Gihei

Established in 1928, Gihei remains one of the pioneering small blacksmith shops in Niigata Prefecture. Owner Atsushi Hosokawa is committed to using and developing knives with the finest steels available. The company specializes in both traditional Hitachi steels and modern high-performance steels such as HAP40 or ZDP189. Gihei Hamono is highly regarded for their exceptional heat treatment and edge retention. Their knives feature a 50/50 grind with an exposed wide bevel, resulting in a thin edge and a grind low enough to provide excellent food release.