Hakata Bocho
Kiirogami - Yellow paper steel
178mm
50mm
150g
Two of these came into the country within a few months. This one has been used lightly but effectively is as new.
This one #115 has been rough sharpened by me to keep its rustic appearance and handle has been waxed.
Oba san's hakata bocho is made from yellow paper cutlery steel which Oba san says lends his knives 'nebari', which roughly translates to ductility. Not chippy, good for all round use in the home kitchen.
Oba Kaji Kobo Hakata bocho 180
Oba san is the third and last generation of Oba
Oba san was born in 1938 and
Kajiya craftsmen but he did take on an apprentice, Miyazaki san, who is now well established and based on Goto Island in Nagasaki prefecture. He's well known in blacksmith circles for producing his own charcoal. So there are two craftsmen producing that traditional hakata shape. There are other makers that make and sell 'hakata bocho' but they are approximations and not related to the location - this is the real thing.