Thread: Addresses to buy japanese tools in japan?

Hi fjuhec

I entered 'japanese dovetail chisels' into Google and during the first 5 pages, came up with 2-4 Japanese shops, in Japan.

I did notice that one of the sites, or maybe it was Soatoz' had Japanese knives on it.

cheers
Wendy

Try here. A good guy who knows a lot including many Japanese blacksmiths.

Hi fjuhec, I'm in Japan, well Tokyo.

I've not made the trip out to any of the local or not so local blacksmiths yet, but I'd sure like to go.

If you are planning on going to any around Tokyo, maybe we could hook up?

Do you speak Japanese?

if not, maybe I could tag along a help you out with that?

Cheers!

A Spaniard and a Canadian in Japan organising a visit to Japanese tool stores from within an Aussie forum. Yep, now I've seen it all ...

Originally Posted by Groggy

A Spaniard and a Canadian in Japan organizing a visit to Japanese tool stores from within an Aussie forum. Yep, now I've seen it all ...

I guess we have gone "Global"

Thanks for the search tip and the link.

Stu, I don't speak japanese but I have a friend there that can help me. I will stay at his house near Tokyo and I plan to visit some cities as far as Hiroshima.

It would be very nice if we can meet and look for a shop near Tokyo while I am there.
I think it could be fun. For now I haven't found any shop in Tokyo but I will continue searching until I go to Japan in August. We can keep in touch to organize the meeting.

Cheers!

Hi,

I know way too many, don't know where to start with. When you say a knife, what kind of knife? What kind of steel? How much do you intend to spend on one?

If you are keen, let me know the above, and hopefully I can hook you up with nice tool shops or blacksmiths. Just around Tokyo there are Nagahiro, Hidari Hisasaku, Konobu, Kanda Kikuo (Mosaku), Metsugu Norimitsu, Ishido, Heiji, etc. Many many shops apart from the blacksmiths too. But basically blacksmiths don't really deal directly with customers in Japan (some do, but it is generally considered taboo, due to the pressure from the wholesalers), so you might not be albe to place any order, especially if your friend doesn't speak fluent Japanese. Also they don't have any ready made tools, so you'd have to bring a blue print with you, preferably a wooden model, and ask the blacksmith to make it to the spec.

You won't be shown selection of tools to choose from or anything, unless you go to more modern westernized tool shops like "Tokyo Hands" a department store like large scale hardware store. Traditional Japanese blacksmiths and shops might even seem relectant to sell anything, and you might feel this is because you are a "gaijin (foreigner)", but NO that's not the case. They are like that even if you are Japanese. They don't want to deal with anyone who doesn't know about the tools. They don't care about selling.

I can't really recommend anyone without more details but try Tsuchida Hamono Ten (土田刃物店) in Sangenjaya　（三軒茶屋）, Tokyo. The most famous tool shop in Japan. Super small, you'd be surprised how small it is. But in the back there are tons of super rare tools stocked. But unless you bring someone who re~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ally knows about J tools, you won't be likely to be shown those high quality tools. He'll just ask you what you are after, and if you can't be very specific, he'll just show you economy tools. Not suited for novice tool fans in that sense. Don't expect any friendly service. But this is the most traditional Japanese tool shop.

If you can go to Ibaragi prefecture, visit Nakaya Heiji （中屋平治）. You can see his chef's knife in my HP. He makes various tools, so I'm sure he can take your orders. I can speak to him for you that you are coming to see him if you'd like. He should be the friendliest blacksmith in Japan along with Tasai, but his tools are very expensive because he does everything the traditional way using very old steel stock.

Ishido (石堂) is now in Tochigi which is close from Tokyo, so you might want to visit the 12th generation Yoshitaka (Hideo has passed away just a while ago) as well. Hideo was one of the most famous blacksmith in Japan.

None of above mentioned people speak a word of English so be sure to take a Japanese speaking friend with you if you decide to visit them, and better if you did some research on J tools if you are not too familiar, otherwise you won't be able to comunicate with them at all. Shirogami ichigou, aogami ichigou, tannso-kou, goukin-kou, nihon-ji, kamaji, etc.

Hi Soatoz, sorry to hijack the thread a bit.

I work near Miki City and was wondering if you know any stores there to buy tools from? saws and chisels.

The problem with Miki City is that like many "country" cities they are not really cities like in western terms. Miki is sought of sprawled out all over the place. So any guidance as to where to visit would be great.

Thanks
Rob

Hi Soatoz, thanks for the advice.

