YU KUROSAKI 黒崎優

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Yu Kurosaki (黒崎優)

A talented artisan in his forties, has quickly risen to prominence as one of Japan's leading knife makers, garnering top awards and widespread recognition for his hand-forged knives, particularly for his distinctive Tsuchime and Suminagashi finishes.

Kurosaki began his journey into knife-making as a teenager. At the age of 23, he embarked on a 12-year apprenticeship under master Hiroshi Kato in Takefu Knife Village, a renowned hub for traditional knife-making. Recognizing his exceptional talent, Kato showcased Kurosaki’s work at international knife fairs and entrusted him with the most challenging projects. In 2014, Kurosaki established his own workshop and has been unstoppable since. His mastery of traditional knife-making techniques, combined with his innovative finishing methods, has earned him both domestic and international acclaim.

The Tsuchime finish is an ancient Japanese technique that involves hand-hammering patterns onto the soft cladding (jiagne) of a blade to enhance its aesthetic appeal. This meticulous process, often seen in Japanese art and craft, demands a high level of skill and focus to achieve a pattern that is both random and uniform. Typically, Tsuchime patterns on Japanese knives consist of small round dents that resemble the moon's surface. However, Yu Kurosaki’s Tsuchime finish is truly extraordinary. His unique designs, as seen in the Shizuku and Fujin series, are not only visually stunning but also highly functional, helping to prevent food from sticking to the blade. Kurosaki's Tsuchime finish features more chiseled than hammered patterns, creating deep, diamond-shaped cuts that form powerful and aesthetically striking designs.

Building on over 700 years of knife-making tradition passed down by generations of Echizen artisans, Yu Kurosaki has dedicated his career to crafting knives that leave a lasting impression and provide an exceptional cutting experience. Working out of Takefu Knife Village, where he once apprenticed under Hiroshi Kato, Kurosaki's handmade knives, produced in small batches, have become highly sought after overseas.