Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
- ashy2classy
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Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
I feel like there should be a sticky thread dedicated for this subject. Maybe there is and I missed it. *SHRUG*
Anyway, picked up a ginsan knife that was supposed to be made by Suogo Yamatsuka, but the sharpener was unknown. Can someone help with the Kanji for a little more information (and to tell me if this was a waste of $$ )?
TIA!
Anyway, picked up a ginsan knife that was supposed to be made by Suogo Yamatsuka, but the sharpener was unknown. Can someone help with the Kanji for a little more information (and to tell me if this was a waste of $$ )?
TIA!
Last edited by ashy2classy on Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
I'm not sure how helpful this will be, but the kanji on the knife read kankaishū in the standard pronunciation. Place names are notoriously varied, so the original could be different than this. The name would mean something like "ship surrounded by the sea." The final character, saku 作, means "made by."
Re: Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
Ashy-here is a photo of my Ginsans by Suogo Yamatsuka not sure if the sharpener is the same on these two knives.
Re: Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
Unfortunately brand names don't always help determine the identity of the craftsmen.
For example, Shigehiro knives- forged by Yoshikazu Ikeda, and sharpened by Shigehiro Kasahara. But that exact same pairing is actually sold under a couple different brand names, that have nothing to do with either craftsmen, and can even affect the makers mark put on the tang.
Sometimes brand names are formed by the craftsmen; sometimes they are formed by the Wholesaler, and therefore can't be used by others, despite the knife being effectively identical.
Best of luck in discovering the sharpener on this, though! Yamatsuka is a really excellent blacksmith, so I would imagine the sharpener is no slouch, no matter who it is.
For example, Shigehiro knives- forged by Yoshikazu Ikeda, and sharpened by Shigehiro Kasahara. But that exact same pairing is actually sold under a couple different brand names, that have nothing to do with either craftsmen, and can even affect the makers mark put on the tang.
Sometimes brand names are formed by the craftsmen; sometimes they are formed by the Wholesaler, and therefore can't be used by others, despite the knife being effectively identical.
Best of luck in discovering the sharpener on this, though! Yamatsuka is a really excellent blacksmith, so I would imagine the sharpener is no slouch, no matter who it is.
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Re: Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
Tongue-in-cheek: once you use the knife you'll know whether it was a waste of money or not. And heck, its ginsan, so you can use it without any worries of harming the finish!!
Good luck with the investigation! It is amazing to me how much more helpful people are on this front than even just 2 years ago. Lots of studying going on...
Good luck with the investigation! It is amazing to me how much more helpful people are on this front than even just 2 years ago. Lots of studying going on...
~J
Comments: I'm short, a home cook, prefer lighter, thinner blades, and have tried dozens of brands over the years.
Comments: I'm short, a home cook, prefer lighter, thinner blades, and have tried dozens of brands over the years.
- ashy2classy
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Re: Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
Thanks for the help, everyone. Here are photos of the entire knife. Typical Sakai profile and dimensions. Hefty blade coming in at 7.34 oz with a spine thickness around 3.75mm at the handle and 3.6mm at the heel. Was told it was made by Yamatsuka for a house brand Sakai Kaisen.
- ashy2classy
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Re: Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
Yep...the reason I was concerned. I had a bunch of eBay bucks so I used them to get this for not much out of pocket.
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Re: Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
Serious I think we need to make a list of every Blacksmith and sharpener and start playing guessing games on the knives. Cause normally a lot of their work seems like a calling card!
- ashy2classy
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Re: Kanji Help - Ginsan by Yamatsuka?
Got an update from the seller. Here are the details...
Smith: Suogo Yamatsuka
Sharpener: Shunichi Tahara
http://tahara-knife.jp/en/factory-en/
Smith: Suogo Yamatsuka
Sharpener: Shunichi Tahara
http://tahara-knife.jp/en/factory-en/