Our Japanese Excursion - The Beginning

September 22, 2010

As many of you know, Sara and I are going to be spending the next three months in Japan, meeting knife makers, stone companies, and anyone else we have time to talk to. In the process, we are hoping to find cool new products for our customers, increase our knowledge so we can better answer questions, and take lots of pictures to make you want to visit Japan more (everyone should visit at least once) ;) . During this time, we will be adding all kinds of new products to our store… new knives, new stones, and some other little surprises. We will also be introducing you to a lot of the makers we work with (and some new ones). When time permits, we will try to give you a heads up of who we are meeting with, so that, if you would like, we can take questions from you to be answered by the makers.

Japanese Knife Imports business cards for Jonathan Broida, with his name in English and Japanese

So here we go…

After a nearly 10 hour flight, we arrived two days ago in Japan.

Airplane wing over clouds on the flight to Japan

After a few short train rides, a little bit of food, and some praying for good luck at a shrine (who can resist a buddah-belly statue for good luck in business?), we started our quest.

Interior of a Japanese train car with red seats

Empty train platform and tracks in Japan

Commuters waiting on a busy Tokyo subway platform

Small dishes of a Japanese set meal, including a grilled patty and simmered vegetables

Small bronze lucky-god statue at a shrine, under white paper streamers

In addition to the many knife makers and stone companies we will be meeting with, we decided to take some time and track down really cool traditional craftsmen in some other fields as well. One of the first places we went to was a Scissor shop in Tokyo. For many years, these guys have been known for making excellent traditionally forged scissors. They make scissors in both blue and white steel, and have a variety of sizes. The shop owners are extremely knowledgeable and took the time to explain a little about scissor sharpening and general care. Their family has been forging scissors for generations. The shop has some very cool scissors from the Taisho period on display on the right side of the store as you enter. There is a chance you might be seeing some of scissors pop up on our store at some point soon ;)

Shop display of hand-forged scissors in trays with yellow price tags

Scissors and shears hanging on a green display board in a cutlery shop

After that, it was off to Tsukiji… I just wouldn’t feel right without stopping by here. The first single bevel Japanese knives I bought for myself, I bought in Tsukiji (at Masamoto). I still use those knives today.

Crowded market street in the Tsukiji outer market

There are a few knife shops in the Tsukiji area. The oldest four are Masamoto, Aritsugu, Sugimoto, Masahisa. Nenohi is a newer addition (but cool nonetheless). We took some time to walk around, take pictures and ask lots of questions. Tsukiji is an interesting place for knives… all of the knife makers there (except perhaps nenohi) really gear themselves towards providing professionals with working knives. To them, it’s very important to see their knives get serious use… they take pride in this. As with most Japanese knife shops, each shop had one or two people standing around sharpening knives. It’s quite a spectacle… especially when you see a guy in the back sharpening a 4 foot long maguro hocho on a huge rotating wheel (he was shy though… no pictures).

Narrow corridor leading to a knife shop in Tsukiji, with a man in a red shirt

Two long tuna knives in a red-lined display case

Packed knife shop counter in Tsukiji with knives and tools on display

Wooden shop sign with Japanese characters over a Tsukiji knife shop entrance

Rows of knives on a green counter in a Tsukiji knife shop, with a TV camera crew filming

Knives laid out across a long green display counter in a Tsukiji knife shop

Row of long single-bevel knives with wooden handles standing upright in a shop display

Two yanagiba knives with wooden handles lying on paperwork on a shop counter

Tall single-bevel knives standing upright in a lit display case

Close view of long knife blades reflecting light in a glass display case

Glass display case of Japanese knives lit in green, with price labels

Long rows of single-bevel knives with wooden handles behind glass in a knife shop

Knives and wooden saya resting on stands in a display case with red felt

Tsukiji knife shop storefront with a blue noren curtain and green awning

Large knives displayed upright in a shop window

Shopkeeper standing in front of glass cases full of knives

After Tsukiji, we were going to swing by Kiya, but it seems like they are in the process of moving and expanding. I guess we’ll have to see them in December.

Gold Japanese characters on a black shop sign