Ginsan (Honyaki)

Elevate your culinary art with KIREAJI's Ginsan (Honyaki) collection, where each knife promises the perfect harmony of rust resistance and enduring sharpness.

Traditional craftsmen working on this collection

Shogo Yamatsuka

Japanese Knife Ginsan Craftsmanship

  • Mr. Yamatsuka began his career as a blacksmith in 1974, and in 2012, he was recognized as a traditional craftsman with excellent forging skills in the Sakai blade-making sector.
  • He is a craftsman in Sakai, rare for his mastery of Ginsan steel.
  • Building on the rust-resistant Ginsan forging techniques learned from his father, he is always aiming to improve his skills.

Tadayoshi Yamatsuka

Master of Japanese Knife Mirror Polishing

  • Mr. Yamatsuka was recognized as a traditional craftsman in 2022.
  • Excelling in blade sharpening skills, especially for thin blades
  • Renowned in Sakai for his mirror polished technique on Japanese knives.

Ginsanl (Honyaki) Japanese Knife Collection

At KIREAJI, Ginsan steel is crafted by traditional craftsman Shogo Yamatsuka, one of the rare artisans in Sakai specializing in Ginsan steel.

KIREAJI's Three Promises to You

  • 1. High-quality Japanese Knive

    We offer knives crafted by craftsmen from Sakai City.

    Honbazuke 
  • Honbazuke

    2. Genuine Sharpness

    To ensure you experience sharpness, we provide a free Honbazuke by our skilled craftsmen.

  • 3. Lifetime Knife Use

    Every knife comes with a free Saya(Sheath) for durability. We also provide paid after-sales services with Sakai City Japanese knife workshop.
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What is Ginsan?

Ginsan, by Hitachi Metals, is a stainless steel known for rust resistance, sharpness, and durability. It offers carbon steel-like cutting performance and is valued in Japanese culinary craftsmanship.

The Brilliance of Ginsan

Honyaki

Honyaki knives are known for their premium quality and beautiful patterns, made from a single piece of steel. The sharpness of these knives is long-lasting due to their high hardness, and the traditional method used in their creation stabilizes the internal structure and prevents the coarsening of particles, similar to the process used for Japanese swords. As a result, Honyaki knives offer the advantages of aesthetic beauty, sustained sharpness, and resistance to warping. However, they also have drawbacks, such as being difficult to sharpen, vulnerable to impact, and being expensive.

Features of Ginsan Honyaki

  • Gyuto made from Ginsan

    Lasting Sharpness

    The combination of Ginsan steel and the Honyaki method ensures the blade remains sharp for an extended period.

  • Yanagiba made from Ginsan

    Durability and Maintenance

    The use of high-carbon stainless steel makes these knives resistant to rust and relatively easy to care for.

  • Yanagiba made from Ginsan

    Fusion of Tradition and Innovation

    Ginsan Honyaki knives represent a blend of traditional Honyaki techniques with modern steel technology, offering knives that are both highly functional and superior in performance.
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Japanese Knife Materials

In the realm of Japanese knives, the choice of material plays a crucial role in performance and maintenance. This guide delves into the nuances of carbon and stainless steel, including popular variants like White Steel #2 and Blue Steel #2, and newer innovations like ZDP189 and Ginsan.

Japanese Knife Materials

The Origin of Craftsmanship

  • When I was younger, I did everything on my own, but now I need help. As I get older, I realize the importance of everyone’s support.

  • In my youth, I wanted to do everything myself. Forging the steel, shaping it, finishing each piece with my own hands—that was my pride. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to see that there are limits to what I can do alone. Now, it’s only with the help of others that the work flows smoothly. I feel that it’s essential for artisans to share skills and support one another. Passing down my knowledge and techniques to the next generation while working together to create something truly exceptional—that, I believe, is the future of craftsmanship.
Sakai Traditional Craftsmen Collection