Craftsperson · Amagasaki

HATSUKOKORO

Hatsukokoro was started in Amagasaki near Osaka by a master smith who wanted to gather good knives from all over Japan under one name. The brand is a collaboration between smiths, sharpeners and handle makers, put together to give as much knife as possible for the money.

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The story

Hatsukokoro is a Japanese knife brand that selects and distributes knives made by various independent smiths and sharpeners. Rather than being tied to a single smith or factory, Hatsukokoro gathers work from several makers under one brand name. This gives the brand a wide range of knives in different styles, geometries and steels, with the quality kept high.

The brand puts the weight on function, performance and value for money. Hatsukokoro knives are often made in small batches and cover both traditional carbon steel and modern stainless or powder steels. Many of the knives are clearly handmade, with a simple finish and the focus on cutting rather than looks. Today Hatsukokoro stands for wide variety, solid craft and a practical way into Japanese smithing without being tied to one name or style.

The region

Amagasaki

Amagasaki is not a traditional knife-making area in itself, but the city lies right next to some of the most important blade and knife making areas in Japan. Historically, Amagasaki's strength has been heavy industry and metalworking, steel, machinery and precision manufacturing, rather than hand-made knives. Its industrial base has supported the wider metal industry...

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