Shiro Kamo

 Fig: Master Shiro Kamo forging a Syousin Suminagashi blade at the Takefu Knife Village, Echizen, Japan

Shiro Kamo, while little known overseas, is a well regarded knife smith in Japan. He was awarded the prestigious “Dento-kogeshi” (Master of Traditional Crafts) at a very young age (total of about 10 persons are awarded in Echizen area, likes of Takeshi Saji and Katsushige Anryu). He is also the president of the Takefu Knife Village Cooperative (http://www.takefu-knifevillage.com/company/) that is the reason I say while not known by many of us outside, Kamo-san is certainly a highly regarded figure in the kitchen knife industry. His knives have exceptional profile and grind, and the heat treatment of R2 steel is so impressive that you are assured to be getting a damn good knife. I just can’t afford to not offer his work to you :D

Fig: Master Shiro Kamo forging a Syousin Suminagashi blade at the Takefu Knife Village, Echizen, Japan