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Blacksmith Yoshimi Kato
Who I am
My name is Yoshimi Kato. I'm a Japanese blacksmith practicing my art in the Takefu Cutlery Village in Echizen.
This village was founded by my father-in-law, Hiroshi Kato, along with other renowned young blacksmiths such as Katsushige Anryu and Hideo Kitaoka, whose future was threatened by the industrial production of mass-produced knives.
In 1973, young blacksmiths aged between 20 and 30 decided to form a study group to discuss the future of knives in Echizen, until they met Kazuo Kawasaki in the spring of 1982.
Also a native of the region, this great designer presented the craftsmen with some thirty sketches of new handcrafted knives whose major innovation was their shape. In August of the same year, the Takefu Cutlery Village was born.
This was no easy project, and for a year, exchanges and prototypes went on late into the night. The aim was to pass on the tradition of the Echizen knife to the next generation.
In 1983, 17 new knives were born, and the artisans organized the Takefu Knife Village exhibition to showcase them. And so the adventure began.
Hiroshi Kato was a great master blacksmith of his time, so he taught me his craft of designing handmade knives from 2013, and then I took over his workshop when he retired.
My work
I perpetuate the work of my master in his workshop, which is now my own, but I also create new collections of Japanese knives.
My specialty is working with damascus. When I create an exceptional handcrafted knife, the damascus always has an original and singular shape.
I take particular care to use the careful techniques and meticulous processes taught by my master to honor Japanese tradition, and offer you top-of-the-range Japanese kitchen knives.
Our favorite knife
The VG10 Nickel Damascus cherrywood Japanese chef's knife!
Why this knife? Because the damascus workmanship is absolutely remarkable! A truly exceptional Japanese knife, its light-colored cherry wood handle contrasts wonderfully with the roughness of the steel. You can feel Yoshimi Kato's expertise in handcrafting!
And for even more choice, discover all my Japanese knife models!
