Blacksmith Masashi Yamamoto

Who am I?

My name is Masashi Yamamoto, and I forge exceptional Japanese knives for you in Sanjo, one of Japan' s cutlery strongholds.

Located in the Chubu region, Sanjo was originally a place dedicated to the manufacture of nails, which was key to the area's economic revival. Local blacksmiths then began to diversify, forging outdoor knives and agricultural tools.

Many years later, when industrialization was in full swing in Japan, the work carried out by the blacksmiths was gradually replaced by machines. That's when they decided to forge kitchen knives.

The blacksmiths passed on their skills to subsequent generations, who have carried on the tradition. Ancestral forging techniques have come down to me, and I continue to use them to forge my own handcrafted knives.

I learned the blacksmith's trade from my brother, Kazuomi. He is none other than Yoshikane Hamono 's master blacksmith!

My apprenticeship came to an end in 2013, the year I decided to turn my passion into my profession by setting up my own workshop.

My work

I specialize in high-end steels with a high degree of hardness. I apply special heat treatments and techniques to my blades to increase their hardness.

Despite my young age, I started teaching my techniques early on to two apprentices! I'm a pretty laid-back guy, with a style all my own, as I usually work in flip-flops, sometimes while smoking a cigarette!

Our favorite knife

At KnifeLeader, we have a soft spot for the Masashi Yamamoto SLD damascus 15cm Japanese honesuki knife!

In addition to its unusual blade shape, this knife is one of the most effective forged knives we offer on our site. The top of the blade tapers towards the tip, enabling it to penetrate food with virtually no resistance.

What's more, the nickel damascus creates unique waves that ripple across the blade, not to mention the mirror-polished finish that adds magnificent reflections!

The clear quince handle has a unique, elegant grain pattern, and is separated from the superb ebony bolster by a delicate white micarta ring. Last but not least, it's very comfortable to hold, for right- and left-handers alike!

All Masashi Yamamoto knives are waiting for you on KnifeLeader.eu!