Another Kanji ID Needed

Calling on the wealth of the Kanji KKF brain!!

I just picked up this vintage piece out of an estate sale on the bay and was trying to figure out - who, what, when where or how about it. I wasn't familiar with it, but for some reason had to take it. Any thoughts / translations deeply appreciated.

beautiful hand done kanji there. have you tried the kanji reader that Mari posted about?

a house brand of "Stores Isuke Kikuichi"(菊一伊助商&#24215 a small cutlery Sharpening shop located at kanagawa. the top two kanji are " 鎌倉"(kanagawa) a city name in Japan. bottom two kanji are"菊一"= Kikuichi; however, its different company from "菊一文珠四郎包永 -Kikuichi cuterly". Kikuichi is very common name use in Japan! the knives from "Stores Isuke Kikuichi"(菊一伊助商&#24215 around $120~250! here is store website. hope this will help!!

Hi hi,

It says "Kamakura Kikuichi" on the knife. I suppose its from the Kikuichi in Kamakura? I don't know if its the same brand or a different one, but it might be a really old kikuichi, before their little flower logo.

On the box it says "Oryouri-bocho" which means cooking knife, and "tokuatsurae hontanzo" which means specially made hammered steel.

Hope this helps!

Thanks to both of you. The kanji is quite exquisite and I really like the blade itself. I wish I had the same feel for the handle. The buffalo horn is loose and the handle is really small in my big hands so I am debating holding on to the knife or giving it some bling. My understanding was that the gentlemen that owned it previously worked in Japan on a regular basis from post WWII until he retired. I wish I could have found out more, that type of history always fascinates me.

Mari is right, (鎌&#20489 is "Kamakura" city. "kanagawa" I pose is county(神奈川&#32291 I mix-up two place.....However, I'm sure the Yanagi is made by "Stores Isuke Kikuichi"(菊一伊助商&#24215 it is very old shop, they just celebrate 100 years old anniversary not long ago!! here is picture of santoku made by "Stores Isuke Kikuichi"(菊一伊助商&#24215.....same kanji!!

Korin_Mari said:

Hi hi,

It says "Kamakura Kikuichi" on the knife. I suppose its from the Kikuichi in Kamakura.......

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