Shigeki Tanaka

Shigeki Tanaka - Miki's unicorn knife maker.

Crafted in Miki City, Hyogo—Japan’s historic blade-making heartland—Shigeki Tanaka knives embody generations of blacksmithing expertise. Known for their exceptional sharpness and balance, these blades are forged using high-carbon steel (like Aogami #2) and traditional techniques, ensuring outstanding edge retention. The brand’s signature kurouchi (blacksmith’s finish) gives each knife a rustic, hand-forged look while protecting the blade.

Tanaka’s knives are favored by chefs and collectors for their precision, durability, and exceptional performance. Many feature elegant wa (Japanese-style) handles made from magnolia or ebony, along with his signature Bob loveless inspired coke-shaped western ironwood handle, designed for comfort and control. With a focus on pure craftsmanship over flashy aesthetics, Shigeki Tanaka delivers professional-grade blades that honor Hyogo’s samurai sword-making legacy.

Forged in Miki City, Hyogo—the heart of Japan's blade-making tradition—Shigeki Tanaka knives represent generations of masterful blacksmithing. Each blade is handcrafted from premium high-carbon steels like Aogami #2, delivering exceptional sharpness and long-lasting edge retention. The distinctive kurouchi finish preserves the knife's rugged, hand-forged character while protecting the steel.

Renowned for their precision and balance, Tanaka's knives feature both traditional wa handles in magnolia or ebony and his signature Western-style ironwood handle—inspired by Bob Loveless's iconic "coke bottle" design—for superior grip and comfort. Favored by professional chefs and discerning collectors, these blades blend time-honored techniques with subtle modern refinements, staying true to Hyogo's samurai sword-making heritage. No flashy gimmicks—just flawless cutting performance and enduring craftsmanship.

(Handmade in Miki City, Hyogo—home to Japan's finest bladesmiths for centuries.)

“Japanese steel, Loveless soul — where desert ironwood meets the master's edge.”

Est. 1946 | 昭和21年

Known for Perfect balance of cutting performance and knife balance. Bob Loveless style western handle.

Website kanegen4th.com

People

Founder: Benkama Tanaka 田中勉鎌
Current Head: Shigeki Tanaka 田中誠貴

Craft

Known For: Perfect balance of cutting performance and knife balance. Bob Loveless style western handle.
Steel: SG2, Blue 2

Location

Address: 875 Besshochō Ishino, Miki, Hyogo 673-0452, Japan
Region: Miki, Japan
Coordinates: 34.793567756, 134.933584115

Brand

Logo

Native Name

田中一之刃物製作所

Why Shigeki Tanaka Matters

Shigeki Tanaka represents a rare generational bridge in Japanese bladesmithing. His father Kazuyuki's radical embrace of Western aesthetics — tracking down desert ironwood from Mexico to pair with Bob Loveless-inspired handles — permanently shifted how Japanese makers think about handle design. Shigeki inherited that restless cross-cultural vision and elevated it through craft mastery. The SG2 Damascus ironwood series distills both legacies into a single object: cutting-edge powder steel, centuries-old Damascus artistry, and a handle material most makers wouldn't chase across continents. That combination is why it's been a grail knife for a generation.

Knives by Shigeki Tanaka

Shigeki Tanaka KU Blue 2

Forget the polish – Shigeki Tanaka's Blue #2 line is where real cutting happens. This is one of Tanaka's long-standing signature series, beloved for ... Read more

Forget the polish – Shigeki Tanaka's Blue #2 line is where real cutting happens. This is one of Tanaka's long-standing signature series, beloved for getting the fundamentals brutally right: a perfect profile, true workhorse grind geometry, and outstanding cutting feel that powers through prep.Yeah, the finish is rustic. It's not a show pony. But that's the point. Tanaka pours his skill where it counts: masterfully heat-treating Blue #2 steel. This gives you serious edge retention combined with solid impact resistance – a blade built for the long haul.This is the definition of a workhorse grind: thicker spine, robust edge, built to take real impact and keep slicing. No delicate lasers here – just reliable, day-in, day-out performance.Heads up: It's carbon steel with iron cladding. That legendary toughness comes with responsibility – it wants to rust. Seriously, just keep it dry between tasks and after washing. It demands respect, but rewards you with incredible cutting power.If you want a knife that feels solid in hand, powers through ingredients, and prioritizes pure, durable performance over fancy finishes, this Tanaka Blue #2 is your true carbon workhorse. Pay for the grind, not the gloss – just remember the towel! Read less

Pros

Budget friendly
Excellent performance

Cons

Need extra care
Prone to rust

Sanmai - Soft Iron Clad Kurouchi

Shigeki Tanaka SG2 Damascus

Tanaka’s SG2 Kurozome Damascus is the top end product offered at Tanaka Kazuyuki Hamono. This excellent design combines high performance geometry, beautiful ... Read more

