I live in a good area for Japanese knives. The best and most widely used knives in Japan are apparently from the city of Sakai, near Osaka. A few months ago I did a bit of study as I needed a few gifts for family in the US. I went to this store in Namba for all of my knives: http://www.ichimonji.co.jp/ (Sorry, mostly Japanese)

Pocket knives are largely illegal to carry in Japan, so I don't know much about them. However, I did look into the kitchen knives and picked up a few (and even had my family name engraved in the blade in Japanese). I believe the kitchen knives you got are usually just for vegetables. They supposedly aren't good for meat or fish. There are different shaped blades for those tasks.

I'm always amazed when I walk into these knife stores. They have thousands of knives, some of which can go for 10s of thousands of dollars. These guys are all from a line of sword smiths and they still pound out and fold the metal by hand. There is precious little automation used in the manufacturing process. I'm saving up for some more kitchen knives now...

ah, there you are, Bill!

> the city of Sakai
Yes, thats what I heard: Japanese cutlery originates from Sakai, the capital of the samurai sword and traditional forging.  These are from Seki City, which is now considered the home of modern Japanese kitchen cutlery, using state of the art technology. (The butcher knife is all handmade, but the pocket knife is cut by lasers then assembled by hand.)


>the kitchen knives you got are usually just for vegetables

The knife I got really isn't a Japanese shape, it's an all purpose European/German shape... so its not like a chiseled edge Nakiri bōchō, but more shaped like a general-purpose utility knife, like a santoku. That that is what makes this knife cool if you are used to European knives, which I assume my future and father in law is, because you get a shape you like but with better steel:)


>I'm saving up for some more kitchen knives now...
Tell me about it. Just that one knife cost me $300 and it was 'on sale'. The pocket knife was $167 ($100 off retail) but you can find the same knife with different handles for less. I don't know, I think they are outrageously cool.

ok, check out my photoshop mockup...



Tell me that won't be the coolest thing...

I went with the santoku style knives, which as you know are more general purpose...


If you get into the Japanese knife markets there are just a ton of super-specialized blades that will never be of use to someone who isn't running a sushi shop. When was the last time you needed an eel knife? (Don't ask me whether it's a fresh water or salt water eel...)

Although they look cool, I'm not sure I would go with laser cut steel knives. I know a guy who is in tight with the knife makers in Sakai who runs his own shop and he has convinced me that the hand forged stuff is the only way to go.

You've got to come to Osaka and give me an excuse to do the knife factory tour!

>I went with the santoku style knives
That looks awesome:) I would too for exactly the reason you mentioned - they have specialized knives for EVERYTHING, so unless you are a chef or a ninja, you might as well get a basic all purpose kitchen knife.  But since the guy I'm getting this for is a cook from Bulgaria, I'm going to have to guess that he is used to (and prefers) European shaped knives.


>laser cut steel knives.
The Shun is handmade but the Mcusta is definitely production... but its the only Japanese folding knife I can find that has a 'tip up' left handed clip, and a Damascus blade.

If you want a fixed blade, that's a different story...


...I think once you go folding, it is no longer 'traditional', so high tech is ok. Plus, I'm going to further bastardize it by welding a hook on it. But when it's done, it'll be exactly what I want and I'll never need another one.


>You've got to come to Osaka
I'd love to.

I wonder if any of the stores around me would make a custom folding knife. I know they will make made-to-order kitchen cutlery and fixed blades. The problem then is the cost.

What are you going to do with a $2000 kitchen knife?

...wow those are spectacular.


>I wonder if any of the stores around me would make a custom folding knife.

I have to admit that I was really surprised when it came to folding knives... they do have some crazy old fashioned folders...



...and they definitely have ultra high tech commando...




...but they didn't have much in the way of hybrids.  I also hit a huge barrier with left handed (tip up) knives right off the bat.  Even the one I ordered has a right handed release, but other that that, it's everything I want, minus that beer opener/quick draw hook thing.  In fact, I really can't imagine anything better. Folded Japanese steel over a VG-10 core, burled wood handled, left handed, soon to be customized with a one handed quick draw feature. All for under the bargain price of $250(?)

ok, the second of the two knives finally came in and was waiting for me upon my arrival.  In anticipation of getting that opener welded on it, I temporarily ghetto-rigged it with a zip tie, and while it may not look too nice, it's working.

Click here to see me recreate the dramatic tention of 'Taxi Driver'...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151769093760252

...unfortunately I don't have the right sized torque wrench to switch the clip yet, so I'm using my right hand so I'm a little awkward on my draw, because I'm a south paw... plus I was watching the screen, instead of paying attention to what I was doing... but, man, that quick draw feature is just badass, zip tie or not.

Wow, I LOVE the wood in the handle!

See? That's what I said too.  I think it's the nicest one.  It's called Burled Quincewood. We have expensive tastes...

Bill, you probably are in a good position to start a high-end knife export business.

Yeah. I hadn't thought of it. In Japan it's illegal to carry any of the pocket knives that dogboy is purchasing, so I don't see many of them around. I should talk to my friend who owns a knife store and see what can be setup. I didn't realize there was such a demand.

Bummer! http://www.billsblades.com/ already taken.

>I didn't realize there was such a demand.

I'm not sure what kind of demand there really is for Japanese knives in the States. But I agree if you can get access to wholesale product, you might carve out a little piece of business in this industry:)

> billsblades.com
billsblades.jp is sitll there..

Hmmm... Any kind of cutlery would be possible. There's the restaurant business to think about too. I shall investigate. This could be a fun area that apparently is SEO'd by amateurs.