Knife brand: Gensho-no-tsukuri 

Black smith: Masakuni Genkai         

Shapner: Shotaro Nomura

Knife Type: Yanagiba knife (Sashimi knife)     

Steel Type: Mizu Honyaki White 2

Blade Length: 300mm

Handle Material:Ebony wood handle

Gensho-no-Tsukuri represents the highest level of traditional Japanese knife craftsmanship.

This exceptional Honyaki Yanagiba is the result of a collaboration between master blacksmith Masakuni Genkai (Yoneo Mukai) of Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, and renowned Sakai master sharpener Shotaro Nomura.

Masakuni Genkai was widely respected as one of Japan’s finest Honyaki blacksmiths, known for producing extraordinary Mizuyaki Honyaki knives using traditional Japanese forging techniques. His work is highly regarded by professional chefs and collectors for its craftsmanship, performance, and rarity.

The blade is crafted from premium Shirogami #2 (White #2) carbon steel and forged using the traditional Mizuyaki Honyaki method, one of the most demanding and respected techniques in Japanese knife making.

Each blade is then carefully sharpened and finished by Shotaro Nomura. His meticulous sharpening and finishing techniques enhance both the cutting performance and visual beauty of the knife, resulting in an elegant mirror-polished finish.

Following the passing of Masakuni Genkai in September 2025, no new Honyaki knives will ever be produced through the collaboration of Masakuni Genkai and Shotaro Nomura. Their collaborative works have therefore become finite in number and increasingly sought after by collectors and serious knife enthusiasts worldwide.

Already extremely difficult to obtain even within Japan, these knives rarely appear on the market and are highly prized by collectors. Opportunities to acquire one outside Japan are exceptionally rare.

This knife includes a handcrafted ebony saya (sheath) and a traditional paulownia wood presentation box, providing both protection and an elegant way to store and display this remarkable piece of Japanese craftsmanship.