Tanaka’s SG2 Kurozome Damascus is the top end product offered at Tanaka Kazuyuki Hamono. This excellent design combines high performance geometry, beautiful finish with Tanaka’s signature profile to create a highly functional yet good looking knife, and when it’s paired with the best handle in the industry crafted by Nishihara Sadao, it can easily be a top shelf item chased by collectors and enthusiasts.Tanaka’s knives have always been known for their tall heels, and this line is no exception. Gyuto usually has heel height of at least 50mm, even 150mm petty can get a measurement of 33mm at the heel. The tall heel translates into a broad blade, it is more stable when pushing through denser produce and requires a smaller range of motion when doing rocking chopping, additionally, like a chinese cleaver, the wide blade is very good in picking chopped food up and transferring it to another container.These SG2 are forged quite thin and finished in a gradual convex grind, a construction that is familiar to a lot of experienced knife nerds. Names like Shiro Kamo Takeshi Saji or Takamura would come across your mind when you pick up these knives, and it is not a surprise as Tanaka san did earn his skill in the Echizen region. This is a design that is well tested by time, based on a dazzling Damascus clad SG2 billet, an etching process turns layered steel into contrasting pattern, the additional friction created by this slightly rough finish is mitigated by an outstanding geometry, the convex in the blade is strong enough to push the sliced food off the surface and reduce friction but thin enough to cut into dense roots without excessive wedging. This knife is a good match with Kamo san’s Kurokumo or Takamura’s Uchigumo.The handle is something worth mentioning too. In some occasions, these blades will be fitted with a synthetic handle or a WA handle, but at KnS, most of Tanaka’s SG2 comes with ironwood western style handles fitted with mosaic pins. These handles mould into your hands with excellent geometry and smooth finish, the master behind these handles Nishihara Sadao have been the top maker in this craft for many years. He is at a semi-retirement stage at an age over 80, so any of these handles made by him would be increasingly harder to acquire. These accumulated experiences speak for themselves, as soon as you put a bit of force into your hand, the handle will automatically slide and lock into a perfect spot for a pinch grip. Desert Ironwood as the premium material for knife handles has great stability without stabilization process, and once they are polished properly, the revealed texture and colour can rarely be matched by any other timbers.Pretty knives like these usually don't come in a pretty price, and the Ironwood handle lineup we stock usually price at 4 digits, I think a petty that is close to a thousand AUD would make anyone take some considerations before making a final decision. Is it worth it? This is a question that I think you would need to ask yourself when thinking about these knives. Regardless of the price, this is still a line that has great functionality due to its choice of material, finish and sharpening. Read less

Pros

Excellent performance
Highly collectable
Great artistic

Cons

High budget
Etched damascus can be hard to maintain

Sanmai - Stainless Damascus Clad Etched

Shigeki Tanaka Blue 2 Stainless Clad Tsuchime

Shigeki Tanaka’s stainless-clad Blue #2 line gives you the soul of a carbon knife without the fuss. At its core lies Hitachi’s legendary Blue #2 steel – heat... Read more

Shigeki Tanaka’s stainless-clad Blue #2 line gives you the soul of a carbon knife without the fuss. At its core lies Hitachi’s legendary Blue #2 steel – heat-treated for a razor edge that lasts, paired with stainless cladding to resist stains and simplify care.The tsuchime (hammered) finish isn’t just for looks – it breaks surface tension so food releases effortlessly, while adding a rugged, artisanal vibe.Forged in Miki, Japan, Tanaka’s knives balance traditional craftsmanship and modern practicality. No fragile laser here – just a confident, midweight grind that handles professional use without babying.For those who want carbon steel performance with less maintenance, this is your knife: sharp, sturdy, and stripped of pretension. Read less

Pros

Budget friendly
Excellent performance
Thin behind the edge

Cons

Prone to rust

Sanmai - Stainless Clad Tsuchime

Shigeki Tanaka Ginsan Damascus

Shigeki Tanaka Ginsan Damascus: Carbon Soul, Zero Rust StressMeet Tanaka’s near-mythical Ginsan Damascus – the knife that gives you everything you love about... Read more

Shigeki Tanaka Ginsan Damascus: Carbon Soul, Zero Rust StressMeet Tanaka’s near-mythical Ginsan Damascus – the knife that gives you everything you love about his Blue #2 line, minus the rust anxiety. At its heart? Ginsan (Silver #3) steel – a stainless superstar that holds a carbon-like edge, stays stain-resistant, and sharpens like a dream.Forged with Tanaka’s signature workhorse grind, it powers through produce with excellent food release and smooth penetration. The rippling Damascus cladding isn’t just eye candy – it reduces drag and sticks nothing to the blade.Why chefs reach for it: → Same trusted Tanaka geometry as his Blue #2 legend → Flawless food release + glide-through cutting → Zero patina panic – just wash, dry, and cut → Arguably one of the top performers under $500For those craving carbon-steel performance without carbon-steel babysitting, this is your grail: Miki-crafted muscle, Damascus beauty, and stainless peace of mind. Read less

