Akitomo Hamono 秋友 鍛造所

Akitomo Hamono, a family-owned business, boasts a rich history spanning three generations. The current master blacksmith, Yoshihiko Akitomo, born in 1944, learned the craft from his father and assumed leadership as the third-generation head in 1964. In 1995, the workshop developed its signature "Kougase-zukuri" (甲伏せ造り) method, driven by a desire to create unique, high-quality blades. This technique, inspired by traditional Japanese sword-making, involves wrapping steel around an ultra-soft iron core, resulting in blades with exceptional flexibility and durability.