Kanta OkadaKanta Okada

Kanta Okada is from Sagawa Town, Kochi Prefecture. While attending a technical high school, he became deeply fascinated by forging during practical training and aspired to become a blacksmith. Although he initially took a job in the automotive industry outside the prefecture, he returned to Kochi when the "Blacksmith Creation Academy" opened, fully immersing himself in the world of blacksmithing. He then studied under Kentaro Uemura, a master craftsman highly skilled in making hatchets and knives, and honed his techniques.

Okada's knives stand apart from the "thin and light knives" that are common today. By deliberately retaining thickness in the blade, he achieves both robust rigidity and a secure, comfortable feel. He pursues strength as a tool that can be used for a long time. He is particularly dedicated to the beauty of the finish, emphasizing the "sae" — the clear emergence of the boundary between the steel and the jigane (base metal) — and meticulously polishing every detail to bring out not only the sharpness but also the quiet beauty unique to forged knives.

"A good knife is one that lasts long and cuts well," says Okada. With the desire for a wide range of people, from professional chefs to home cooks, to experience his knives firsthand, he earnestly forges each one.