It's a reputable and well known shop for japanese knives and stones here in germany. Pretty much everyone I know around here have bought a knife or a stone (in my case both...) from them.
Mr. Horie (the owner) does also have quite a good knowledge regarding Jnats and gives some interesting insights... unfortunately they're quite difficult to reach via email sometimes... so mainly telephone.
But order and so on functions very well. Don't know if they ship international...
And they do have some nice knives :happy1:
I have bought (and returned) one knife from them and it was all smooth. As Iggy says - email contact does not really work. I did not try to phone them. But they do have some interesting knives. I am just not too crazy about how they describe the stone hardness (no usable scale). If you like something they have than I think you do not need to hesitate.
Yep, they're fine and well reputed, I bought at least two times from them and was satisfied, and they have OEM Takamuras for very good prices.
Ordered past Sunday, delivered yesterday by DHL. Good email communication about advise on Jnats.
A Keijiro Doi 16,5 cm Aogami Petty and good advise which stones to use. Pictures will follow soon.What did you get?
Email communication is not always top. Best to call Ms. Horie. Ordered already twice with no hassle...Hmmm, I got them first the last chance with an email with some questions about their Shiro Suitas, I sent it on Thursday, so far "surprisingly" no response:-(...Will try to call them if no answer comes within the next few days, but am really not happy about that way of communication...
Email communication is not always top. Best to call Ms. Horie. Ordered already twice with no hassle...
True, English commmunication with shops in Europe can be an hassle. Communication with Watanabe is top! Quick and good English and great knowledge...Once I have called them and spoke with Mrs. Horie, it was a pleasant talk, on the other hand she didn't know that what I wanted to know (some specific info about natural stones), but promised to let me know on my email which I spelled, but I never got any message from them...Maybe she noticed it wrongly, who knows, but after this experience I decided to go a different way and started to talk about stones with Shinichi Watanabe who ever answers within a day...and have already 2 naturals from him and another one and his great AI 1000 are on the way currently...Anyway, its really a pity that the communication with this German shop is so difficult, they have some interesting stock...
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