Japanese Knife Guide

Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa Knives, Reviews & Products

Knife Brand azumaminamoto no masahisa knives reviews & products

Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa has its roots in the sword smiths who served the Minamoto clan, who established the Kamakura Shogunate, and applies their skills to making kitchen knives. Founded in 1872, the kitchen knife business has a history of 140 years.

Unusually for the time, the company sent its engineers overseas to bring Western kitchen knife technology back to Japan, leading the development of Western kitchen knives in Japan, including the Gyuto.

Today, the company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of various types of Japanese and Western kitchen knives, and continues to produce knives that are loved by craftsmen in Tsukiji and other fish markets, as well as by Japanese culinary artisans.

In this article, I will explain in simple terms the history of Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa, recommended knives, and how to purchase them from outside Japan.

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Brand History of Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa

Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa official site

Japanese sword-making techniques are highly regarded worldwide for their high sharpness and beautiful appearance.

As a sword smith in the service of the Minamoto clan, who established the prosperous Kamakura shogunate around 1200, Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa converted his business from sword manufacturing to kitchen knife manufacturing in Osaka in 1872, applying the sword smithing techniques that had been handed down from generation to generation.

Around the same time, his second son, Tetsujiro Nakamura, opened his own business in Tokyo and began to call himself “Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa,” the name of the first generation that continues to this day.

He set up his head office near the fish market, the center of Tokyo’s food market at that time, and continued to support the development of Japanese cuisine by providing high quality kitchen knives to fishermen and chefs in the market.

Around 1940, Taro Sumida, a kitchen knife technician, was dispatched to Europe and the United States to learn Western-style knife manufacturing techniques and popularize Western-style knives such as Gyuto and Santoku knives in Japan.


Today, Yuka Ogawa, the fourth generation of the family, makes use of the sword forging techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation to manufacture and sell kitchen knives to chefs around the world through the main store in Tsukiji, Tokyo and the online store.

Feature of Azumaminamoto-no Msashisa Knives

Because we have been making knives near the fish market, we have many specialized knives for cutting fish.

For example, we have fugu-pulling knives that are indispensable for cooking blowfish, eel knives, hamo-kiri knives, and wide salmon knives that are suitable for cutting large fish such as salmon from the skin to the bone.

In addition, they also produce a thin-bladed knife with a square tip, the Higashi type, and a willow-bladed knife with a square tip, the Tako-hiki knife.

Not only Japanese kitchen knives, but also Western kitchen knives such as Gyuto, Petty knife, and Suikomi knife are available as well, as evidenced by the history of the advanced introduction of Western kitchen knives to Japan.

Recommended Knife Products

For people who are looking for high quality Japanese knives, Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa makes several knife sets.

Here are 5 knife sets of Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa.

Set-A.Damascus Multipurpose knives Traditional Kiritsuke style

Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa Official Store

You can purchase a set of Gyuto and Petty knife at a discounted price. The Gyuto is an all-purpose knife, and the Petty knife is suitable for detailed work, and can be used for all kinds of food. Both knives are made of damascus, a material that is both highly sharp and rust-resistant, making them easy to use at home. In addition, the unique Damascus pattern on the blade enhances the design and is highly popular among people who are particular about their appearance.

Set-B.Damascus Multipurpose knives Western style

Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa Official Store

An all-purpose knife made of the highest quality material, VG10. This is an authentic all-purpose knife for professional cooks.

Set-C.Damascus knives with handle made from Chestnut

Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa Official Store

A set of four knives, each with a blade made of high quality material and a handle made of Chestnut Tree, which becomes more and more comfortable in your hand the more you use it, and is non-slip even when wet. The set includes a beef knife, a vegetable knife, a petty knife, and a muscle knife.

Set-D.Damascus knives with handle made from Rosewood

Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa Official Store

Like Set C, this set includes a beef knife, a petty knife, a vegetable knife, and a muscle knife. The handle is made of popular Rosewood, which is brighter in color than the Chestnut tree. The more you use it, the more comfortable it will become in your hands.

Set-E.Damascus knives Traditional Japanese style

Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa Official Store

This is a set of three traditional single-edged Japanese kitchen knives: a de-bade knife, a willow-blade knife, and a thin-blade knife. The blade is made of the highest quality material, Blue steel No.1, and the handle is made of the popular Magnolia tree & Buffalo horn (Octagon shape), making this a high quality knife set for professional chefs.

Reviews of Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa

If you look at the reviews of Azuma Minamoto’s Masahisa knives, you will see that many people appreciate how sharp they are and how beautiful they look.

People often ask me
“Which knife do you recommend?
is a question that is often asked.
Tougen Masahisa
This is the only one. There is no doubt about it.

I’m sorry I ordered it so lightly… I couldn’t find the picture I was looking for online. That’s because pictures don’t do it justice, and I made a big mistake thinking I could use it for BBQ. It was as if I was being silently “mesmerized” by a piece of work that had been handed down in the Gen family by a steel sword smith, with scratches on it, just like in a museum.

I bought a new kitchen knife at Tsukiji!
I was wondering if there was a knife that would make it easier to cut meat into thin slices. I was wondering…

I bought a new knife from Tougen Masahisa.

It’s a bit expensive, but I can use it almost as a santoku knife, and the sharpness is amazing!

The weight of the knife is enough to cut onions.

Best Place to Buy Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa

You can order Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa knives from their official store. Purchases from outside of Japan can be made by emailing them and telling them what you want.

Payment is done through PayPal, so be prepared in advance. Another great advantage of buying directly from a knife maker is that you can also get your name engraved for free.

Visit to Azumaminamoto-no Masahisa Online Store

Summary

Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa is a manufacturer and seller of Japanese kitchen knives, using techniques passed down from generation to generation from Japanese sword smiths.
As a pioneer of Western-style kitchen knives in Japan, the company sells a wide variety of knives.

As a pioneer of Western-style kitchen knives in Japan, we sell many knives.

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