The Complete Guide to Japanese Blade Sharpening
— Learn How to Sharpen Every Type of Japanese Blade, from Kitchen Knives to Razors!
Sharpness lies at the heart of Japanese craftsmanship. Whether it’s a kitchen knife, woodworking chisel, carving tool, razor, hatchet, or sewing scissors, every blade will eventually lose its edge through regular use. To bring back that perfect cut, proper sharpening is essential.
This comprehensive guide covers the sharpening techniques for a wide variety of Japanese blades — from the well-known kitchen knives and woodworking tools to the lesser-documented blades such as the katsuobushi kanna (bonito shaver), carving knives, Japanese razors, and tailor’s shears.
With detailed step-by-step instructions, clear photos, and insights from professional sharpeners and craftsmen, this book helps readers understand the subtle differences between sharpening methods for each blade type. It also introduces sharpening setups, types of whetstones, knife care, and even visits to traditional blacksmith workshops where blades are still crafted by hand.
📘 Features
-
Comprehensive Coverage — Over 50 kinds of Japanese blades, including kitchen, woodworking, outdoor, and sewing tools.
-
Expert Guidance — Supervised by professional sharpeners, including Masashi Fujiwara, representative of the Japan Knife Sharpening Association.
-
Step-by-Step Visuals — Clear photos and diagrams make sharpening accessible even for beginners.
-
Explore Japanese Craftsmanship — Go behind the scenes of traditional knife-making workshops to see the artistry and discipline of true craftsmen.
📖 Contents (Selected)
Kitchen Knives
Santoku / Gyuto / Yanagiba / Deba / Katsuobushi kanna
Woodworking & Carving Tools
Chisels / Planes / Small carving knives / Fine detail tools
Japanese Razors
Traditional straight razors / Razor forging techniques
Outdoor & Gardening Blades
Hatchets / Sickle / Pruning shears / Hedge clippers
Sewing & Leather Tools
Tailor’s shears / Thread snips / Leather knives
Sharpening Basics
Blade anatomy / Synthetic & natural whetstones / Setting up a sharpening station / Maintenance & storage