Local News

Moritaka Hamono, a Yastushiro (Kumamoto)-based knife-maker with 720 years of tradition, is gaining attention from foreign customers for its sharp cutlery. Company president and 27th generation swordsmith, Tsunehiro Moritaka, began using new materials to make knives, but the company remained in the red. After the vice president—Tsunehiro’s wife Akiko—created and English homepage, the company righted its sails and now boasts customers in 53 countries. There is now a waiting list until next spring for online orders. Moritaka Hamono is the heir of the Kongohyoe Style, named for the swordsmith who founded the company in 1293. Even after samurai swords were banned in the wake of the Meiji Restoration, the company remained busy making sickles for the forestry industry. However, when Tsunehiro left the Self Defense Forces to begin his sword-making training 16 years ago, the company was not able to pay him a salary. In 2005, his wife used the English she had learned in conversation classes to launch an English website. Two years later a Japanese sword aficionado from Hawaii suggested they start a web shop, and soon their blades were receiving high praise from other sword lovers. In 2011, the Wall Street Journal listed Moritaka Hamono knives among those used by America’s best chefs. The overseas publicity spread back to Japan, and annual sales leapt from 300 when Tsunehiro returned to Kumamoto in 1997 to 5,000 today. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, July 29, Official HP: http://www.moritakahamono.com

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