Takahiro HashimotoTakahiro Hashimoto

Takahiro Hashimoto hails from Hyogo Prefecture. Attracted to the work of artisans from a young age, he decided to pursue a career as a blacksmith while working as a company employee. He enrolled in the "Blacksmith Training School" established in Kochi Prefecture, where he studied his craft for two years. After gaining experience as an assistant training junior students, he is now independent and dedicated to his own blacksmithing work.

Hashimoto's distinctive approach to knife-making lies in the unique "center of gravity design" that is felt the moment one uses his knives. By retaining thickness at the base of the blade and shifting the center of gravity closer to the handle, he achieves a feel that is lighter than the actual weight. While meticulously adjusting the overall thickness of the blade, he pursues the operability characteristic of Kochi blades. In addition to the commercially available steel materials that are currently mainstream, he also engages in "wakashitsuke," a traditional method of welding steel onto iron himself. This ancient manufacturing process, which requires discerning temperature and forging, demands high skill and experience.

"I want to make knives that stay sharp for a long time," says Hashimoto. He values keeping the steel in the best possible condition so that a sharpened blade maintains its edge for an extended period. Aiming for tools whose quality becomes evident through continued use rather than flashy appearances, he strives to pass on the disappearing blacksmithing techniques of Kochi to the next generation.