Timeless Objects of Ancient Provenance.

Click for fullscreen

Seeking the exceptional in the everyday;

Hinoki craft highly-refined kitchen instruments imbued with over 400 years of traditional craftsmanship, realized with modern design principles.

Our purpose is to create products that inspire the mind and stimulate the senses, ultimately enhancing the way we live.

TRADITION, HISTORY, DEVOTION

伝統、歴史、献身

Each Hinoki knife goes through over 100 individual production steps, all within our family-run workshops in Sakai, Osaka and Seki, Gifu.

Both cities have deep roots within the Japanese metalsmithing canon. Each a history entwined with the samurai and metallurgy, with families in the area making blades for over 400 years. It's from this tradition we draw the techniques and devotion imbued into every one of our knives.

THE STORY OF HINOKI

ひのきの物語

16th Century

SAMURAI BEGINNINGS

Legendary swordsmith Naoe Kanetsugu begins smithing in what was then Mino province, now modern-day Seki, Gifu Prefecture.

1916

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS

Our partner workshop responsible for the production of Hinoki’s signature S1 Gyuto is established in Sakai, specialising in producing only the finest handmade ‘hamono’.

1918

THE MASTERS DESCENDANT

Naoe Kanetsugu’s descendant — and grandfather of Hinoki’s own President Kawamura — Matsujiro-san, founds the family cutlery company in Seki that in 2020 will begin crafting our new Essentials line.

1990

A QUEST BEGINS

President Kawamura has the idea for a specific convex angle that would provide incredibly long lasting sharpness and begins obsessively prototyping.

1995

A DREAM REALISED

After years of toil, President Kawamura completes development of his signature convex blade with the goal of sharing this around the world.

2018

400 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Hailing from Hinoki’s workshop in Sakai, our flagship product, the S1 Gyuto Chef’s Knife is released. Drawing on centuries of tradition the blade represents a synthesis of craftsmanship and modern design, an unrivalled tool for the kitchen.

‘An expert craftsman never skips a step, every step of our production process is meticulously calibrated’ Hinoki's President Kawamura