Born in 1950, knife smith Hideo Kitaoka is the 3rd generation of blacksmiths in his family, upholding a tradition that dates back to 1868. Kitaoka-san specializes in forging single-bevel knives and is one of the only blacksmiths capable of forging this style in Echizen. He focuses on traditional craftsmanship, keeping his blades relatively simple so he can perfect every step of the process. Lucky for knife nerds like me, Kitaoka-san has taken on two apprentices to continue the family tradition: his son Hideharu Kitaoka-san and the fresh-faced Ryuku Nakatani-san.

As I said, Kitaoka-san’s blades are quite traditional, and that’s why I love them so much. Single-bevel blades are uncommon in the West, but they’re becoming more popular for a good reason: they’re purpose-built for specific tasks and unparalleled at handling those jobs. Whether cutting fish with a deba and yanagiba or delicate vegetable garnishes with an usuba, Kitaoka blades will always blow your mind.