Otsuka Hamono is a relatively small smithy that flew under many's radar. Maybe because that Otsuka san have chosen the life without any internet connection and continues his work in his workshop that is tucked in the mountains of Tottori prefecture. His work is wild to say the least, the kitchen knives pretty much comes only in one shape at different sizes, the spine of them have the most extreme tapering I've ever seen on a Japanese kitchen knives, and they often comes with handles that appears to be some locally found, trimmed tree branches.
If you look at other items that Otsuka san produces, you can find out the root of this wild style. With hatchet, hunting knife and Nepal Kukri combat knife surrounding them, the kitchen knife would be considered as the "tame" ones. As wild as the style goes, Otsuka's knitchen knives are some of the most well built kitchen tool for the task. The afore mentioned thick spine rapidly tapers into a thin blade with a well executed convex grind, giving these knives smooth cut and beautiful feeling in hand. The rough look really is just a facade that display Otsuka san's lifestyle.
