About Nenohi

The careful selection of raw materials for knives shares the same mindset as a chef seeking the finest ingredients. Nenohi approaches the manufacturing process with the goal of extracting the best qualities from these hidden raw materials, constantly researching and refining their selection. Nenohi procures raw materials from around the world, including Japan, and undergo daily research and analysis. We have continued this cycle of steel research for over thirty years, and sometimes we use rare materials unknown to the industry. We continue to evolve in the creation of knives that are stronger and sharper.

Forging will dramatically improve the performance of specific raw materials for the knife. However, it is essential to note that there may be better choices for particular materials to achieve a high-quality knife than forging. Nenohi is researching how far we can improve performance through forging by exploring the remote possibilities in the raw materials. We depend on the artisan's intuition and research to determine the optimum temperature and pressure for each forging. This meticulous approach guarantees consistent production of the highest quality knife, creating 100 outstanding knives out of 100. We carefully forge the materials, dedicating our hearts and souls to the craft.

Nenohi will stabilize the material through different thermal processes specific to each raw material while maintaining the performance of the material that we have forged to its ideal hardness and strength. Simply achieving hardness is not sufficient, as it can result in brittleness and the blade edge chipping. How to adjust the heat, whether to increase or decrease it and when? How can the opposite characteristic of a strong, sharp, resilient, and flexible knife be created and balanced? We adjust the blade to ensure it can be used for a long time by optimizing the thermal processing specific to each raw material and its unique forging process.

Nenohi's specialized technique is in a single material knife structure with exceptional sharpness called the "Solid Steel" structure. Generally, knives are made in clad steel structure, combining different materials with specific characteristics such as strength, flexibility, and heat resistance. But Nenohi's specialized "Solid Steel" structure produces a unique sharpness and functionality. Nenohi can maximize the knives' performance by utilizing the unique characteristics of a single raw material, resulting in knives that remain unbent even after prolonged use and can be sharpened to meet the specific preference of each chef. Nenohi's ultimate knives result from years of research and forging using an unprecedented and highly challenging technique (Adopted in particular lineups.)

about "Solid Steel"

Nenohi's knives are designed to focus on the blade tip's lightness. Bringing the center of gravity to the hand when gripping the knife creates a fresh sensation that allows for delicate handling of the blade tip, creating a feeling as if the knife were an extension of the chef's hand. Knives need not only sharpness but also to have a complete design not to give unnecessary load to the foods. This unique design by Nenohi enables a relaxed movement from the chef's fingertips to their arms, shoulders, and entire body without requiring unnecessary tension.

Nenohi knives handle is composed of a smooth curved surface; most of them are finished by an artisan's hands, allowing for a comfortable grip that feels like the knife is naturally adheres to the chef's palm when held. We don't limit ourselves to traditional wood materials for constructing the handle. We also incorporate cutting-edge materials such as carbon fiber and natural materials such as buffalo horn, allowing for selecting the optimal material for the handle section based on various impressions (Adopted in particular lineups.)

From the moment the knife touches the ingredient to the point of a clean cut, from the powerful push of the knife into the ingredient to the decisive bone-breaking cut, the smooth knife movement that flows from the tip to the heel is enabled by the curved surface sharpening that minimizes friction with the ingredients to the highest degree. Skilled artisans meticulously finish the knife to gradually thin the blade from the handle to the tip and from the spine to the cutting edge. The entire knife is crafted with a three-dimensional curved surface sharpening the original technique of the artisan and allowing the ingredients to be effortlessly sliced with a natural flow.

Nenohi knives are not solely crafted on the intuition of the artisans. Nenohi knives undergo meticulous hardness and shape measurements to ensure their quality and adherence to strict standards. Only knives that meet these rigorous criteria are granted the name “Nenohi.” This meticulousness enables Nenohi to achieve its goal of creating 100 outstanding knives out of 100. It also contributes to the improved maintainability of knives once they are in the hands of chefs. Because the blades consistently maintain a certain level of quality, Nenohi knives can achieve the desired long-lasting sharpness and eliminate any inconvenience in the daily sharpening process due to the precision of their design.

The blades of Nenohi are moderately adorned. They are composed entirely of functional beauty realized through the pursuit of sharpness and usability as the chef's knife. Everything has a purpose, from exploring raw materials for the blades to selecting the handles. There is a sense of inevitability in every aspect. The gestures of the chef gripping a knife, their posture, and the dishes they create all contribute to the functional beauty that Nenohi strives for in the knife. Nenohi continues its endless pursuit of excellence through constant training and refinement, aiming to create knives embodying perfect functional beauty.