What makes Kisuke Manaka's forge-welding unusual?

Kisuke Manaka taught himself stainless forge-welding, studying the behaviour and particles of iron through internet and library research, and independently worked out heat treatment for stainless steel and powder high-speed steel.

The workshop does not use clad stock pre-bonded from stainless, iron and steel. He performs the whole process himself: steel attachment, forge-welding, annealing, quenching, tempering, sub-zero treatment, sharpening and handle fitting. One person, the whole way through.