The People

Our Artisans

We don't sell knives from a catalog. We travel to workshops, sit with smiths, watch them work β€” then bring their blades to you with their name attached. These are the people behind TANREN.

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Artisan Photography
Sakai, Osaka Prefecture Β· Est. 1952

Kenji Yoshida

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Third-generation blacksmith. Kenji learned the craft from his father at age 14 and has spent over 40 years perfecting the art of hand-forging Blue Steel knives. His workshop sits in the old district of Sakai, unchanged since his grandfather built it.

Specialty:Hand-forged Blue Steel, single bevel
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Artisan Photography
Sakai, Osaka Prefecture Β· Est. 1978

Hiroshi Tanaka

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Hiroshi is known for his exceptionally thin grinds and mirror polishes. He trained under the legendary Sakai smith Matsumoto Taro before opening his own workshop. Each knife takes him 3 to 5 days to complete.

Specialty:Mirror polished, laser-thin grind
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Artisan Photography
Seki, Gifu Prefecture Β· Est. 1965

Soji Mizuno

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Soji combines traditional Seki forging with modern powder steel technology. His SG2 knives have earned a global following among professional chefs who need both performance and easy maintenance.

Specialty:SG2 Powder Steel, stainless clad
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