Manufacturers

Hatsukokoro is a Japanese brand founded in 2019, aiming to bring Japan's finest products to the world. Its name comes from a Japanese proverb meaning "Never forget your first purpose." By blending tradition with modernity, it promotes Japanese culture on a global scale.

Hokiyama is one of the leading knife brands in the Tosa (Kochi) region and is renowned for its unparalleled quality. While skillfully preserving the traditional clad forging method, a tradition stemming from 800 years of Tosa knife-making history, it strives for innovation for the future. By researching the latest technologies, materials, and production processes while producing traditional knives, it aims to further advance the Tosa knife-making culture.

Founded in 1953, Ikeuchi Hamono is a four-generation family forging workshop operating in Miki Town, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Renowned worldwide for its traditional Kogatana hand-knives, the workshop produces a wide range of kitchen and specialty knives. A team of just eight master craftsmen breathes life into each knife with years of experience and a love of their craft.

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.

Mcusta Zanmai swords are crafted in Seki, Japan, a city with an 800-year-old sword-making tradition. They feature traditional Wa handle designs, crafted from layers of high-temperature compressed Pakka wood. The VG-10 steel blades are precisely machined using laser cutting technology, and each blade is meticulously hand-sharpened by Mcusta masters using Japanese water stones. Combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, Zanmai offers unparalleled quality.

Miki Hamono is a small-scale blacksmithing workshop in Miki village, Japan, that has been producing Japanese kitchen knives for over 70 years. Hamono-san continues to utilize the techniques of the Matsue clan, renowned for their exquisite samurai swords for 400 years. Miki Hamono knives stand out for their excellent balance of quality and price.

Tosa in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, was a region famous for its knife making in 1590, home to 399 blacksmiths. The mild climate and abundant rainfall made it easy to obtain high-quality wood, which increased the production of knives for forest workers and military commanders. Founded in 1955, Muneishi Hamono, run by second-generation blacksmith Hirotaka Muneishi, produces wood-cutting knives, while third-generation blacksmith Kosuke Muneishi makes kitchen knives. The knives are hand-tempered, forged, and sharpened using traditional methods.

Suncraft, a manufacturer of traditional, high-quality, and premium knives in Seki, Japan since 1948, is a pioneer in Japanese kitchen knives. Seki is known as the knife-making center of Japan, and Suncraft offers a diverse range of knives, from classic Japanese kitchen knives to the famous three-rivet Western-style knives. The common feature of these knives is their excellent price-performance ratio and impressive sharpness.

Takamura Hamono is run by third-generation blacksmith Terukazu Takamura, and its knives are crafted in Echizen, Fukui, Japan, a renowned center for knife making. Takamura Hamono knives can be described as having an "elegant and stylish" design; they possess perfect balance and are crafted with the utmost care and attention. These knives also offer an excellent price/performance ratio.

Tsunehisa is a brand that sources knives from various blacksmiths and forging workshops across Japan. Knives from renowned knife-making regions such as Sakai, Tosa, and Seki offer a variety of steel types, styles, and finishes. However, each knife shares a common characteristic: high quality and meticulous craftsmanship.

Yasuda Hamono originated in Seki, a city in Japan renowned for its knife-making tradition, and produces its knives through continuous research and development. They are particularly meticulous in utilizing the unique properties of knife steel through advanced heat treatment and sharpening techniques. With their high-quality, sharp, and durable steel, Yasuda Hamono knives are an ideal starting point for any cook or chef looking to improve their culinary skills. Known for their superior craftsmanship and performance, these knives offer excellent value for money.

Yukihiro Sakai apprenticed under Nishida-San in Kumamoto and learned his masterful technique of forging steel. Adopting these techniques, Sakai-San continues to make knives just like his teacher. Recently, he established his own workshop and began producing his own knives in Kumamoto.