KOUJIN・2 — Seki Blades

Knife making that begins with steel.

Story of KOUJIN・2 — Seki Blades

Our story began with a single knife and the chefs who used it.
From the days of delivering Wüsthof knives directly to hotels and restaurants,

TDI has always listened to the voices of professionals in the kitchen.
That experience became the foundation of KOUJIN.

Expanding Through the Needs of Chefs

Over time, the requests of chefs led us to handle a wider range of knives.

Misono.
Glestain.
GLOBAL.

And Japanese knives from Sakai and other renowned blade-making regions across Japan.

In the professional kitchen, world-class knives and Japanese blades began to meet.

Moving to Kappabashi — The Birth of Knife Shop TDI

From this background, Knife Shop TDI was born in Kappabashi, Tokyo.

Knife Shop TDI became a specialty store dedicated to knives and cutting tools from Japan and around the world.

Serving both professional chefs and home cooks, it grew into a trusted destination for customers across Japan seeking the right knife for their needs.

From Selling Knives to Creating Our Own

Around twenty years ago, the knife market began to change significantly, with GLOBAL becoming one of the names that reshaped how people looked at kitchen knives.

Brands such as Tojiro, Misono, Masahiro, and knives from Seki also gained attention as more people began seeking true sharpness and reliable performance.

At that point, we began to ask ourselves:

“If we understand knives this deeply, why not create our own?”

This idea led to the creation of the TDI Custom-Made Knife trademark.

The challenge was supported by skilled craftsmen including Mr. Koji Hara, Mr. Masataka Fukuda, and Mr. Minoru Fukuda

— artisans who have helped sustain and refine Japanese knife-making techniques.

KOUJIN — A Brand Dedicated to Custom-Made Knives

Five years ago, KOUJIN was born as a brand and store dedicated to custom-made knives.

KOUJIN is not about mass production.

It is a place where technique, philosophy, and craftsmanship are brought together in the form of a blade.

The Three Philosophies Behind KOUJIN Knives

1. The Finest Handmade Series

Only 30 to 50 knives are produced each year.

Each knife is made almost entirely by a single craftsman, with the exception of heat treatment, which is entrusted to a top-level specialist.

There is no compromise.

This is the highest expression of KOUJIN — a series that requires time, skill, and dedication.

2. Seki Craftsmanship × Our In-House Craftsman

This high-quality series is produced in Seki, where the blade is pressed, heat-treated, and sharpened.

The final finishing is then completed by our own craftsman.

It represents an ideal balance between precise production and the human touch of skilled craftsmanship.

3. Practical Beauty Born from Design

Based on designs created by our own knife craftsman, this series is manufactured in Seki to offer reliable quality at a more accessible price.

It is a collection that combines practical performance, thoughtful design, and excellent value.

For those choosing their first serious knife, it offers a truly satisfying beginning.

Why We Start with Steel — And the Beginning of KOUJIN・2

KOUJIN has now moved into its next stage.

This new challenge begins with sourcing and working directly with steel.

For a knife shop to understand steel, select it, study it, and create blades based on its own philosophy is an approach rarely seen in Japan.

KOUJIN・2 was created as the place where this challenge takes shape.

Located in Kappabashi, KOUJIN・2 brings together the philosophy of KOUJIN, the craftsmanship of Seki, and knife making that begins with the steel itself.

It is a space where customers can experience the story behind each blade — from the material to the finished knife.

Our Steel and Ongoing Research

At KOUJIN, steel is not treated simply as a material.

It is the foundation of our philosophy.

We work with carefully selected steels, including:

Coreless Damascus steel from Takefu Special Steel Co., Ltd. — approximately 300 kg
Through continued research, we have refined this material to reach an exceptional level of quality.

ZDP189 — approximately 350 kg

105-layer thick austenitic steel from Aichi Steel

To understand steel is to understand the future of blades.

KOUJIN・2 is where we present our answer.