GENKAI MASAKUNI (Yoneo Muko): Blacksmith
SHOTARO NOMURA: Shaper/ Sharpener
This knife is directly from the workshops of these legendary Japanese knife artisans. A true museum/historical piece of authentic Japanese knife history.
A remarkably rare masterpiece has been completed - 330mm Honyaki (本焼) Kiritsuke Yanagiba knife forged from the remaining stock steel of Genkai Masakuni (Yoneo Muko), the pioneer who perfected modern Mizu-Honyaki (水本焼: water-quenching) knife making method. Genkai Masakuni (Yoneo Muko), a legendary bladesmith deeply revered for his uncompromising artistry and for elevating Mizu-Honyaki to its contemporary form, passed away on September 25th 2025 at the age of 85…
Renowned for his exceptionally pure steelwork and his mastery of traditional water-quenching, he is remembered as a craftsman whose influence shaped an entire generation of Japanese Mizu-Honyaki knife makers.
This exceptional blade was finished and given its edge in Sakai, Osaka — the birthplace of traditional Japanese cutlery — by Shotaro Nomura, an 86-year-old master sharpener, one of the last remaining artisans preserving the old-world methods of Sakai, and my personal mentor in Japanese knife sharpening. Over the years, he has generously shared with me a wealth of knowledge — not only sharpening techniques, but also the history and traditions of Sakai knives, practical wisdom, and countless insights gained through a lifetime of craftsmanship. To this day, he remains my greatest mentor in the world of Sakai knives and one of the craftsmen I respect most deeply.
Over a lifetime spanning seven decades, Shotaro Nomura has become known for his precise blade geometry, flawless kasumi work, and his unparalleled ability to reveal the true character of Honyaki steel.
The tang (Nakago) of the knife bears individual stamps of Genkai Masakuni (Yoneo Muko) and Shotaro Nomura. These artisans marks prove its authenticity and are concealed inside the handle once the knife is completed.
