Evolving
knives.

We have inherited a 350-year-old tradition, but our mission is not about only handing down traditions or resting on our laurels.

Instead, our nature is about constant updating and having an insatiable spirit that challenges the times. In other words, we “evolve.”

We do not wait for needs to arise, but keep one step ahead of them to create ideas, quality, sharpness, patterns, and shapes that have never existed before.

We may not even be craftsmen or technicians anymore. Nigara needs to be a pioneer.

This has been the way of our fathers for 350 years. That is why we must keep this proud legacy alive for the next 350.

Nigara never stops.

The ultimate
sharpness of
Nigara knives.

• 

  President and Representative Director ／ Selected to represent Aomori in the 2017 LEXUS NEW TAKUMI PROJECT

  Forging

  Go Yoshizawa

  吉澤 剛

  ---

  Go is in charge of creating special patterns through forging along with forging of high-level products.

  He is the new leader of Nigara who strives daily to give birth to the next generation of first-class craftsmen from the Tsugaru area.

  I joined the company when I was 25 to take over the family business.

  I find forging and creating original Damascus steel very rewarding.

  I like how time passes in an instant when trying to create something no one has ever done before.

  I believe this is a unique and ambitious workplace in which younger people can polish their craft and create with their own flair.

  We want to provide our customers with one-of-a-kind products to the best of our skills, and products that only we can create.

• 

  Director

  Sharpening

  Shu Yoshizawa

  吉澤 周

  ---

  Shu actively incorporates the opinions and experiences of others and is always on the lookout for new technologies.

  He is the driving force behind boosting Nigara’s skills and quality.

  I joined the company right after graduating from high school. I was hesitant at first, but gradually I was impressed by what we can do and by creating products. I now have a desire to aim higher.

  I am still just a fledgling craftsman, but this is a place where you are encouraged and supported by your coworkers and motivated to learn new skills.

  I want to provide knives that evolve and are continuously updated through various perspectives through our acquired skills and desire to improve.

• 

  Deputy Director ／ Master watch repairman from Shinshu

  Edge setting ／ sharpening

  Atsushi Maruyama

  丸山 敦史

  ---

  Atsushi arrived at the world of metalworking at the end of his journey of self-discovery.

  He has a reputation for carefully observing the work of his predecessors, to absorb and develop these skills to his own unique techniques.

  After graduating from high school, I experienced several jobs, but I entered this path through my love of metalwork.

  I enjoy the process of shaving metal and creating the shape of knives. It’s rewarding and fun when you achieve the shape and thinness for which you were aiming.

  I would like to improve my skills by trying out materials of different shapes and sizes.

• 

  Manager of the Grinding Department

  Edge setting ／ grinding

  Eigo Hanamura

  花村 英悟

  ---

  Eigo has the most distinctive personality in Nigara. He is persistent and eccentric with a hands-off policy leaving things to others.

  He is an enthusiast of heat treatment, and fully devotes himself to research.

  When I was in graduate school, I wanted to work at a job related to metal blades, which I originally had interest in, although it was in a different field academically. After graduating, I participated as a Local Vitalization Cooperator and entered Nigara Knives straight from this.

  I liked how I was able to set up conditions for my own experiments and compare performance.

  I do not know what the others are thinking, but I believe that the atmosphere here is not that bad.

  I want to boost the performance of the blades and create knives one can bet their life on.

• 

  Manager of the Knife Department ／ Completed special training for cutting grinding wheels

  Knife creation ／ sharpening

  Yuki Seino

  清野 雄輝

  ---

  Yuki’s hobbies are fishing and camping, and he is taking on the challenge of designing and manufacturing outdoor knives based on his experience.

  He is a maverick and a breath of fresh air at Nigara.

  I liked knives ever since I was a student, and played around by purchasing various knives, using them outdoors, and then caring and tweaking these knives myself.

  I am still inexperienced as a knifemaker, but I will create each knife with all my heart as my own work.

• 

  Chief of the Forging Department

  Forging

  Toshihiro Tsubata

  津畑 俊宏

  ---

  Toshihiro loves traditional cultures of various countries.

  Although he is a professional metal forger, he is extremely knowledgeable about metalworks outside of blades.

  I used to work doing what I can do, but I entered this industry to do what I wanted to.

  I want to strike hot iron with a spring hammer, engage in the process of forming knives, and see beautiful blade patterns after glost firing.

  This is an open workplace in which my colleagues tell me about points that can be improved for products after forging, and show me the finished products.

  I want to create products that customers will love for their appearance and performance.

• 

  Chief of the Sharpening Department ／ Completed special training for cutting grinding wheels ／ Completed special training for free cutting grinding wheels

  Sharpening

  Yasuhide Fujimaki

  藤巻 靖英

  ---

  Yasuhide is currently studying sharpening techniques.

  Although he is often quiet and focused while working, he has a passionate heart.

  I selected this path because I enjoy manufacturing things, and especially love creating things from metal. I find it remarkably interesting how even rigid metals can take on any type of shape if you know what to do with them.

  My goal is to provide products that will satisfy customers, by acquiring the attentiveness and techniques to provide added value to the customers’ needs.