History
I'm the sixth bladesmith in the line of Watanabe blade smiths in Sanjo-city
Niigata-prefecture Japan. Therefore, my family have been bladesmiths since
my great, great, great, grandfather. Their brothers and their brother's
children were also bladesmiths. We have been bladesmiths from generation
to generation since 1897.
I know about our ancestor's history back to 1897, but I don't know much
about it before that. Last year, my grandfather's house was moved to make
a new road. During the construction, many remains were found. There were
a lot of iron ore, water stones, some pieces of fire place bricking, some
pieces of bellows and slag. And they dated back to the Heian Period in
794! It's possible that the Watanabe family has been blade smith since
then!
Watanabe bladesmith family line
Profile
We are manufacturers of garden tools and knives. We are exporting our products
to Europe and USA.. We share an honorable reputation among our worldwide
customers by providing high quality goods with competitive prices and punctual
delivery. Good customer service is our ultimate aim. Prospective customers
from all over the world are warmly welcomed.
Jul 17th 2003
Shinichi Watanabe |
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I'm learning English once every weeks. I often write essays at the class.
I will upload them. I hpe you like them!
| Manato |
Let me introduce you to my nephew, Manato. Manato is my sister's lovely
son. He was born in February of last year. Sometimes, I'm like a home helper
for him. He already walks around and has developed a little personality.
He smiles and laughs constantly and is almost never cranky.
Recently, he often makes word - like sounds. I read books to him usually
pop-up books. He's continually surprised by a certain octopus page again
and again. He says "wow" every time! It's so cute!
His soft little baby hand always touch my family's faces.
July 18th 2003
Shinichi Watanabe |
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| What's your favorite city? |
My favorite city is Sanjo. I was born and raised in Sanjo. And here I'm
making knives with my family and some experienced craftsmen.
Sanjo is not an urban area and not a big industrial area, either. But it
is an exciting place for me.
I had some good encounters for the past 5 or 6 years. These people are
bladesmiths, wood workers, engravers and machine makers. They are really
skillful. I'm so lucky, since they are living near my house. It is about
10 minutes by car. I sometimes collaborate with them and acquire their
skills.
Recently, I'm creating original jewelry with these skills. Sanjo is not a high technology city; we do not manufacture IC chips or cars. But it is an unique place for possibilities.
Feb 15th 2007
Shinichi Watanabe |
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| What's your favorite season? |
My favorite season is Spring. It is an encountering season for me. I attend
knife shows in the USA every Spring. I am able to meet many people at these
shows. Introducing Japanese knives to American people and discussing them
with other knife makers is fun.
It has been about 7 years since I entered the global knife trade. Now some
foreign people have became my customers. At recent shows, my customer aimed
to come to my booth. A customer who live near the show place, came to my
booth every day. Some customers even came from other states and Canada!
I was really happy 'cause I could meet them and listen to their voices.
They were smiling and loved our knives. They hoped to take pictures with
me. It was really unbelievable. Because I'm not a movie star!
7 years ago, I just supplied our knives to domestic wholesalers in my city.
Then I didn't think I could speak English or communicate with foreigners.
I will keep making higher quality knives for these customers! I will also
attend a show in Oregon this spring. I will try new ideas and I want to
surprise them with our products!
Feb 22th 2007
Shinichi Watanabe |
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| What's your favorite restaurant? |
My favorite restaurant is Fukuizumi. It is a restaurant with a variety
foods located near my house. We moved from an old workshop to the current
location about 25 years ago. After a few years, Fukuizumi was opened.
Recently, I often order Kaisen-don. Kaisen means "fresh raw seafood"
and don means "a bowl of rice". The seafoods include tuna, scallops,
sweet shrimp, octopus, salmon roe, yellow tail and calamari. They put the
seafood on the rice with soy sauce and Wasabi. Kaisen-don is delicious.
I think it is like a big sushi!
