One of my mentors, a sushi chef, went to Kyoto in approximately 1982-1984. He brought back a yanagiba as a gift for me. It is a left-handed knife. I'm told it was made by one of the best shokunins in Japan who is no longer with us. My mentor told me the shokunin wouldn't make a left-handed saya...
I am a chef for 45 years now. I enjoy using vintage knives rather than new ones. I'd rather have an old wooden beaten up thing that has stories to tell than a new polished knife. I'm joining the forum because I have a question about a knife that was given to me by an excellent Japaense chef...