For over a century, Masamoto® has been Japan’s premier knife maker, creating exceptional handcrafted knives that set the standard for quality and performance in professional and home kitchens worldwide. Our story begins in 1905, when our founder Sogo Masamoto opened a small blacksmith shop in Tokyo, dedicated to producing Japan’s finest blades.
A Legacy of Exceptional Japanese Knifemaking
From the very beginning, Masamoto knives have been revered for their impeccable craftsmanship,premium materials, and razor-sharp edges. Each knife is painstakingly forged and sharpened by skilled artisans in our Tokyo workshop using traditional techniques perfected over generations.
We take great pride in carrying on Japan’s centuries-old tradition of knifemaking. Our chef’s knives, santoku, vegetable knives, and knife sets showcase the pinnacle of handcrafted Japanese cutlery. Behind each Masamoto knife is a legacy of mastery passed down through the generations from highly trained knifesmiths.
Masamoto uses only the finest Japanese steel to create blades renowned for taking and holding an incredibly sharp edge. Our knives have earned the trust of top chefs and discerning home cooks who demand the ultimate in cutting performance. Over the decades, Masamoto has built an unmatched reputation for producing knives of exceptional quality that represent the rich heritage of Japanese knifemaking.
Relentless Pursuit of Perfection
At Masamoto, we are driven by an unwavering commitment to perfecting the art of knifemaking. Our master smiths put meticulous care into every step of the production process – from the forging and sharpening to the finishing and polishing.
We never settle for anything less than the highest quality. Our uncompromising approach ensures that every Masamoto knife meets our exacting standards for premium materials, flawless craftsmanship, optimum edge geometry, and laser-like sharpness.
Our smiths are constantly honing their techniques to take Masamoto knives to the next level of excellence. We combine proven traditional methods with modern technologies to enhance precision and performance. This relentless pursuit of perfection has made Masamoto the most respected brand among serious chefs and knife enthusiasts globally.
Timeless Design and Balance
In addition to outstanding sharpness and edge retention, Masamoto knives are revered for their refined design, comfort, and impeccable balance.
The elegant styling of our knives draws upon centuries of traditions paired with contemporary refinements. Each blade is painstakingly tapered, contoured and polished to maximize performance while minimizing drag and friction. The handles are crafted for comfort and control, allowing chefs to work with precision and ease for hours on end.
From the graceful sweep of the blade to the ergonomic handle, every detail of a Masamoto knife is artfully designed to fit the hand seamlessly. The perfect symmetry, weight distribution and fluid shape create an uncanny sense of balance. Our knives have an almost effortless feel, becoming a natural extension of the hand.
Forging Perfection – The Masamoto Way
At the heart of every great Masamoto knife is an exceptional blade forged with meticulous care. Our unique steel formula delivers an optimal combination of hardness, durability and flexibility. The forging process refines the microstructure of the steel, enhancing the strength, resilience and cutting ability.
Skilled smiths expertly shape the heated steel with hammer blows, skillfully contouring the knife’s geometry. After forging, the blade undergoes multiple heating and cooling treatments to enhance durability and flexibility – a process we have refined over generations.
The blade face is ground and honed patiently by hand on ever-finer whetstones to achieve an incredibly refined, screaming sharp edge. Our mastery of traditional honing techniques allows us to put a polished razor edge that glides through food effortlessly.
The honing stage is followed by meticulous hand polishing and sharpening on natural whetstones. Our smiths use a series of finer and finer grit stones to refine the edge down to a mirror polish. This complete, precise sharpening creates the phenomenal edge retention Masamoto knives are famous for.
We rigorously test the sharpness of every blade. Only when our quality standards are met does a knife earn the Masamoto name. Our uncompromising focus on perfecting every stage of the forging process results in knives of exceptional sharpness, strength and durability.
Premium Materials – Superior Performance
Masamoto uses only the finest Japanese steel to craft each exceptional blade. We carefully select steels that complement our forging and sharpening techniques to create knives capable of unparalleled performance.
Our carbon steel formula has the ideal composition for taking and holding an incredibly fine razor edge. The carbon steel blades have a wonderfully responsive feel, superb edge retention and are easier to sharpen than stainless steel.
For our stainless steel knives, we use special proprietary formulas that deliver exceptional hardness, corrosion resistance, durability and edge holding ability. The VG-10 stainless steel blades have excellent toughness and stain resistance while taking a very fine, lasting edge.
Our POM resin handles provide strength, stability and great balance. They are impervious to water and food acids, and won’t crack, fade or discolor. We choose premium Pakistani black buffalo horn for our traditional Wa-style handles, celebrated for its beauty, strength and durability.
By pairing our advanced blade steels with premium handles, Masamoto knives achieve a remarkable harmony of performance, elegance and comfort in the hand.
Knives for Every Kitchen Task
The Masamoto line features a range of professional knives optimized for preparing various foods. Our gyuto chef’s knives are ideal as all-purpose knives, with their agile blades perfect for slicing, dicing and chopping. Our nimble santoku knives efficiently handle precise chopping tasks.
Our slender nakiri vegetable knives glide through fruits and vegetables with ease. Masamoto deba knives make quick work of filleting fish. Our sturdy sujihiki slicing knives carve roasts and poultry with finesse. We offer specialty knives for breaking down poultry, trimming meats, peeling and paring.
In addition to individual knives, we offer perfectly curated Masamoto knife sets containing selected knives tailored for home cooks or professionals. Our knife sets combine our most popular models to equip any kitchen for success.
Whatever your cutting task, we have the ideal knife designed to handle it with speed, precision and ease. Cooking is an art, and a Masamoto knife will be your most trusted brushstroke.
Handcrafted by Japan’s Master Bladesmiths
Masamoto knives are forged by Japan’s most skilled and dedicated bladesmiths in our Tokyo workshop. Our master smiths train for decades perfecting their craft. Their technical mastery is paired with generations of wisdom about steel, heat treating, sharpening and knife design.
Producing Masamoto’s premium knives requires a daunting degree of focus, patience and manual precision. But for our master smiths, knife making is not just a profession – it is a lifelong artistic pursuit. Their passion shines through in every knife that bears our mark.
We continue to produce our knives using traditional, labor-intensive methods that allow our smiths’ skill to shine. At a time when many knife makers have turned to automation, we remain committed to meticulous hand crafting. Each knife receives the care and attention it deserves.
From the young apprentices learning their craft to the most senior master smiths, the members of our workshop share a common dedication to producing the finest knives we possibly can. It is their pride and integrity as bladesmiths that makes Masamoto knives so exceptional.
Our Commitment to Excellence
For over a century, Masamoto has upheld a mission of crafting the highest quality knives backed by our integrity. When you choose a Masamoto knife, you can have confidence knowing it adheres to our unwavering standards for materials, construction and performance.
We stand behind every knife with our full lifetime guarantee against material and manufacturing defects. The superlative skill of our smiths and superiority of our blades gives us pride to offer this assurance.
We are honored to carry on Japan’s great knifemaking traditions while constantly striving to reach new heights of excellence. Our enduring passion for the art of knifemaking shines through in every Masamoto knife that bears our name.
Whether you are a professional chef or home cook, we are dedicated to providing you with knives that will deliver a lifetime of cutting perfection.