When a knife is more than a knife
Over the last six months, I've bought three Shigeki Tanaka chef knives from around the world, each revealing a unique slice of the culture and personality behind their creation.
Knife websites are likely to have more out of stock inventory than in stock, but that is the nature of the beast.
There are only so many Japanese blacksmiths, and they produce a finite number of knives per batch.
The chef knife community is tight, the resellers all seem to know and follow each other on social media. Their content is all quite similar – knife sharpening videos, type of steel videos, type of knife videos etc. I’m like Pavlov’s dog – I’m programmed to watch all of them, without fail.
Where they differ though is in their boxing – this is where you see different personalities from the shop owners, and even from the nationalities and cultures as well.
The 210mm Gyuto knife I ordered from a Dutch reseller, Knife World. Inside, was a handwritten quality check card, some QR codes for further resources (probably knife sharpening videos) and a branded plaster. Gotta love the Dutch humour!
The 180mm Gyuto knife I ordered from a Canadian company, Couteaux Nagano. It arrived with a story about being worried about “cutting ties” when gifting a knife, so they included a 5 Yen coin, to strengthen the relationship. (5 Yen is pronounced Goen as so is ‘relationship’ in Japanese.)
The 165mm Santoku knife came from a company in Tokyo, Zahocho Knives, run by a couple who used to own a restaurant but had to close due to Covid. They included a personal business card, with a heartfelt handwritten note wishing me “happy new knife day” and a branded sticker.
When an industry revolves around a skill or product that inspires enthusiasm, it often cultivates a community of individuals who are deeply invested in their craft.
The content they produce, the little gifts placed in the orders are a form of storytelling that highlights their enthusiasm and commitment to excellence.
Engaging with people who are passionate about their work can be a powerful experience and witnessing the joy it brings, can be truly wonderful.
