Kenji Togashi

Kenji Togashi, like another great of this craft Itsuo Doi, works mainly for Aoki Hamono, the bearer of the Sakai Takayuki brand. He started in 1966 as a grinder and gradually delved into the secrets of blacksmithing. His natural talent attracted the attention of professional circles, which resulted in many awards (Dentó-Kugeishi, Master of Traditional Crafts). He devoted 7 years to special training in mizu-honyaki, which he commented with the words: "It was 7 years of trial and error". Today he is one of the most sought-after masters of this traditional method. He has 3 sons, whom he initiates into the secrets of this noble craft.

Master Togashi's key sharpener and polisher is Togashi Tosa Hirotsugu, who specializes in mizu-honyaki blades with a single-sided grind, giving them perfect geometry. With natural stones, he creates namiukashi - a mirror-like surface with characteristic ripples.