My father likes Ramen and Yakisoba. The Gomoku Yakisoba is an especially
tasty and sustaining food. The hot, starchy sauce is poured on fried Chinese
noodles and served on an American-size plate.
Finally, I recommend the Katsu-don to you. Katsu is a pork cutlet. I think
I have already eaten it more than 100 times! It brings back youthful memories.
In the past, when guests visited our house, my father always ordered Katsu-don
for them. And incidentally, he ordered it for me, too. Katsu also has the
mean "Victory" in Japanese, so he liked it for business meeting.
The delivery Katsu-don had a cap on the bowl and some pickles, in the small
plate, on the top. The unique pottery and Katsu-don was a kind of special
cuisine for me when I was child.
 
Fukuizumi is not such a special restaurant. But it is like an old friend
to me and my family. If you come to our workshop, I will invite you to
Fukuizumi!
Mar 15th 2007
Shinichi Watanabe |
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| Knife shows are fun! |
Last week I attended a knife show in Eugene, Oregon. There were 470 exhibitors
in the super large exhibit hall. I went there by plane and rental car.
During driving from Portland to Eugene along the freeway, I was listening
to rock 'n' roll on the car radio. The speedy talking DJ was so cool. I
felt refreshed in mind.
 
My sister Aiko
Steelbrigde
I have first contacted the show coordinator Dennis last December. His responses
to my questions were always prompt and friendly. He was interested in Japanese
knives. And he put an article about me in their bulletin, "The Knife
Knewsletter".
Here is the excerpt from the Knews and Musings section,
"Shinici Wantanbe
We are honored to have a bladesmith from Japan holding a table at our April Show. It is a long way to come. You might want to check out his website through our website link. The knives pictured there and seen at our Show will be kitchen cutlery knives. Stop by his table and say hello and see the knives on his table."
I was so glad to find them. My name was misspelled though but it is no
problem. I know Japanese name is difficult for foreigners. My name is Shin-ichi
Watanabe. Wantan is like a wonton soup!
I met Dennis at the gathering before night of the show. He was a nice guy as I thought. He gave me the latest knewsletter. There was my profile and my essay about our history from our website. And he told me he has introduced me on a radio program. I smiled, reminded of the DJ on the car radio and imagined did he speak so quick like that DJ, "Shi-Nikki Wontonbee! Coming to Show!! From Japaan!!!" !?
The three days at the show, many people came to my table. I really appreciated
Dennis and everything. Four years ago, I began to attend knife shows in
USA. At this show I got to see some knife makers and customers I had met
at previous shows. I feel that Japanese knives have become a little more
popular recently. Knives from our professional grade were sold rather than
standard grade models. The people wanted the highest grade knives and understood
our quality for the price. One bad thing, some kinds of knives were sold
out at the first day. So I couldn't show them in the other days. I should
have brought more knives.
Some people asked me to translate Japanese words engraved on their swords
and knives. I saw a Samurai sword from the Kaei period (in 1853!). The
owner had got it at a garage sale! Dennis also asked about Kanji on some
Japanese antique dishes and my name of pronunciation.
The show had many interesting events. There were metallurgy seminars, carving,
engraving, grinding, Budo demonstrations by volunteer lecturers and custom
knife competitions. There was a social after the second day. Dennis was
the speaker. He was standing at the podium. His speech was so nice. People
smiled and laughed easily at his funny stories and jokes. He commended
winners at the competitions and contributors at the show. I was also commended
as a person who livened up the show. I was really surprising. So he had
been practicing the pronunciation of my name! I received their original
silver medallion as a token of appreciation.
Knife shows are fun! Please come to my table, when you have a chance. If
it is possible, I want to join as a lecturer at next show. I'm thinking
about a design seminar or sharpening demonstration!
My treasure
Apr 20th 2007
Shinichi Watanabe |
Oregon knife show
Knewsletter1
Knewsletter2 |
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