spots developing. This durability advantage over cloth alternatives is a significant selling point.

Base and Construction

The turquoise silicone backing complements the artwork and offers exceptional grip. Even during my most intense flick shots in Call of Duty, the pad stayed firmly planted without shifting.

The thin profile creates one minor drawback – the edge design. The rounded edges don’t disappear from notice like those on thicker pads, such as the Beast/Guardian. They never became uncomfortable during play, but I remained aware of them.

The pad’s stability impresses throughout testing. Across all corners and areas, I found no rocking or instability issues that sometimes plague cheaper glass pads. The silicone backing supports the entire surface evenly, giving consistent performance regardless of where you’re aiming.

Speed and Control

Speed-wise, the Minami sits high on the spectrum for glass mousepads. It’s noticeably quicker than my GLSSWRKS Hana and Kazemi, slightly faster than the SP-004, but not reaching the raw speed of the Tekkusai Beast/Guardian. The static friction (initial resistance to movement) stays very low, making micro-adjustments and tracking smooth.

Dynamic friction (resistance during movement) stays similarly low, creating a consistent glide throughout mouse movements. This speed-oriented character favors fluid motion over control.

The Minami shows minimal X/Y differences. Horizontal and vertical movements feel remarkably similar, helping build consistent muscle memory. This directional consistency creates a predictable glide, which is beneficial for tracking scenarios.

Where the pad falls short compared to textured options is stopping power. I sometimes overshot targets in precision games like FragPunk using standard PTFE skates. Switching to control-oriented skates helped significantly, but the inherently smooth surface never matches the natural stopping power of textured alternatives.

Skate Combinations

Testing different skates allowed fine-tuning the pad’s performance for various gaming scenarios:

Unusual Way Sport Silver Fox: The included skates provide a balanced experience. They reduce initial resistance for easier micro-adjustments while keeping enough control for consistent gameplay. These worked well across all games without excelling in any particular scenario. They are notably quieter on this pad than on textured glass.

Unusual Way Sport Black Fox: These add significantly more control than their Silver counterparts. Starting resistance and dynamic friction both increase noticeably. With these skates, the Minami transforms from speed-focused to more balanced. They are perfect for players who want the smooth surface but find the default setup too slippery.

X-Raypad Jades: This was my least favorite pairing. While quick, they felt inconsistent on the smooth surface, creating more noise. The “scratchy” feel clashed with the premium glide experience.

Ghostglides Cyclones: This became my go-to combo for all-around gaming. The Cyclones hit a sweet spot of speed and control on the Minami, providing enough initial resistance for accurate aiming while keeping the pad’s quick nature for tracking. This combo gave me precise flicks and micro-adjustments in FragPunk and Delta Force without overshooting.

Ultraglide RS: The fastest combo tested. These skates turn the Minami into a speed demon that shines in tracking-heavy games like Call of Duty. Tracking moving targets feels almost frictionless, though at the cost of some control. Speed demons will love this setup.

Gaming Performance

I tested the Minami across three different FPS games to see how it handles various gameplay scenarios.

In FragPunk, the smooth surface initially worked against it. The precision needed for headshots proved challenging with the standard Silver Fox skates due to limited stopping power. After switching to Ghostglides Cyclones, the experience improved markedly. The added initial resistance helped with those crucial micro-adjustments for precise aim. However, even with optimal skates, the Minami couldn’t match my GLSSWRKS Hana in tactical shooter.

Call of Duty is where the Minami truly excels. The fast-paced tracking and quick movements align perfectly with the pad’s speed-oriented design. Pairing it with Ultraglide RS skates created an ultra-smooth tracking experience that made following moving targets feel natural. In hectic multiplayer matches requiring tracking multiple enemies, the Minami’s low-friction surface gave a noticeable edge over more controlled pads.

