Shibata Takayuki is a knife sharpener known for working with renowned blacksmiths. He is most notably the founder and head sharpener of Masakage Hamono, a brand comprised of Takefu Knife Village’s highly talented members. As a knife sharpener with years of experience under his belt, Takayuki’s knives bring out some of the best in the blacksmithing industry.

For those searching for that top notch cut on par with high carbon steels but do not want to worry about rusting, Takayuki’s knives are simply a must-have. He specializes in powdered metallurgy like R2/SG2 which can achieve a remarkably fine edge. His line of knives, Koutetsu is named after the shape of his blades which resemble old ironclad warships. Takayuki also creates tools and kitchenware with his company Shibata Tinker and collaborating with cookware company West Japan Tools.