Masashi Kokuen

Masashi-san started his own workshop in 2013, after learning the family trade alongside his older brother Kazuomi at Yoshikane Hamono.  Despite his young age, Masashi makes a beautifully polished and crazy sharp blade and is able to make his steel harder than other makers through special heat-treating processes.

 ‘Kokuen’ 黒煙 translates to ‘black smoke' references to the smoke and ash from his forge, in addition to the tobacco smoke and ash from Masashi-san’s trademark cigarettes, always present in his mouth while forging. This knife is also made, Masashi's consistently favourite steel SLD, which he takes to an extreme 63–64 Rockwell hardness.