[2025] Self-sharpening

I am Okudaira, the owner of "Japanese Kitchen Knife TOKU''.
We want to sell knives made in our hometown of Sakai, Osaka, so we purchase and sell knives made in Sakai from a knife manufacturer in Sakai.
We don't just sell knives, we visit a number of blacksmiths and bladesmiths in Sakai to help our customers understand knives, experience the actual work, and hear from the craftsmen. I'm here. In addition to Sakai, we also visit Seki in Gifu, Tsubame-Sanjo in Niigata, Tanegashima in Kagoshima and Katsushika in Tokyo, in an effort to deepen our understanding of the characteristics and commitment of each.

Self sharpening

How do you go about sharpening your knives?
I imagine most people sharpen their knives at home in their kitchens.
But isn't it difficult to make space when there are dishes left in the sink?
Some people may find sharpening at home a hassle because the whetstones they have at home are vitrified stones that need to be soaked in water for a while and it takes a while before they can start sharpening.
Some people may have whetstones because their parents used to sharpen knives, but don't really know how to sharpen them.
Some people who come to our store to take sharpening courses say that they want to sharpen their own knives, but don't know which whetstone to buy.
Some people may only sharpen their knives occasionally and are worried about whether they are sharpening them correctly.

"Japanese Kitchen Knife TOKU'' Shop Asakusa store sometimes holds sharpening classes and provides a space for people to try sharpening their own knives or do it themselves.
There are several shops in Kappabashi that offer knife sharpening services. There are also a few that teach you how to sharpen knives. However, there are probably only a handful of shops nationwide that offer sharpening space.
"Japanese Kitchen Knife TOKU'' Shop Asakusa branch provides a sharpening space where you can use a wide variety of whetstones that would be difficult to purchase on your own. We have a variety of whetstones, including vitrified, magnesia, and resinoid, and we stock a range of grits for each whetstone, so you can choose the whetstone that best suits your purpose. You can also ask the staff about whetstones and how to sharpen, so even those who are unsure about how to sharpen can feel at ease.

Also, have you ever been in a difficult situation when purchasing a whetstone and not knowing which one to buy?
I have never heard of a store that allows you to test sharpen an artificial whetstone (using the whetstone to check how it feels to use). Therefore, most people buy whetstones without knowing what kind of finish they will get. However, by trying the whetstone you want to buy at "Japanese Kitchen Knife TOKU''  Shop Asakusa, you can check how it works with your knife and how sharpened it will be, so it may be a good idea to use the self-sharpening method to test sharpen the artificial whetstone. In fact, even the same #1000 whetstone will have a different finish depending on the manufacturing method and hardness of the whetstone. This is especially true for finishing whetstones.
I think it will be even more fun when regulars start exchanging opinions with each other.
The way knives are sharpened and the finished state will vary depending on the person how they use them, so I think the finished state will also vary, and there is no right or wrong way to sharpen a knife; I believe they are all correct.
We hope to become a store with such vitality.
We hope you will come to "Japanese Kitchen Knife TOKU'' Asakusa store when it reopens and enjoy the experience of sharpening your own knives.

Let's go to a knife store!
"Japanese Kitchen Knife TOKU'' Shop will open a store in Asakusa, Tokyo on April 5th. The store is located on the 6th floor of a building right outside the north exit of Tobu Asakusa Station. It is also about a 3- minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.
We also hold sharpening classes and sharpening experiences, so please feel free to stop by if you are in the area.
"Japanese Kitchen Knife TOKU'' Shop also has channels on YouTube , Facebook and Instagram .
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Sakaitoku Knife - YouTube