Honyaki craftsman

Today, while I was out on deliveries, I returned to the office only to find the master craftsman forging Honyaki knives was there. He usually ends up chatting only with the boss and leaves, so I saw this as a golden opportunity to ask him all sorts of questions I normally wouldn’t dare. And let me tell you, this craftsman is truly remarkable! While much of what we discussed is too confidential to share here, let’s just say we had a deeply engaging conversation! We were both able to speak earnestly, and we delved into some pretty profound topics. From the compatibility between sharpening stones and knives to all the experiments and insights I’ve gathered through Suisin’s Special Features, he didn’t brush off my inquiries with a dismissive ‘maybe this or that,’ but rather gave thoughtful and genuine responses. He even mentioned, ‘I took the time to research that!’ which really got us both fired up, and before we knew it, we had spent a good two hours engrossed in conversation. We covered everything from the intricacies of sword-making to the reasons behind knife warping… While what this smith says might not be the gospel truth, his explanations really stimulated my rather stubborn brain and left me feeling satisfied. It’s a level of depth that I can’t fully capture here (chuckles). I was actually about to call it a night after a day’s work, but I just had to jot this down. This craftsman is incredibly dedicated to his craft, and I sensed an unwavering commitment to excellence. I’m really excited about the prospect of collaborating with him on something in the future. How about diving into the realm of super-serious water Honyaki together?

• 2008-10-16