Tadokoro Hamono 2-Piece Sharpening Whetstone Set

At 16 years old, Makoto Tadokoro entered a knife workshop in Kochi prefecture, driven by fierce competitiveness. After 17 years of learning, he went independent only to realize he didn't know how to make truly exceptional knives.

He traveled Japan's knife centers studying the masters. In Sakai, the historic heart of Japanese cutlery, he discovered an entirely different approach: 20-30 hand processes per blade compared to the 10 he'd learned.

He found Sakai's top sharpener and showed up unannounced, who after looking at his works decided he showed promise and took Tadokoro under his wing. Thus, for years he traveled between Kochi and Sakai, relearning everything from scratch.

Through his training, Makoto Tadokoro learned a surprising truth: 90% of Japan's traditional knives are sold as "Sakai" products, yet 70% are actually forged in Kochi — always hidden, never credited.

"Kochi has world-class craftsmen," he says. "We should be known for it."

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