Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・菜切包丁 堺房正/土佐丸原特製 青

Vintage Japanese Kitchen Knife Set – Yanagiba & Nakiri – Signed Fusamasa and Tosa Maruni Hara – Traditional Wa-Bocho
ヴィンテージ和包丁2本セット ― 柳刃・菜切り ― 「房正作」「土佐 丸に原 特製 青」銘 ― 伝統的和包丁
Offered here is a vintage Japanese kitchen knife set consisting of one Yanagiba knife and one Nakiri vegetable knife, both signed and both representing different strands of traditional Japanese cutlery culture.

Rather than two similar knives, this lot brings together two distinct working blade types:
a long, slender Yanagiba for fish and sashimi preparation, and a wide-bladed Nakiri for vegetable work.
This gives the set appeal not only as a collector’s lot, but also as a practical pairing that reflects the diversity of traditional Japanese kitchen knives.

The set consists of:

1) Left knife – Yanagiba

Signed “Fusamasa” (房正作)
The handle is branded “Sakai Trademark Fusamasa Betsuuchi” (堺商標房正別打), linking the knife to the long-established knife-making tradition of Sakai, one of Japan’s most important historic centers of cutlery production.

2) Right knife – Nakiri

Signed “Tosa / Maru-ni-Hara / Tokusei / Ao” (土佐 丸に原 特製 青)
The handle still retains its original label reading:

“TOSA TOKUSAN / HIGHEST-GRADE HAND-FORGED / HARA / TOSA HARA / GUARANTEED SHARPNESS / The Maruhara mark is produced with cutting performance as the highest priority, using superior craftsmanship and selected steel / Kochi Prefecture Maruhara Manufacturing Factory”

This surviving label adds historical and documentary character to the knife, while also placing it within the tradition of Tosa hand-forged kitchen knives from Kochi Prefecture.

Taken together, the two knives form an interesting and well-balanced vintage lot: one associated with the Sakai tradition, the other with Tosa hand-forged production. For collectors of Japanese cutlery, this regional contrast is part of the appeal; for users, it creates a practical combination of fish knife and vegetable knife in traditional wa-bocho form.

Approximate dimensions
Fusamasa Yanagiba (left)
Overall length: approx. 35 cm
Blade length: approx. 21 cm
Tosa Maruni Hara Nakiri (right)
Overall length: approx. 30 cm
Blade length: approx. 16.5 cm

All measurements are approximate and taken from the photograph.

Features and appeal

This lot is attractive for several reasons:

Both knives are signed, giving the set a stronger identity and more collector interest than anonymous vintage kitchen knives.
The lot combines two classic Japanese blade forms with clearly different culinary purposes:
Yanagiba for slicing fish and sashimi
Nakiri for vegetable preparation
The Fusamasa knife retains a branded handle referring to Sakai, one of Japan’s most respected knife-producing regions.
The Tosa Maruni Hara knife still carries a detailed original label, documenting it as a hand-forged high-grade Tosa knife.
As a pair, the lot represents two important regional traditions of Japanese kitchen cutlery rather than a random assortment of old knives.
The knives retain the honest appearance of genuine working tools, with age and use visible rather than hidden by heavy cosmetic restoration.

This is therefore a lot with appeal on two levels:
as a usable pair of traditional Japanese kitchen knives for someone familiar with wa-bocho, and as a small comparative collection of vintage blades from different Japanese production backgrounds.

Condition

These are vintage used knives and show age-related wear consistent with use and long-term storage.

Visible condition points include:

dirt and age-related staining
scratches and scuffs from use
rust / oxidation
general signs of wear and handling
a chip / loss to the butt end of the Fusamasa knife handle

The knives are sold as found / as is. They have not been restored to a cosmetic “like new” condition, and no attempt has been made to conceal their age or working history.

Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the nature of old Japanese knives. These knives are recommended for buyers who are able to carry out their own cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, and maintenance, or for collectors who appreciate vintage Japanese cutlery in honest used condition.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an essential part of the description and condition report.

A characterful and well-balanced vintage Japanese knife set, bringing together Sakai and Tosa traditions, and combining the practical forms of Yanagiba and Nakiri in one signed lot.
■ IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING

● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK

● bidding and payment
please do not place a bid if you do not intend to complete the purchase and make payment. by placing a bid, you confirm full intention to complete payment if you win. non-paying bidders cause serious delays. if payment is not completed after reminders from catawiki, the order may be cancelled under catawiki policy.

● condition of the item
all items are vintage, antique, or pre-owned unless stated otherwise. signs of age, wear, scratches, stains, rust, oxidation, patina, repairs, sharpening marks, and other imperfections should be expected.
please carefully examine all photos before bidding. photos form an important part of the description.
please also understand that some defects or imperfections may not be visible in photographs. hidden or non-visible flaws may exist.
in addition, the condition of the item may change during transport due to vibration, impact, temperature, humidity, or handling.
therefore, items are sold strictly for buyers who have knowledge and ability to perform cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair if necessary. this lot is not suitable for buyers expecting fully restored or ready-to-use items without maintenance.
all measurements are approximate.

● important notice regarding traditional japanese knife handles
traditional japanese kitchen knives (wa-bocho) use replaceable wooden handles. handles are consumable parts and may require repair or replacement due to age, drying, shrinkage, cracking, looseness, or transport stress. replacement parts are not included.

● shipping restrictions - knives
due to uk law, we do not ship knives to the united kingdom. due to strict regulations, we also do not ship knives to denmark. shipments to other countries may also be restricted depending on local laws. bids from restricted countries will be cancelled.

● international shipping - customs
import rules for knives vary by country. buyer confirms legality of import. seller ships from japan with accurate customs declarations. customs delays, inspections, confiscations, taxes, or import issues are outside seller control.

● countries we do not ship to
we do not ship to the united states. we also temporarily do not ship to portugal due to logistics instability. bids from these countries will be cancelled.

● international situation - shipping limitations
due to global conditions, sanctions, transport restrictions, or postal issues, shipping may become impossible to certain countries. in such cases, orders may be cancelled.

● important notice for italy
delivery to italy may take one month or longer due to customs and postal delays. please bid only if you accept this.

● no combined shipping
each item will be shipped separately even if multiple items are purchased.

● shipping method and delivery time
all items are shipped from japan via japan post. estimated delivery time is 3?4 weeks. delivery time is not guaranteed.

● import duties and taxes (EU buyers)
import duties, VAT, and other taxes are not included. buyer is responsible for all charges.

● customs contact and buyer responsibility
buyer must respond to customs requests promptly. failure may result in delay, return, confiscation, or destruction of parcel.

● returned parcels
if returned due to customs refusal or non-response, reshipping requires double shipping cost.

● force majeure
seller is not responsible for delays or failures caused by war, sanctions, disasters, postal suspension, or other force majeure events.

● agreement
by placing a bid, you confirm you have read and accepted all conditions and understand the item may contain non-visible defects and may require cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair.