The full-handmade knife-making with master craftsman【002】
| Experience | Packaged Services |
| 🏴 Lecture for overviews by the Master 🏴 Workshop of handmade knife 🏴 Finished knife is boxed and handed over 🏴 Seeing the products gallery | 🏴 Private car transportation ; Approx. 2 hours from the central Tokyo for one way 🏴 Private English-speaking guide |
| Conditions |
| Duration : 5 hours Capacity : Up to 2 pieces of knife (More than 2 participants acceptable) Eligibility : Application required at least one week prior, subject to availability. Notes : Recommended to wear cloths suitable for dusty work, and open-toed shoes or loose-fitting garments not permitted. |
History
Since the Edo period, the Kanto region has been home to many highly skilled bladesmiths who supported daily life in the great city of Edo. With the spread of meat-eating culture after the Meiji era, Western-style kitchen knives that were entirely handcrafted by artisans came to be branded as “Kanto-Gyuto,” and their techniques have been passed down to the present day.
Today, most Western-style knives are mass-produced, making traditional Japanese bladesmithing techniques increasingly rare. This experience offers a valuable opportunity to learn and practice the traditional craft of making and finishing a knife entirely by hand, resulting in exceptional beauty and sharpness.
Features
Goko Hamono Seisakusho is located in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. Master craftsman Yoshito Yamamakawa, a certified traditional artisan, inherited the techniques of the renowned bladesmith Morinaga Seki and is highly regarded as a master of fully handcrafted knives. It is currently the only workshop in Japan representing the Kanto-Gyuto brand.
Unlike mass-produced knives, which follow standardized materials and manufacturing processes, each fully handcrafted gyuto knife possesses subtle individuality. Every piece reflects the craftsman’s skill and spirit, making it truly one of a kind.
Renowned for both beauty and functionality, these knives are highly valued by professional chefs and continue to support Japanese culinary culture today.
In addition, Goko Hamono Seisakusho carries out handle fitting in-house, enabling an integrated manufacturing process from making to completion—an uncommon practice among knife workshop.
These traditions and techniques have been recognized as officially designated traditional crafts by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The workshop has established its brand under the names “Shimousa-no-Kuni Kogetsu” and “Musashi-no-Kuni Kogetsu.”
Time Schedule
Regular Tour
Start Time：1) From 9:00 am 2) From 10:00 am
Time Table：
| 0:10 | Lecture for overviews of the process and history |
| 2:15 | Workshop(1st half) ; Marking → Cutting → Shaping → Drilling → Engraving |
| 2:15 | Workshop(2nd half) ; Clay coating → Quenching → Polishing → Tempering → Sharpening(rough, intermediate, flat)→ Buffing → Handle attachment → Final sharpening → Completion |
| 0:10 | Seeing the gallery |
MAP
Detailed Provisions
[Operating Conditions]
| ・Minimum number of participants: 1 person |
| ・Maximum number of participants: Up to 4 participants (maximum 4 participants per session; knife production limited to a maximum of 2 knives per session) |
| ・Age requirement: Children under 10 years old may observe only (participation in the experience is not permitted) |
| ・Language support: Necessary for a licensed interpreter-guide |
| ・Operating period: Not available during the New Year holidays, and not recommended during summer season due to severe hot circumstances. |
[Participation Requirements | Important Notes]
| ・Dress code: Participants must wear long sleeves and long pants that can get dirty (short sleeves and sandals are not permitted). Sneakers are allowed. Flammable materials such as fleece and nail polish are not permitted. Participants who do not meet these requirements may be denied participation. Work gloves and masks will be provided. |
| ・What to bring: Towel to cover your head |
| ・Safety precautions: As fire and high-temperature equipment will be used, participants must follow staff instructions at all times. |
| ・Booking deadline: 7 days prior to the tour date |
| ・Cancellation (including changes) policy: From 21 days prior – 20%; From 8 days prior – 50%; From 3 days prior – 100% |
| ・Severe weather policy: The tour will generally proceed (indoor event). |
| ・Disclaimer: The program content may be changed or canceled due to safety management or operational reasons. The organizer is not responsible for injuries or accidents caused by the participant’s own negligence. |
| ・Photography / Video recording: Partially restricted |
| ・Liability waiver form: Required |
[Booking Process]
| 1) Inquiry from the customer. |
| 2) Proposal and quotation provided within two business days. |
| 3) Reservation arrangements commence upon guest’s application. (The cancellation policy becomes effective at this stage.) |
| 4) Booking confirmation notice. (If the reservation cannot be secured, the cancellation policy will not apply.) |
| 5) Payment is required within 48 hours after booking confirmation notice. |
