Masutani Hamono (Kunio Masutani)

Born in 1944, Kunio Masutani grew up in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. He began his journey as a blacksmith alongside his father, and at the age of 30, he established his own forging workshop. His VG-10 steel blades are remarkably sharp, like razor blades, right out of the box.

What sets Masutani apart from other masters is his production of a limited number of models, but with exquisite craftsmanship. He only produces three models: Gyuto, Santoku, and Nakiri, and none of the blades exceed 18 cm in length.