ABOUT YU KUROSAKI

Master Blacksmith Yu Kurosaki works out of a newly constructed shop just steps from the Takefu knife Village community centre in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. He began his blacksmith journey in 2002 at Kanehiro Hamono, apprenticing under master blacksmith Hiroshi Kato-san (Traditional Master Craftsman, or “Dentou-kougeishi”, with over 50 years experience). 17 years later, he became the youngest blacksmith to be awarded the same Traditional Master Craftsman honour bestowed upon his mentor. His knives represent the future of blacksmithing in Japan, as he focuses on traditional techniques while using innovative and progressive designs and finishes that have garnered the attention of many chefs around the globe. Simply put, his knives are stunning to look at and perform even better than they look.