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Mcusta 25th Anniversary.
The Mcusta brand needs no introduction. Its owner, Marusho Industry, is one of the most sophisticated knife manufacturers in Japan. The third generation of the Hasegawa clan is dedicated not only to the production of Zanmai kitchen knives and Silky scissors but also to Mcusta sports and pocket knives. And it is this brand that recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The name consists of the words "Man," "Machine," and "Custom." Together, they express the manufacturer’s philosophy of providing customers with the latest technologies combined with the traditional craftsmanship of Japanese knife makers. How does it all work? The design concept is translated into computer programs that control modern CNC milling machines, lathes, and laser cutters. These machines produce individual components with exceptional precision. This is where the programmers and operators stop and the experienced craftsmen take over. Polishing, grinding, assembly, inspection, and packaging are all done by hand.
In addition to the manufacturing process described above, the Mcusta brand benefits from two other advantages. Its entire production takes place exclusively in Japan. This stands in contrast to many American and European brands that manufacture their knives in China. The second key aspect of its success is a well-balanced ratio between quality and price. The fact that Mcusta is celebrating its 25th anniversary today is simply confirmation of the statement above. The brand is marking this significant milestone with several limited editions of exceptional products. The first will come as a surprise to many, as it is not a knife, but something entirely different. Company President Tomohiro Hasegawa apparently wanted to highlight the speed at which time passes, so he had his friend, a custom watchmaker, produce 25 pieces of Mcusta-themed watches. Since their retail price symbolically corresponds to the anniversary, it is clear that only the finest materials and components were used. It is rightly expected that the value of these special watches will continue to rise.
The second most important product is the Raijin and Fujin series of folding knives. The first is dedicated to the Japanese god of thunder, the second to the god of wind. The basic design is derived from the successful FORGE series, but it has been fundamentally redesigned for this limited edition of 50 pieces. The 33-layer Mokume Damascus blade features outer layers composed of steel and copper with a hammered finish. The ultra-hard core was supplied by Takefu Special Steel in the form of V-Toku alloy steel. The Framelock handle features one side made of corrosion-resistant Damascus steel with a gold finish, depicting the respective god and flowers. The other side features a Tsuchime (hammered) finish with a unique decorative clip. The fasteners, pivot pin, and opening mechanism are made of titanium. The exclusivity is highlighted by a leather lanyard, a Nishijin pouch, and a wooden box. The reason for producing this series is marked not only on the box but also on the blade itself. The knives can also be purchased individually.
Next up is the Hadou series of knives, which can be loosely translated as “waves.” This motif, popular in Japan, can be found on the blades of the anniversary knives. They are based on the SHINRA series, which highlights nature. The limited editions are, of course, appropriately refined. They feature exclusive Mokume damask with a V-Toku alloy core, and the handles are crafted from premium materials such as carbon, copper, and G10 composite. The Hadou series consists of 200 knives in four designs, with 50 pieces each.
© 2026 Copyright Roman Ulík, Nippon Knives, www.japonskenoze.sk all rights reserved.
Photographs and texts are protected by copyright law, and their use without the author’s consent is prohibited.
About producer
The manufacturer of iconic MCUSTA knives is Marusho Industry Inc. from Seki City in Gifu Province. Any connoisseur of Japanese knives knows that this is a prominent area with more than 700 years of tradition. The Hasegawa family clan has been producing the most sophisticated pocket knives you can find here for three generations.
Marusho Industry Inc. has a rarely seen production background in this industry. Since we are lucky, or rather honored, to be a family friend of the Hasegawas, we did not miss the opportunity to tour their factory. We start with the design and construction section, where experienced programmers prepare algorithms for modern CNC machines. The most elegant materials that you can only imagine in a cutlery shop are casually resting in the entrance warehouse. VG-10 steel sheets from nearby Takefu, 33-layer damascene sheets, aluminum alloys, rare woods and high-quality micarta. Laser cutters and CNC mills work in the machining section. However, the most interesting thing for us is the finalization of the knives and their subsequent sharpening. Here, on the contrary, everything is done manually. Even the president of the company, Tomohiro Hasegawa, sits down at the rotating grindstone and skillfully shapes the razor blade. This is followed by a final inspection, where each knife is carefully examined and travels to the dispatch warehouse. The whole world is supplied from there. Today, you will hardly find a brand that is still produced in its country of origin. MCUSTA is among those that have retained this privilege.
©2010-2018 Copyright Roman Ulík, Nippon Knives, www.japonskenoze.sk all rights reserved.
Photos and texts are protected by copyright law and their use without the author's consent is not possible.
