Traditional 700-year-old technique
Fukui Prefecture
Echizen Uchihamono
Echizen Uchihamono (forged knives) are said to have originated in 1337, when Chiyozuru Kuniyasu, a swordsmith in Kyoto, moved to the Echizen region (present Echizen City) looking for a better place to forge katana or Japanese swords and made sickles for neighboring farmers. It is said that every time Kuniyasu made a katana, he carved a guardian dog from a grindstone and sank it in a well. This contained his wish as an artisan that a sword must not be a tool for killing people and should be only a symbol of a samurai. This spirit has been handed down to artisans of Echizen Uchihamono, who are determined to make tools of the highest quality.
Designated as a traditional craft product in 1979 for the first time in the blade field
In recognition of its history and techniques, in 1979, Echizen Uchihamono became the first designated traditional craft in the blade field.
Echizen Uchihamono-superb craftspersonship shining in distinctive forging techniques and manual finishing
Echizen Uchihamono products are still being made while sticking to traditional Japanese forging techniques and manual polishing steps. Using the forging techniques, which were important for making Japanese swords, we make tough blades that have high strength in bending and breaking.
Echizen Uchihamono artisans’ pursuit
Echizen Uchihamono artisans continue to pursue how to make light, thin, robust and long-wearing blades so that any user can be satisfied regardless of material. Each Echizen Uchihamono product has a quality that can satisfy anyone who actually uses it.
Responding to changing times, we have transformed their excellent techniques into those for household utensils that are closely connected to people’s lives, and now we deal in a wide variety of products, including farming, forestry, gardening and fishery-related tools, in addition to familiar knives and other kitchen utensils, which are our main products. In this way, Echizen Uchihamono has continued to evolve into more user-friendly and beautiful products in people’s everyday lives by pursuing functionality and shape suited for usage.
A knife series that reflects the beauty and functionality of Japanese craftsmanship at the highest level.
The blade is made of a multiple-folded Super VG10 & VG2 laminate, a high-end cutting steel material that allows long-lasting sharpness. To make the most of the characteristics of this super steel that is unsurpassed in the four major properties required of the best knives – hardness, toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, the Master Blacksmiths of the Ryusen forge crafted the blades using the traditional Echizen Uchihamono forging technique and buffed it with the special technique to make its surface more beautiful. There are no other knives that surpass the sharpness and edge retention this our Yosegi Series.
The stunning geometric patterned handles are made using a traditional Japanese art called “Hakone Yosegi-zaiku”. This method combines a wide variety of timbers to create attractive patterns by using the natural fine grains and textures of wood.
Fully Hand Forged by Master Blacksmith Masutani san
Maker: Ryusen
Steel: Coreless VG10 & VG2 Stainless Steel
Blade: 128 Layers (Diamond Finish)
Handle: Combination of Walnut, Mizuki, Mahogany, Katsura-Jindai, Angsana, Movingui, Japanese Magnolia, Katsura
Hardness: 62±
The edge of this shape is almost flat for the entire length and is the consummate knife for the preparation of vegetables. The wide rectangular blade is ideal for scooping and the best shape for vertical chopping of hard and dense foods like cabbages, celeriac etc.
Function – Vegetable knife. For Slicing, Dicing and Mincing of vegetables.
Normal length – 160mm to 180mm
Tip: A few models have a completely flat edge with no curve so if you need to roll cut as well as vertically chop (to Julienne or Chiffonade herbs) select a model that has a slight curve towards the tip. This is the ‘uber’ knife for vegetables.
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