US Knife Forging Tour Sept 11-18, 2014

In September of 2014 the Japanese Culinary Arts Network (JCAN) brought three master knife craftsmen to the United States for an unprecedented tour demonstrating traditional Japanese knife making.

It was a great experience and a true rarity to see these time-honored knife making methods in the United States.  The tour included forging and engraving in locales across the U.S., kicking off in Princeton NJ on September 11, Then on to Brooklyn, Atlanta, Chicago and finishing in California.

The traditional process of forging steel into knives dates back over 1,000 years in Japan. These methods are still practiced today by a handful of skilled craftsmen using artisan methods to produce blades by hand that are some of the best in the world. JCAN is pleased to share this traditional craft to the U.S. and to introduce the public to the process involved in this fascinating art form.

 

About the Craftsmen:

Mr. Tadashi Enami is a second generation forging master from Sakai city. He has 28 years of forging master status and he specializes in Wakashizuke, a forging technique which combines two kinds of soft and hard metal to create a superior blade. He was designated a traditional crafts-person in 1997 by the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. This designation is given to select expert craftsmen involved in traditional arts.

Mr. Akimasa Oe is a second generation knife assembling and finishing master from Sakai city. After graduating from university in Osaka, he apprenticed and worked in other aspects of the knife industry in Japan before returning to take over his father’s business. He now has over 25 years of experience as an assembling and engraving master. He notes that the most difficult part when engraving in English is writing the letter O or R. These round letters are the most challenging, as these shapes do not appear in in the Japanese alphabet.

 

Tour Dates and Locations:

 

J-CAN Forging Craftsman Tour schedule

September 11, 2014 (THU) Demonstration of forging at Kitchen Kapers in Princeton NJ

 

September 12, 2014 (FRI) Demonstration of forging at The Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NY sponsored by Warren Kitchen Cutlery

 

September 13, 2014 (SAT) Demonstration of forging at The Brooklyn Kitchen Brooklyn, NY

 

September 14, 2014 (SUN) Demonstration of forging at Cook’s Warehouse Decatur, GA

 

September 15, 2014 (MON) Demonstration of forging at Northwesten Cutlery, Chicago IL

 

September 17, 2014 (WED) Demonstration of forging at The Culinary Institute of America St. Helena, CA sponsored by Sonoma Cutlery

 

September 18, 2014 (THU) Demonstration of forging at Perfect Edge, San Mateo, CA

 

 

About Kikuichi Cutlery

Kikuichi has a long and distinguished history with over 700 years of blade making. For most of its
history, Kikuichi manufactured Samurai swords that bore the emperor’s chrysanthemum symbol as
a mark of their excellence. Today, these swords are considered national treasures of Japan. Kikuichi
is proud to carry on the tradition of fine blade craftsmanship today, offering a selection of over three
hundred knives and scissors for both home and professional use.

Since Kikuichi New York, Inc. opened in 1997, Kikuichi Cutlery has been more readily available to chefs and high-end retail stores throughout US, Canada, and UK. For more information about Kikuichi Cutlery, please visit www.kikuichi.net or Kikuichi New York, Inc. at 560 Sylvan Ave., Suite 3110, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Tel 201-567-8388 Fax 201-567-8389 email at info@kikuichi.net