Delta Force sits between precision and fast tracking. Using the Ghostglides Cyclones, the Minami handled varied engagements well. Long-range precision shots worked with some practice, while quick target transitions felt responsive. Once in a blue moon, I occasionally missed shots I’d typically hit with my Beast or SP-004, but not enough to impact overall performance.

The Minami favors players who rely on tracking over flick shots. Arm aimers will likely succeed more than wrist aimers due to the added control from more significant arm movements on the smooth surface.

Comparisons with Popular Glasspads

vs. SP-004: The Minami feels smoother and slightly faster than the SP-004. The SP-004’s distinct texture gives tactical feedback during use, while the Minami opts for pure smoothness. SP-004 offers better stopping power for precision aiming, but the Minami flows better for tracking.

vs. GLSSWRKS Kazemi: The Kazemi has more texture than the Minami while running slightly slower. This textured surface gives better stopping power and control, making it better for tactical shooters. For tracking scenarios, Minami’s smoother glide wins out. Design-wise, the Kazemi looks darker or more subdued against the Minami’s bold yet dreamy statement.

vs. GLSSWRKS Hana: The Hana runs significantly more controlled than the Minami, with higher static and dynamic friction. The Hana shines in precision scenarios but feels sluggish when tracking compared to the Minami. Its texture provides clear feedback during movements, something the smooth Minami lacks. Players from cloth pads will adapt more easily to the Hana than the slick Minami.

vs. Tekkusai Beast/Guardian: The Beast/Guardian still outpaces the Minami in raw speed. They offer a different glide experience with more textural feedback absent from the Minami. Their thicker glass creates more comfortable edges but increases overall height. These pads demand significant skill to master due to their extremely low friction, while the Minami sits at a more manageable speed level.

Durability

After 40+ hours of intermittent use, the Minami shows zero signs of wear or performance changes. The glass surface remains smooth and consistent as day one, with no slow spots or wear issues plaguing cloth pads.

The pad resists dust buildup surprisingly well. While all glass pads collect some dust, the Minami seems less affected than others in my collection. The included microfiber cloth makes quick work of any accumulated dust. The silicone backing maintains its grip without degradation, and the edges remain perfect with no chipping or damage.

The artwork shows excellent durability with no signs of fading or scratching after extended use. This matters for a limited edition item where visual appeal counts as much as performance.

Based on my experience with other glass pads, I expect the Minami to maintain its performance for years with basic care, making it a long-term investment rather than a consumable.

Final Thoughts

The Kanami Minami carves its path in the glass mousepad market. Instead of competing directly with texture-focused options like SP-004 or The Beast, it opts for ultra-smooth speed with stunning visuals. The collaboration with artist Opal_00_58 elevates it beyond mere performance gear into a statement piece for your desk.

Tracking-focused gamers will appreciate the Minami’s fluid performance, especially with the right skates. Call of Duty players particularly benefit from its smooth glide. Textured options like GLSSWRKS Hana make better choices for tactical shooter fans needing pixel-perfect accuracy.

At $109.99, the Minami is nicely priced. While the limited edition status, quality accessories, and solid construction justify the price, it’s also a decent investment for surface performance. For collectors valuing unique aesthetics alongside gaming performance, the Minami delivers a package that a few top competitors match.

The Minami has earned a spot in my rotation, especially for Call of Duty sessions where its tracking abilities shine. It hasn’t replaced my Beast for pure speed or GLSSWRKS Hana for tactical shooters, but its blend of speed, smoothness, and striking design makes it a worthy addition to my glass mousepad collection.

If you’re curious about other glass mousepads I’ve tested or want help finding the right peripheral for your gaming needs, check out my detailed guide to purchasing mousepads and mice, or visit the Rivions homepage for more in-depth reviews.

Recommendation Grade: Recommended for tracking-focused gamers and collectors; Conditional for precision gamers (depending on skate selection)

Feel Free to Ask Questions

Do you have questions about my experience with the Kanami Minami, or want to discuss peripherals in general? Contact me on social media.