Handle Material: octagonal desert ironwood with black
Sakai Kikumori
Sakai Kikumori knives are crafted by Kawamura Hamono, a family-operated cutlery company renowned for its production of high-quality Japanese and Western-style kitchen knives. Situated in Sakai, one of Japan's oldest and most esteemed knife-making centers, Kawamura Hamono has been crafting knives since the 1920s. Over the years, they have cultivated enduring partnerships with some of Sakai's finest blacksmiths and sharpeners, ensuring a tradition of excellence and craftsmanship in every knife they produce.
Yoshikazu Tanaka
Working alongside his two sons,Yoshikazu Tanakameticulously oversees the production of each blade, ensuring they uphold his standards of excellence. Collaborating with premier sharpeners in Sakai, Tanaka guarantees that every knife achieves superior sharpness and precision, cementing his reputation for crafting exceptional blades.
Tanaka's expertise lies in crafting blades exclusively from Shirogami steel and Aogami carbon steel. With over fifty years of experience in knife-making, he relies on his intuition and honed skills rather than modern tools. For instance, he gauges the steel's temperature by observing its color, eschewing the use of a thermometer. Despite his traditional approach, Tanaka continuously seeks refinement, incorporating conventional tools in his knife-making process.
Utilizing pine charcoal, straw ash, and a temperature-controlled kiln, Tanaka meticulously heat-treats and forges his knives to perfection.