The kind of knife I am using right now is a cheap knife made by a local company used by electricians. I bought it for 5 Euro at a local store and I have been using it for some time now. I have attached a picture of it. It has a good edge.

The main problem with the knife I am using now is that its blade is not very thin, it is too wide. Its length is good enough.

I have been checking your site and you have some knives like what I am looking for. The kuri-kogatana pairs look nice, the kiridashi also look interesting and the watetsu knives too. I think I could spend 300-500 Euro in the knife if I like it. I am looking for a white steel knife, with good edge to do woodcarving and use it as my main carving tool.

What I don't know is the difference between the different kinds of knives (kuri-kogatana and others) or if they are strong enough to carve the wood, not only marking it. I am not looking for a marking knife but I don't know which ones are for marking.

Originally Posted by RobTro

Hi Soatoz, sorry to hijack the thread a bit.

I work near Miki City and was wondering if you know any stores there to buy tools from? saws and chisels.

The problem with Miki City is that like many "country" cities they are not really cities like in western terms. Miki is sought of sprawled out all over the place. So any guidance as to where to visit would be great.

Thanks
Rob

Hi Rob,

Hijack anytime mate. This kinda hijacking is always welcome.

First of all let me ask you if you speak good Japanese or you have any J friend who knows well about tools you can bring with.

Cheers

The kind of knife I am using right now is a cheap knife made by a local company used by electricians. I bought it for 5 Euro at a local store and I have been using it for some time now. I have attached a picture of it. It has a good edge.

If you are after this kind of Euro style knife, you'd have to go to a knife maker, rather than a traditional blacksmith or toolshop. Basically buying from a retailer would be cheaper than going to the maker directly. Makers would seldome sell cheaper than the retail price. This is to protect the wholesalers. The makers and the wholesalers are mutually supporting each other. This is the same with the traditional blacksmiths.

The main problem with the knife I am using now is that its blade is not very thin, it is too wide. Its length is good enough.

I see, but J knives are even thicker I think.

I have been checking your site and you have some knives like what I am looking for. The kuri-kogatana pairs look nice, the kiridashi also look interesting and the watetsu knives too. I think I could spend 300-500 Euro in the knife if I like it. I am looking for a white steel knife, with good edge to do woodcarving and use it as my main carving tool.

I see, if you have that much budget in your mind, I'm sure you can find great knives! I envy ya

What I don't know is the difference between the different kinds of knives (kuri-kogatana and others) or if they are strong enough to carve the wood, not only marking it. I am not looking for a marking knife but I don't know which ones are for marking.

I don't know why but so many people seem to be thinking Kiridashi is used for marking (is there a book or something that explains so???), but no, Kiridashi is a utility knife. Only shiragaki (Shirahiki, Shirabiki) is the knife used for marking. If you use Kiridashi for marking, you'll end up cutting the rule.

http://www.geocities.com/soatoz/hamo...Shirahiki.html

Kurikogatana and Kiridashi is for carving and cutting.

===

Anyway, if you are interested in that kind of knives, hmm where should you go...?

Well Heiji will make you a great knife totally to your design. If you are interested in visiting the blacksmith in person, Heiji would be my first recommendation. With your budget, unless you ask for Watetsu for jigane, you can probably buy 2 to 3. Heiji sell his tools directly to the public, so you won't be paying more than the retailed price either.

Cheers~~~

Hi Soatoz,

Well my Japanese is not great but not bad. I seem to get by chatting to people. Got a house built so I suppose It should be OK

Rob

Originally Posted by RobTro

Hi Soatoz,

Well my Japanese is not great but not bad. I seem to get by chatting to people. Got a house built so I suppose It should be OK

Rob

Hi Rob,

I just spoke to dad on the phone, but unfortunately there aren't much tool shops in Miki that he can recommend. There are a lot in Tokyo area but there are only wholesalers in Miki.

He said if you are interested he can tell you a very good saw doctor who lives in Miki but that's about it he can come up with.

Sorry I can't be of any help.

Yeah, sort of what I guessed as it was pretty hard to find much driving around. Miki is famous for making the tools but it doesn't have much in the way of selling it seems. I was hoping to go a see and chat with the people about what s good at reasonable prices etc. But I can always just use the differnt sites online to purchase from. ANd I can go into nipponbashi to the trade area. That's where I usually go anyway. Just thought I'd check to see about Miki as it is not far from work and has lots of famous smiths.

thanks anyway.

fjuhec, have you checked out the japanese carving chisels and tools. Not just knives but rather chisels. I see a few on the auction sites here. But You may REALLY want a knife so, good luck.

Rob