Pros

Budget friendly
Excellent performance
Great OOTB

Cons

Fit and finish can be improved

Sanmai - Stainless Damascus Clad Migaki

Shigeki Tanaka Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus

Shigeki Tanaka is based in Miki city — not a name that comes up as often as Sakai or Takefu in knife conversations, though Miki has its own quiet place in Ja... Read more

Shigeki Tanaka is based in Miki city — not a name that comes up as often as Sakai or Takefu in knife conversations, though Miki has its own quiet place in Japanese blade culture as the home of Nagao Kanekoma, the legendary Higonokami makers. What makes Tanaka's story particularly interesting is that his training took him to Takefu Knife Village, giving him a grounding in the Echizen forging tradition before he returned to establish his own workshop in Miki. That cross-regional background shows in his work — the hand forged taper and rigidity you'd associate with Echizen production, expressed through a design that is distinctly his own.The Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus line leads with a finish that rewards a closer look. The Kurouchi surface has that weathered, uneven quality — bright and dark patches sitting together like aged paint, organic and characterful in the way only a forge scale finish can be. The Damascus cladding beneath it doesn't announce itself over the Kurouchi surface, but at the bevel, where the geometry cuts through the iron Damascus layers, the pattern is revealed in a sandblasted contrast. It's a more understated treatment than an etched Damascus, which suits the overall character of the knife well.The blade is hand forged with a noticeably thick spine and strong distal taper, lending it good rigidity and a confident feel in the hand. The primary bevel is concave, which brings the edge down to a low thickness and makes for decent food penetration. The narrow bevel creates a steeper angle from the Hira, which causes more wedging when pushing through dense, tough produce — this is not a knife for splitting blocks of hard root vegetables. Where it performs well is in producing clean, precise slices, where the Shinogi line transition encourages food to peel away reliably. The overall blade thickness keeps the edge reasonably robust despite the concave grind, making it a practical workhorse rather than a delicate laser.For the price, this combination is genuinely hard to find elsewhere — a hand forged Blue 2 knife with iron Damascus cladding, from a legacy maker, at a price point where most alternatives are either machine fabricated stainless or hand forged with plain iron cladding. For professional chefs and gift buyers looking for something with real craft and character behind it, the Shigeki Tanaka Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus is a very easy recommendation, but be sure that you can look after these reactive blades. Read less

Pros

Budget friendly
Workhorse grind
Great for professionals

Cons

Prone to rust
On the thicker side

Sanmai - Stainless Damascus Clad Kurouchi

Frequently Asked Questions about Shigeki Tanaka

Who is Shigeki Tanaka?

Shigeki Tanaka is a Japanese knife maker based in Miki, Japan , established in 1946. They are known for Perfect balance of cutting performance and knife balance. Bob Loveless style western handle.. Their signature steels include SG2, Blue 2. Available at Knives and Stones Australia.

What knives does Shigeki Tanaka make?

Shigeki Tanaka produces the following knife lines: Shigeki Tanaka KU Blue 2, Shigeki Tanaka SG2 Damascus, Shigeki Tanaka Blue 2 Stainless Clad Tsuchime, Shigeki Tanaka Ginsan Damascus, Shigeki Tanaka Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus. We currently carry 17 products from Shigeki Tanaka at Knives and Stones. They specialise in Perfect balance of cutting performance and knife balance. Bob Loveless style western handle..

Where is Shigeki Tanaka located?

Shigeki Tanaka is located in Miki, Japan. Japanese knife-making regions each have distinct traditions.

Where can I buy Shigeki Tanaka knives in Australia?

Knives and Stones is an authorised Australian stockist of Shigeki Tanaka. 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.

People

Craft

Location

Brand

Why Shigeki Tanaka Matters

Knives by Shigeki Tanaka

Shigeki Tanaka KU Blue 2

Shigeki Tanaka SG2 Damascus

Shigeki Tanaka Blue 2 Stainless Clad Tsuchime

Shigeki Tanaka Ginsan Damascus

Shigeki Tanaka Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus

Shop Shigeki Tanaka Knives

Tanaka Habakiri SG2 Damascus Sujihiki 240mm with Saya

Tanaka R2 Etched Black Damascus Gyuto 180mm Ironwood Handle

Tanaka R2 Black Damascus Ironwood Petty 150mm

Tanaka Habakiri SG2 Damascus Sujihiki 210mm

Tanaka R2 Etched Black Damascus Santoku 165mm Ironwood Handle

Shigeki Tanaka SG2 Gyuto 210mm Ironwood Western Handle

Tanaka R2 Black Damascus Ironwood Petty 135mm

Tanaka R2 Etched Black Damascus Nakiri 165mm Ironwood Handle

Tanaka R2 Damascus Gyuto 240mm with Ironwood Western Handle and K&S Wenge Saya

Tanaka R2 Ironwood Sujihiki 210mm

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