Takeo Murata

Takeo Murata, like Tsutome Kajiwara, is among the biggest blacksmith names in the Tosa region, today Kochi Prefecture on the island of Shikoku.

Already at the age of 16, he joined his uncle Tokaji's workshop. Tokaji belonged to a sword-making clan that dates back several centuries. After ten years, Takeo became independent and opened his own workshop. His natural talent combined with immense diligence soon made him a well known name. It is said that he can forge 100 blade shapes like no other. He perfectly masters omotenuki - the traditional way of forging. In the workshop, he works with a flickering 40W light bulb. This subdued light helps him to distinguish the shades of red-hot iron that define the correct temperature regimes of the forging phases. His wife Mikiko helps him in his work, with whom he has created a great work team.

Master Murata especially likes the traditional "blue" Aogami 1 steel, hardened to an honest 63 HRC. It holds the blade even better than its sister Aogami 2, but it is also more fragile. Therefore, these knives are not for absolute beginners. His domain is San Mai blades in the Kurouchi design. This unpolished black finish resists oxidation better than the Migaki versions and will acquire the desired patina over time. But like other carbon steels, it needs to be kept clean and dry with a light coating of Tsubaki oil.

Blacksmiths from the Tosa area prefer blade types such as Ko-Bocho, Sabaki, Funayuki, which are popular mainly with fishermen. Takeo Murata is no exception. On one side of the blade we find the name of the steel stamped, on the other side its name Takeo and the designation of the special class series. The blade is symmetrical and, in the spirit of the traditions of blacksmiths from Tosa, robust for long durability. His favorite knife finalizer is Shinsuke Hokiyama. He carefully fits the ordered blades into octagonal Japanese magnolia handles with genuine buffalo horn. To use a plastic or resin ring would be something absolutely unacceptable in this case.

Hand-forged knives in the traditional way are becoming more and more difficult to find. Blacksmiths are declining and the rising costs of their production are tipping the scales in favor of industrial mass production. If you want to own a genuine craft object with a piece of the soul of its creator, you don't have much time left.

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