Kisuke Manaka

Kisuke Manaka Tanrenjo, a one-man workshop (est. 1872)

Kisuke Manaka is the fifth generation of Manaka Hamono Tanrenjo (間中刃物鍛錬所), a knife workshop founded in 1872 and now working in Sanjo.

His own site says the workshop uses no clad stock, no stainless or iron already joined to steel, and that Kisuke works alone on every step: forge welding the steel onto each blade himself, then the annealing, quenching, tempering, sub-zero treatment, sharpening and handle fitting.

In February 2026 we visited Kisuke at his new workshop in Sanjo. The new workshop is spacious and bright, and in winter the view from its window is scenic. On why Sanjo, his own reason was plain: he simply wanted to move, and friends in Sanjo offered help.

His site describes the techniques behind his work, among them honwarikomi (本割込), where soft iron is split open with a chisel, the steel inserted and the blade forge welded, and the forge welding of stainless to steel. His Blue 1 page lists Blue 1 with a soft iron jigane, honwarikomi construction and a water quench, and his site lists about 64 HRC for it. His ATS-34 series page lists ATS-34 edge steel with an 18Cr stainless jigane, warikomi construction and sub-zero treatment, again with about 64 HRC listed.

Because his output is limited, we asked Xinguo, a Chinese workshop team, to sharpen and polish his blades, and that arrangement is the Kisuke x Xinguo line. The regular line we list is the Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 tsuchime with a mirror kasumi finish and a knife guard, in gyuto, K-tip gyuto, bunka, sujihiki, petty, honesuki and chuka. Alongside it sits the flagship, the Kisuke x Xinguo Blue 1 Byakku Enn Damascus gyuto.

“A fifth-generation smith working alone in Sanjo.”

Est. 1872 | 明治5年

Known for One-man workshop; his site describes honwarikomi and forge-welded blades

Website manaka-hamono.com Instagram @manaka_hamono_tanrenjo

People

Current Head: Kisuke Manaka 間中貴輔

Craft

Known For: One-man workshop; his site describes honwarikomi and forge-welded blades
Steel: ATS 34, Blue Super

Location

Address: 1167 Sudo Shinden, Sanjo, Niigata, Japan
Region: Sanjo, Japan
Coordinates: 37.648995147, 138.993292969

Brand

Logo

Native Name

間中刃物鍛錬所

Why Kisuke Manaka Matters

His site says Kisuke does every step himself, from forge-welding the steel to sharpening and fitting the handle.

Does Kisuke Manaka Allow Unsolicited Visits?

No, being a one man operation, Manaka has neither no showroom nor open for any public visits.

Knives by Kisuke Manaka

Manaka ATS34 x Xinguo

This is what happens when two very different skill sets come together and the result is greater than the sum of its parts. Kisuke Manaka hand-welds and forge... Read more

This is what happens when two very different skill sets come together and the result is greater than the sum of its parts. Kisuke Manaka hand-welds and forges each blade using ATS-34 stainless core steel in a traditional warikomi construction with a stainless jacket. On the other end, Xinguo, an emerging bladesmith from China who's been quietly building a serious reputation, takes over with finishing work that is frankly on another level. If Xinguo's name rings a bell, it might be because he handled the sharpening on our last batch of Manaka ENN Damascus. His sharpening and polishing work is immaculate — on these blades, you won't find a single visible machining line. The edge comes out extremely straight, the choil and spine are polished and rounded to a degree that makes the knife genuinely comfortable to choke up on, and the deep tsuchime (hammered) texture across the blade face adds both visual character and food release. It's a high-polish, high-effort finish that you rarely see at any price point. In the hand, these are hefty, no-nonsense workhorses. They run long, tall, and carry real weight — the kind of knives that feel planted on the board and power through dense roots and heavy prep without flinching. But despite the robust build, the cutting performance is surprisingly refined. ATS-34 is a well-proven stainless steel that holds an edge reliably and sharpens up without drama, making it a practical choice for cooks who want a knife that works as hard as they do. The lineup covers pretty much the full range — gyuto, petty, chuka, santoku and more — so there's something here regardless of your preferred profile. These sit firmly in the high-budget category, but for a hand-forged Manaka with this level of finishing, the proposition is a compelling one. Collectors and enthusiasts who value the intersection of traditional Japanese forging and exceptional hand-finishing will find a lot to love here. Read less

Pros

Excellent performance
Great artistic
Highly collectable

Cons

Mirror polish can be hard to maintain
High budget

Warikomi - Stainless Clad Tsuchime

Frequently Asked Questions about Kisuke Manaka

Who is Kisuke Manaka?

Kisuke Manaka is a Japanese knife maker based in Sanjo, Japan, established in 1872. They are known for One-man workshop; his site describes honwarikomi and forge-welded blades. Their signature steels include ATS 34, Blue Super. Available at Knives and Stones Australia.

What knives does Kisuke Manaka make?

Kisuke Manaka produces the following knife lines: Manaka ATS34 x Xinguo, Manaka x Xinguo Blue 1 Iron clad. We currently carry 11 products from Kisuke Manaka at Knives and Stones. They specialise in One-man workshop; his site describes honwarikomi and forge-welded blades.

Where is Kisuke Manaka located?

Kisuke Manaka is located in Sanjo, Japan. Japanese knife-making regions each have distinct traditions. Sanjo in Niigata is famous for hand-forged, artisanal blades with a strong tradition of blacksmithing.

Where can I buy Kisuke Manaka knives in Australia?

Knives and Stones is an authorised Australian stockist of Kisuke Manaka. You can shop online at knivesandstones.com.au, with free shipping for knives over AU$200 Australia wide, or visit our stores in St Peters (Sydney), Crows Nest (Sydney), Braddon (Canberra) and Prahran (Melbourne) to handle the knives before buying.

How long has the Manaka family been making knives?

The Manaka forge dates its founding to 1872, the fifth year of the Meiji era.

Kisuke Manaka, of Manaka Hamono Forge in Sanjo, is the fifth generation smith to carry the house.

What is honwarikomi (本割込) in a Manaka knife?

Honwarikomi (本割込) is a forging technique listed on Kisuke Manaka's own site. The smith chisels the soft iron open, inserts the steel, and forge welds the two together.

His site names it alongside his forge welding of stainless steel to steel.

Kisuke Manaka

People

Craft

Location

Brand

Why Kisuke Manaka Matters

Does Kisuke Manaka Allow Unsolicited Visits?

Knives by Kisuke Manaka

Manaka ATS34 x Xinguo

Shop Kisuke Manaka Knives

Visit Us In Person

St Peters

Crows Nest

Canberra

Prahran

Footer links