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Kabayama Blacksmith

Hand-Forged Knives from Kumamoto by a 3rd generation blacksmith with 100+ year-old techniques

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FOUNDED IN 1904, KUMAMOTO
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HAND-FORGED
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AOGAMI NO.2 WITH IRON CLADDING
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3RD GENERATION WORKSHOP

Kabayama Blacksmith

For over 100 years, Kabayama Blacksmith has upheld the family tradition of blacksmithing in Kumamoto, Japan. Now, third-generation blacksmith Akira Kabayama continues to carry on the tradition, hand-forging Japanese knives the old-fashioned way, driven by the conviction that faster is not always better.

Portrait of Takeyoshi Kabayama, master artisan from Kabayama Blacksmith, smiling while holding a Kabayama Blacksmith Kurouchi Aogami All‑Purpose Funayuki Knife 165mm
Kabayama Blacksmith Kurouchi Aogami All‑Purpose Funayuki Knife 165mm in its open box
$251.89 - $251.89
$251.89
$251.89 - $251.89
$251.89

Kabayama Blacksmith Kurouchi Aogami All‑Purpose Funayuki Knife 165mm

Kabayama Blacksmith
in stock

The Kabayama Blacksmith Kurouchi All-Purpose Funayuki Knife is a Japanese kitchen knife hand-forged using the highly-prized traditional warikomi te...

View full details
$251.89 - $251.89
$251.89
$251.89 - $251.89
$251.89

Kabayama Blacksmith: A Century of Hand-Forged Tradition in the Mountains of Kumamoto

For 100+ years, the craft of blade making was passed down through the Kabayama family. Today, Kabayama Blacksmith continues this tradition as a 3rd generation workshop in the Kuma region of southern Kumamoto, a mountainous area with a long history of forestry tools, where the Kuma kama sickle has been crafted for generations.

The workshop was founded in 1904 by Akira's grandfather, Takeyoshi Kabayama, in Asagiri.

The current maker, Akira Kabayama, first studied architecture in Tokyo and worked at a design firm, where he was on the commissioning side of ironwork. After returning home to take over from his father Goaki, he saw an opportunity to expand the workshop's craft. In 2000, he established Libra Workshop, a Western ironwork division within Kabayama Blacksmith. Two years later, he traveled to Italy, to study wrought iron under master blacksmith Luciano Seranti, bringing that tradition back to Kumamoto.

Today, Akira works across two worlds: forging traditional knives, sickles, axes, and garden tools the old way (heating, hammering, folding steel into iron, again and again) while also creating architectural ironwork such as gates, fences, and railings, designed from sketch to finished piece.

Designated as Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Craft No. 193, his work has been exhibited and sold across Japan.

Watch Kabayama Blacksmith in action!
Closeup of a heated metal bar in the hammering station inside Kabayama Blacksmith workshop
Kabayama Blacksmith heating blades in coal

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Kabayama Blacksmith knives dishwasher safe?

No, your Kabayama Blacksmith knife should not be washed in the dishwasher. To prevent damage to your knife and ensure it lasts you for years to come, please wash the knife by hand with a mild detergent and gentle sponge.

Will my Kabayama Blacksmith knife rust?

Kabayama Blacksmith knives are made of high carbon steel and are therefore prone to rust, so be sure to dry your knife completely before putting it away and to store in a dry place to prevent corrosion.

How should I sharpen my Kabayama Blacksmith knife?

Caring for your knife will make it last you for decades. After use, wash it with clean hot water, dry it off thoroughly, and place it in newspaper to prevent rusting. Check out the video below for more information on how to sharpen your knife with a sharpening stone, and how to store it safely.

Learn how to sharpen your knife here

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