In the Japanese era of EDO, there was a master artisan named Saburo Sizu. The name Shizu comes in the honor of his name who grew up in the city of blacksmiths called the Seki city.
Following the footsteps of his ancestors, he grew up to become a natural craftsman of swords and kitchen knives. Swords made in the city of Seki were well known around Japan and the world for being sturdy, strong and sharp. In the 1950s, Master Masami Horibe, another sword making artisan started forging knives designed for export.
Through the years, the business grew and the Shizu knives gained popularity overseas. The fine craftsmanship of Masami Horibe partnered with the selling talent of his wife, they moved to a new office in the 1960s.
Brand History of Shizu Hamono
In 1976, his son took over the company to continue the legacy and further grow the business. Under his son’s leadership, the company became a limited company in 1980. This was also the first time they tried to manufacture their own knives by creating a new brand under the name Shizu Hamono Co. Ltd.
For the next 20 years, the company did not see high profits mainly due to Japan’s far-off geographical location. Although the company did expect high profits, sales were low. On the other hand, other companies started to create ceramic knives, which gained popularity but none were manufacturing any in the Seki city.
Therefore, the Shizu Hamono Co. Ltd. jumped on the bandwagon and started to make ceramic knives too. In 1995, the younger brother took over the company who is still the president of Sizutech.
The company was renamed with a new office, with the new and younger leadership taking the reins. In late 2000s, Shizu started to manufacture their own kitchen knives keeping in mind the ancient techniques of forging swords and modern technology.
Ten years later, the Nude series were re-modeled to create a modern and aesthetic look of knives and the Morinoki were also released with a new design.
Feature of Shizu Hamono Knives
What stood out was the experiment of making bread knives that includes using a unique blade. The first batch was good enough for cutting soft bread smoothly. However, the blade and the design failed when it comes to cutting hard exterior French bread. The bread crumbled making it look like it was torn by hand.
Shizutech then created a special blade by combining two different blades and setting it in a position that makes it perfect for cutting any type of bread smoothly. The knife is perfect and celebrated chefs around the world prefer this knife even after all these years of its release.
Best 5 Shizu Hamono Knives
Apart from the bread knife, the brand has several knives that are in high demand around the world because of their quality and practicality.
1. Shizu Hamono Yamato Hammered Deba Knife 16cm
The Deba knife is ideal for cutting fish since the meat is soft and prone to tearing and falling apart. The San Mai structure of the blade is hammered with three different layers of steel. The core of the blade is AUS8 stainless steel with molybdenum, carbon and vanadium. The top layer is made with SUS1A-1 steel, which is resistant to corrosion. The handle is elegantly made of laminated wood. The knife is sold in a beautiful wooden box.
2. Shizu Hamono Yuri Japanese Nakiri Knife 21.5cm
The Nakiri knife is perfect for chopping vegetables and cooking a breeze. The blade is forged with three different blades of high quality steel known as the San Mai structure. The length of the knife makes it very comfortable to work with without causing an ache in the wrist. The stainless steel is AUS8 grade material that stops the top layer from corroding. The blade is enriched with carbon, vanadium and molybdenum. The handle is an ambidextrous design and it is sold in its original wooden box
3. Shizu Hamono Yuri Japanese Santoku Knife 18cm
The oval design of the handle makes this everyday use Yuri knife a must for every kitchen. The San Mai method of forging three blades together makes this knife truly unique. The top layer is made from SUS1A-1 steel that prevents any form of corrosion to the knife. The core of the blade is made from AUS8 stainless steel enriched with carbon, vanadium and molybdenum. This Seki knife comes in its original wooden box, making a great gift for any house warming party.
4. Shizu Hamono Nude + Santoku Knife 16cm
This nude knife is a great addition to your kitchen utensils. The Shizu Hamono nude knife is all the rage across celebrated chefs. The blade is made of AUS8 steel which is fairly easy to maintain. The alloy steel is enriched with 0.8% carbon, molybdenum and vanadium. There is no welding of the handle like traditional knives so this one will last you generations. The shape is ultra-thin and comes in its original compact, magnetic box.
5. Shizu Hamono Yamato Hammered Yanagiba Knife 20cm
For sushi lovers, this Yanagiba knife is the perfect choice. The 20cm surface makes this knife ideal for cutting even and thin slices needed for preparing sushi. Using the San Mai method, three different layers of stainless steel are used before the knife is forged. The core blade is made of AUS8 enriched with molybdenum, carbon and vanadium. The SUS1A-1 makes the knife corrosion free and the handle is made of dark laminated wood in an oval design. This is sold in its original wooden box.
Shizu Hamono Reviews
The users of the Shizu Hamono knives constantly talk about their satisfaction of using these knives. One user of the Deba knife talks about how handy the knife is. The comfortable handle with its practicality allows the him to cook in a breeze.
Furthermore, a user of the Shizu Hamono Nude knife talks about the unique design and durability. Keeping in mind that the handle is also made of stainless steel, it is just one piece that will last generations.
Another self-made chef has mastered the skill of making sushi after using the Yanagiba knife. Using a Shizu Hamono knife makes you a true artist.
Where to Buy Shizu Hamono Knives
If you are looking to buy a knife from the great Shizu Hamono, you can check the Miura Knives Shop or MyChefKnives.co.uk. All the knives are made in the Seki city in Japan and every piece is sold in the original wooden or the magnetic box that it comes in. You never need to doubt the originality of the product.
Buy here: Miura knives Shop – Cutlery japanese kitchen knives store
Buy here: https://www.mychefknives.co.uk/1030-shizu-hamono
Summary
The artisanship of sword making in Japan has been passed on to generations who have molded the ways to serve the purpose of modern knife making.
A great mix of advanced technology and ancient methods of forging swords has created these modern pieces of kitchen knives. If you are looking to brush up on your cooking skills, getting knives made from Shizu Hamono is your best option.
