Wakui Specials

Toshihiro Wakui is a blacksmith from Sanjo, Niigata. He is the third generation of Wakui — a family that was known for making hand-forged crowbars. When demand for that craft disappeared, Wakui pivoted completely to kitchen knives. He apprenticed under Yoshikane Hamono, one of the most respected knife makers in Sanjo, and mastered the craft in four years.

He works in a small workshop packed with equipment from floor to ceiling. Every knife is forged by hand.

What stands out in his work is the cladding. Wakui hand-laminates his own iron and steel cladding, which makes it harder than standard san-mai construction. Combined with his heat treatment — around HRC 63–64 — you get a blade that holds an edge exceptionally well.

The geometry is classic Sanjo — strong spine that tapers toward the tip, convex workhorse grind, good fit and finish with rounded spine and heel. These are knives made to cut, not to display.

We carry several lines from Wakui at JNS. The Seiryu (清流 — Clear Stream) series is forged by Wakui and finished at JNS on Japanese water wheels and natural stones with Uchigumori. The Kokorozashi Wakui collaboration follows the same process. We also carry his standard line in Blue 2 and White 2 steel.

Wakui also makes Honyaki knives — very rare. He makes only a few per year and they are made exclusively for JNS.

All carbon steel — can rust. Wipe dry after use.