HITOHIRA | JAPANESE KITCHEN KNIFE

The HITOHIRA knife brand is renowned both in Japan and abroad, and the company’s products are used by countless professional and amateur cooks. Founded in 2016, HITOHIRA has opened stores in major cities around the world to sell high-quality Japanese knives that last for 20 to 30 years, with a mission to share the culture of knives and knife sharpening with the world. It provides knife maintenance services based on expert knowledge, and over 3,000 types of HITOHIRA knives are now on sale in 17 stores in ten countries.

The first brick-and-mortar HITOHIRA store opened in Tokyo’s Setagaya district in 2021. Today, it stocks around 500 types of knives, such as steel knives for professionals made by artisans in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture and Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, as well as knives for everyday home use. The store is embedded in the local community, with both chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants and residents stopping by for sharpening and repairs.

Store owner Hokuto Aizawa was inspired to enter the knife trade when backpacking around the world after university. During his travels, he gained a renewed appreciation and respect for how remarkable a Japanese knife can be when personally sharpened and used with care. Having developed an intense interest in knives, he studied them in depth at knife shops in Japan and abroad. As he puts it, he thought of nothing but sharpening as he worked from the early hours of the morning until late at night.

Aizawa feels that not enough information about Japanese knives is available outside Japan, so he regularly shares product descriptions and updates about artisans with overseas partner stores. A list of stores that stock HITOHIRA knives can be found on the official website.

Visitors to HITOHIRA will find highly knowledgeable staff eager to explain the products in detail and introduce the perfect knife for an enjoyable cooking experience. Naturally, after-sales service and support are also provided.

The store is located in Sangenjaya, Tokyo, a five-minute walk from Sangenjaya Station on the Tokyu Den-en-Toshi Line or a 10-minute taxi ride from Shibuya. The owner speaks fluent English and can recommend the perfect knife for every purpose.

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