Hand-forged SHINBU kitchen knife from Noto, Ishikawa
The predecessor to this unique kitchen knife was born to meet the needs of squid fishermen in Noto, but grew to be loved by the locals as an easy-to-use knife for just about everything in the kitchen. Now, a local forge called Fukube Kaji has created an updated version, with improvements such as rust-resistant stainless outer steel and improved handle to make it even better for everyday household use.
100% Handmade Japanese quality
Despite huge demand for Japanese knives and steel from overseas, the number of forges carrying on the tradition of hand forging are diminishing in Japan. Instead, mass-produced Japanese knives have become the norm.
The small team of blacksmiths at Fukube Kaji not only make their knives by hand, but they handle the entire process from start to finish—another rarity in Japan where the knife-making industry has a strong division of labor.