There is an astonishingly wide range of Japanese knife types, each with its own distinct traits and applications. They generally fall into the following two main categories: modern Japanese knives and traditional Japanese knives. Modern […]
Mizuno Tanrenjo – the prestigious blacksmith workshop that put scent and soul into steel
When you open the box of a brand new Minamoto Akitada (源 昭忠) knife by Mizuno Tanrenjo (水野鍛錬所), the first thing to greet you is an unmistakable scent of pine charcoal — an instant 4th […]
Moritaka Hamono – the story of a 700 years old blade-making family
I have never met Akiko Moritaka in person, but we have exchanged many emails. Wife of 27th generation Moritaka craftsman Tsunehiro Moritaka, Akiko-san is responsible for the family business’ international outreach. Our conversations have never […]
Nigara Hamono — the 350-year-old knife company with two secret weapons and a taste for Andy Warhol
There’s something that sets Nigara Hamono apart from other knife-making families in Japan. One might argue that it is the 350 years of history, starting from making swords for Tsugaru clan in the early Edo […]
Sugimoto Hamono – the Tokyo Tsukiji knife brand for professional chefs
The history of Sugimoto (杉本) – a family-ran group of chef knife shops in Tokyo – is not well documented. While some say they started in the 1930s, there have been claims that Sugimoto was […]
Hinoura Hamono – The father and son team with over 100 years of bladesmithing family tradition
Hinoura Hamono is a knife-making workshop by Tsukasa Hinoura & Mutsumi Hinoura, the father and son team. Knifemaking by Hinoura can be traced back to the Meiji era when first-generation Hinoura, Shintaro Hinoura founded the knife forging business.
Yu Kurosaki – the young artisan who raised to the top of traditional knife making
A young artisan in his forties, Yu Kurosaki (黒崎 優) has become one of leading knife makers in Japan, winning top awards and attention for his hand-forged knives especially his Tsuchime and Suminagashi finish.
Kurouchi 