Forging Tour August 2012

This forging tour was the first large scale event presented by JCAN. It was a huge success, generating over $40,000 in knife sales along the tour and yielded some fantastic photos and media coverage. 

 

Heavy Table in Minneapolis posted this great write up:

http://heavytable.com/kikuichi-knife-forging-at-kitchen-window/

 

Plenty of photos here from the event in Brooklyn NY:

http://www.thebrooklynkitchen.com/7335/pop-up-knife-forging/

 

Here’s the original information about the tour:

In August of 2012 the Japanese Culinary Arts Network (JCAN) will bring three master knife craftsmen to the United States for an unprecedented tour demonstrating traditional Japanese knife making.


This is sure to be an incredible opportunity, as never before have these time-honored knife making methods been showcased across the United States. The tour will include forging and engraving in locales across the U.S., kicking off in Sonoma County, CA on August 12, stopping along the way in San Francisco, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Manhattan, and concluding with a closing reception in Brooklyn on August 18.

 

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.

 

The tour will feature three craftsmen who will illustrate the art of forging as well as knife finishing. In partnership with Kikuichi Knives, known for its distinguished history crafting Samurai swords, JCAN presents this tour to 10 locations with 9 hosting stores throughout the country. At each event the public will be able to see this craft in action and learn about the entire process, from raw iron to finished blade. One of the craftsmen, Mr. Oe, will be on hand to engrave knives for customers at each stop along the tour.

 

Press is encouraged to contact us ahead of time to attend the events and meet with the craftsmen. The schedule is packed and we want to make sure to accommodate all questions.

 

Please RSVP (anna@thebrooklynkitchen.com) for the closing press reception at the Brooklyn Kitchen August 18th
5-7pm.

 

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. Yuzo Tani is a second generation forging master from Sakai city. The craft was passed down from his father, and has developed his own expertise from over 30 years of forging experience. Like many traditional knife makers, his is a family business that will hopefully continue for many generations. His forged knives are sold throughout many high-end kitchen stores in Japan.

 

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

 

Sunday, August 12, 2012

11-3PM  Forging at Sign of The Bear 435 1st St. West, Sonoma, CA 95476, (707)996-3722

4:30-6:30PM Engraving at Sonoma Cutlery 130 Kentucky St. Petaluma CA 94952, (707)542-6433, www.sonomacutlery.com

 

Monday, August 13, 2012

11-4PM Forging at Perfect Edge 1640 Palm Ave. San Mateo, CA 94402, (650)349-2665, www.perfectedgecutlery.com

 

5-7PM Engraving at Town Cutler 1005 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94109, (415)260-4463, www.towncutler.com

 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

 

3-7PM Forging at Kitchen Window 3001 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55408, www.kitchenwindow.com

 

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

3-7PM  Forging at Cook’s Warehouse 180 W. Ponce De Leon, Decatur, GA 30030, (404) 377-4005, www.cookswarehouse.com

 

Thursday, August 16, 2012

10-2PM Forging at Cook’s Warehouse 1544 Piedmont Road Atlanta, GA 30324, (404)815-4993, www.cookswarehouse.com

 

Friday, August 17, 2012

10-12PM  Forging at The James Beard House presented by JCAN , associated with Bowery Kitchen Supply 167 W12th St., New York, NY 10011, (212) 675-4984, www.jamesbeard.org www.bowerykitchens.com Invitation only!

 

3:30-7:30PM   Forging at Warren Kitchen & Cutlery
6934 Rt 9 Rhinebeck, NY 12572, (845) 876-6208, www.warrenkitchentools.com

 

Saturday, August 18, 2012

11-3PM Forging at Smorgasburg sponsored by The Brooklyn Kitchen 27 N. 6th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211, www.smorgasburg.com

 

5-7PM Press Reception at The Brooklyn Kitchen Invitation only! 100 Frost St., Brooklyn NY 11211 (718) 389-2982 www.thebrooklynktichen.com

 

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