I spent a couple of weeks in Japan this summer (which was very hot and humid). I had a great time, traveling to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Shirahama (a Beach Town), and Koyasan. It was an amazing trip filled with lots of interesting culture, food, and knives.
Now, about the knives. Prior to my trip, I had reached out to Fujiwara-san to order two Denka knives. I already own a 210mm Gyuto Maboroshi and a 120mm Maboroshi Petty, both of which I really enjoy. With the currency exchange in our favor, I decided to go ahead and order two more. Since I was able to pick them up locally, the price was reduced from 77000 yen to 70000, which worked out to be around $650 CAD for the 210mm Denka.
I was fortunate to have a friend who spoke Japanese accompany me to the shop, which turned out to be a huge help. Initially, they presented me with 3-4 black-handled petty and gyuto knives to choose from. I believe it was Fujiwara's son who assisted me, as Fujiwara himself was not present at the shop when I arrived. As I perused the selection, I noticed some red-handled ones showcased in a display case. I asked my friend to inquire about them, and he explained that the red handles indicated that they were purchased within Japan and were typically not meant for export. With this information, my friend asked to have those knives brought out for me to examine. I found the red handle to be quite unique and ended up selecting the thinnest one from the assortment. Fujiwara's son played an instrumental role in helping me decide, taking into consideration factors such as my height and hand size. I invested a considerable amount of time in choosing the perfect one and thus far, I'm extremely satisfied with its performance. The Denka outperforms the Maboroshi. Perhaps the grind is superior.
Fujiwara's son informed me that his father was on his way, and he requested my patience for about 10 minutes. When Fujiwara arrived, he warmly shook my hand and proceeded to engrave the knife for me. During this time, his wife graciously served us iced coffee and gave my kids some refreshments. They treated us with exceptional kindness.
Is the knife flawless? Not entirely, but it performs exceptionally well. The balance is perfect for me, the aesthetics are appealing, and it serves as a cherished memento from an unforgettable journey. I particularly admire the red handle as well.
Now, about the knives. Prior to my trip, I had reached out to Fujiwara-san to order two Denka knives. I already own a 210mm Gyuto Maboroshi and a 120mm Maboroshi Petty, both of which I really enjoy. With the currency exchange in our favor, I decided to go ahead and order two more. Since I was able to pick them up locally, the price was reduced from 77000 yen to 70000, which worked out to be around $650 CAD for the 210mm Denka.
I was fortunate to have a friend who spoke Japanese accompany me to the shop, which turned out to be a huge help. Initially, they presented me with 3-4 black-handled petty and gyuto knives to choose from. I believe it was Fujiwara's son who assisted me, as Fujiwara himself was not present at the shop when I arrived. As I perused the selection, I noticed some red-handled ones showcased in a display case. I asked my friend to inquire about them, and he explained that the red handles indicated that they were purchased within Japan and were typically not meant for export. With this information, my friend asked to have those knives brought out for me to examine. I found the red handle to be quite unique and ended up selecting the thinnest one from the assortment. Fujiwara's son played an instrumental role in helping me decide, taking into consideration factors such as my height and hand size. I invested a considerable amount of time in choosing the perfect one and thus far, I'm extremely satisfied with its performance. The Denka outperforms the Maboroshi. Perhaps the grind is superior.
Fujiwara's son informed me that his father was on his way, and he requested my patience for about 10 minutes. When Fujiwara arrived, he warmly shook my hand and proceeded to engrave the knife for me. During this time, his wife graciously served us iced coffee and gave my kids some refreshments. They treated us with exceptional kindness.
Is the knife flawless? Not entirely, but it performs exceptionally well. The balance is perfect for me, the aesthetics are appealing, and it serves as a cherished memento from an unforgettable journey. I particularly admire the red handle as well.
