Masamoto Sohonten
The Crowned King of Kanto Region
Expert Answers
Curated by the Knives and Stones team
Who is Masamoto Sohonten and what are they known for?
What the research shows
Masamoto Sohonten is a Tokyo knife maker founded in 1866 and run by the same family for generations. In the market, it is best known for traditional Japanese professional knives, especially single-bevel sushi and sashimi knives, and for the KS series gyuto. The broader consensus is that Masamoto has long been a reference name for chefs, with a reputation built on consistency, sharp cutting performance, and a deep professional following rather than flashy styling.
The Knives & Stones take
Masamoto Sohonten is a Tokyo maker founded in 1866, and the honest market read is simple: they’re one of the names people bring up when they talk about serious Japanese professional knives, especially traditional single-bevel knives and the KS series Gyuto. If you want the classic reference point, that’s Masamoto. If you want more variety around the same general lane, I’d look at Sakai Takayuki for classic Sakai knives, or Satoshi Nakagawa for single bevels and heat treatment across hitachi steels.
My take: Masamoto makes sense when the buyer cares about proven, traditional geometry over trendiness. The signature steel here is White #2 / Swedish Steel, which fits that old-school professional brief. I’d steer someone to Masamoto when they want a benchmark name with a long track record, not a flashy experiment.
People
- Founder
- Minosuke Matsuzawa 松沢巳之助
- Current Head
- Masahiro Hirano 平野 正浩
Craft
- Known For
- Excellently built traditional single bevel knives and KS series Gyuto
- Steel
- White #2 / Swedish Steel
Location
- Address
- 1 Chome-6-5 Azumabashi, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0001, Japan
- Region
- Tokyo, Japan
- Coordinates
- 35.70828, 139.802
Brand
Logo
Native Name
正本·総本店
Why Masamoto Sohonten Matters
Does Masamoto Sohonten Allow Unsolicited Visits?
Knives by Masamoto Sohonten
Expert Answers
Curated by the Knives and Stones team
Who is Masamoto Sohonten and what are they known for?
What the research shows
Masamoto Sohonten is a Tokyo knife maker founded in 1866 and run by the same family for generations. In the market, it is best known for traditional Japanese professional knives, especially single-bevel sushi and sashimi knives, and for the KS series gyuto. The broader consensus is that Masamoto has long been a reference name for chefs, with a reputation built on consistency, sharp cutting performance, and a deep professional following rather than flashy styling.
The Knives & Stones take
Masamoto Sohonten is a Tokyo maker founded in 1866, and the honest market read is simple: they’re one of the names people bring up when they talk about serious Japanese professional knives, especially traditional single-bevel knives and the KS series Gyuto. If you want the classic reference point, that’s Masamoto. If you want more variety around the same general lane, I’d look at Sakai Takayuki for classic Sakai knives, or Satoshi Nakagawa for single bevels and heat treatment across hitachi steels.
My take: Masamoto makes sense when the buyer cares about proven, traditional geometry over trendiness. The signature steel here is White #2 / Swedish Steel, which fits that old-school professional brief. I’d steer someone to Masamoto when they want a benchmark name with a long track record, not a flashy experiment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Masamoto Sohonten
Who is Masamoto Sohonten?
Masamoto Sohonten is a Japanese knife maker based in Tokyo, Japan , established in 1866. They are known for Excellently built traditional single bevel knives and KS series Gyuto. Their signature steels include White #2 / Swedish Steel. Available at Knives and Stones Australia.
What knives does Masamoto Sohonten make?
Masamoto Sohonten produces the following knife lines: Masamoto KS Series, Masamoto SW. We currently carry 8 products from Masamoto Sohonten at Knives and Stones. They specialise in Excellently built traditional single bevel knives and KS series Gyuto.
Where is Masamoto Sohonten located?
Masamoto Sohonten is located in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese knife-making regions each have distinct traditions.
Where can I buy Masamoto Sohonten knives in Australia?
Knives and Stones is an authorised Australian stockist of Masamoto Sohonten. You can shop online at knivesandstones.com.au with free shipping on orders over $99, or visit our stores in St Peters (Sydney), Crows Nest (Sydney) and Braddon (Canberra) to handle the knives before buying.
