Morihiro Blacksmith

Taira Yasuaki and Taira Hiromichi are respectviely the 2nd and 3rd generation of blacksmiths working at Morihiro Blacksmith. This worshop, founded in 1961 by the grandfather Morihiro, started forging and repairing farm tools in Yame, Fukuoka prefecture. Morihiro then told his son Yasuaki that a blacksmith working solely on agricultural tools would not be able to make a living in the future. So after graduating highschool, Taira Yasuaki went to Sakai and trained at Ajioka Hamono, where he learned how Japanese kitchen knives are forged and sharpened to preserve the kiriaji. Then, he came home and learned traditional forging methods with his father.

Today, Taira Yasuaki works with his son, Taira Hiromichi, which makes most of the workshop production. Together, father and son are in charge of all the process, from forging following traditional Kyushu methods, to sharpening and handle fitting, finishing blades and other tools following Sakai techniques, so every step happens in'house. That way, although a customer can only judge a knife by the way it looks, they can vouch 100% for the forging and heat treatment, that is, for the way the knife is going to perform.