Mitsuaki Takada-san has trained under Hiroshi Ashi-san for years before setting up his own sharpening house, Takada Hamono late 2019. Takada-san has a unique sense of beauty in his patterns and profiles but what sets his work apart from other blades is his consistent convex grind that imbues both strength and cutting ability in perfect balance; additionally, his style minimizes ingredient stiction to the blade. He is a jolly man full of smiles, and we are proud to support his new venture.

Hand forged Blue #1 carbon steel from Tanaka, these Takada no Hamono blades have a high hardness point and maintain a sharp edge exceptionally well. Compared to its cousin White #1, it takes more time to sharpen but will stay sharp for longer. With its keen edge and convex geometry, these blades will smoothly cut through the toughest ingredients with ease. However, the edge is quite thin, thus we recommend users to cut with caution to avoid chipping. We recommend these blades to cooks with a gentle hand looking for a reliable carbon steel knife capable of handling nearly any task. 

Suiboku stands for “ink wash,” a style of painting originating in the Tang Dynasty of China using calligraphy-like brush strokes. The mirror polished edge combined with raw, dynamic lines from acid etching on the blade strikes a vivid comparison to the rivers and valleys portrayed in ancient East Asian paintings. Over time, a beautiful and subtle patina will develop on the blade.

A slicer ('Sujiihki' in Japanese) is a valuable tool for skinning, trimming and/or portioning protein items (fillet of salmon or turkey breast). Depending on the length, professionals use it as a utility blade or use it during service on the line. For home cooks, a slicer is a great blade for those special times of the year where you want to get even slices without striations on your turkey breasts and other roasts.

Brand: Takada no Hamono
Blacksmith: Tanaka Blacksmith 田中刃物製作所
Producing Area: Sakai-Osaka/ Japan
Profile: Sujihiki
Size: 300mm
Steel: Yasuki Blue (Aogami) #1, Soft Iron Clad
Handle: Ebony & Pakka Ferrule Octagonal
Total Length: 454mm
Edge Length: 298mm
Handle to Tip Length: 282mm
Blade Height: 40mm
Thickness: 2.3mm
Handle Length: 153mm
Weight: 186g
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Sharpener: Mitsuaki Takada