Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和出刃・柳刃包丁 堺登録東村光作/萬治作

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Due to recent changes in EU import procedures, temporary shipping restrictions may apply to IOSS shipments under EUR 150 to the following countries:

- Austria
- Germany
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- France
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Shipping availability may change depending on Japan Post and the destination country's postal procedures.

Please consider this possibility before placing a bid.

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Vintage Japanese Deba & Yanagiba Knife Set – “Higashimura Mitsu-saku (東村光作)” & “Manji-saku (萬治作)” – Traditional Japanese Fish Knives
A characterful pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining two of the classic specialized forms associated with traditional Japanese fish preparation: a substantial Deba and a long, slender Yanagiba.
Both knives bear Japanese inscriptions and retain additional markings on their traditional wooden Wa handles.
The Deba on the left is marked:
東村光作
and its wooden handle bears a branded inscription reading:
堺登録 東村光 特撰
The Yanagiba on the right is marked:
萬治作
and retains an old gold-colored label on its wooden handle.
Together, the robust Deba and slender Yanagiba form a particularly appealing traditional pairing: the Deba form is associated with breaking down and filleting whole fish, while the long Yanagiba is designed for smooth slicing of prepared fish for sashimi and similar dishes. MADE in JAPAN.JP
1. Deba – “Higashimura Mitsu-saku” (東村光作)
The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba, recognizable by its broad blade, substantial heel and strong pointed profile.
The Deba is a specialized Japanese fish knife traditionally used for tasks involved in breaking down whole fish, including filleting and working around appropriate fish bones. Takefu Knife Village
The blade bears the inscription:
東村光作
The dark wooden Wa handle is particularly interesting because it retains a clearly visible branded inscription:
堺登録 東村光 特撰
This surviving handle mark complements the blade inscription and gives the knife additional vintage character.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 31 cm
- Blade length: approx. 17 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 5.0 cm
2. Yanagiba – “Manji-saku” (萬治作)
The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, characterized by its long, narrow blade and sharply pointed profile.
Yanagiba knives are traditionally used for slicing prepared fish for sashimi and sushi. Their elongated blade shape allows the ingredient to be sliced with a long drawing motion rather than repeated sawing movements. ウィキペディア
The blade bears the inscription:
萬治作
Its dark wooden Wa handle retains an old gold-colored label. The label has considerable age-related wear and its original lettering is no longer clearly legible, but its survival adds to the knife's vintage appearance.
Unlike the black ferrule of the Deba, this Yanagiba has a metallic ferrule, creating another interesting visual contrast between the two knives.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 32 cm
- Blade length: approx. 20 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 2.8 cm
All dimensions are approximate estimates based on the measuring tape visible in the photograph and may vary slightly from actual measurements.
A Classic Deba & Yanagiba Combination
One of the strongest attractions of this lot is the complementary nature of these two traditional Japanese knife forms.
The broad and substantial Deba represents the fish-preparation stage, while the long and slender Yanagiba represents the precise slicing stage. The two knife types have traditionally served different but complementary roles in Japanese fish preparation. MADE in JAPAN.JP
The 東村光作 Deba is further distinguished by the “堺登録 東村光 特撰” branding on its handle, while the 萬治作 Yanagiba retains its aged gold-colored handle label.
The visible inscriptions, traditional wooden Wa handles, contrasting ferrules and clear evidence of long-term use give this pair an authentic vintage working-tool character.
Condition
These are genuine vintage, pre-owned Japanese kitchen knives and show clear signs of age, previous use and sharpening.
Please note the following:
- Age-related dirt and staining
- Rust / oxidation
- Wear from previous use and sharpening
- Scratches and scuff marks on the blades
- Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges
- Tip chipping / damage
- Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
- Dents and misalignment around the ferrule areas
- Dirt and signs of use on the wooden handles
- Age-related deterioration of the surviving label
- Other age- and use-related imperfections
The knives have not been fully cleaned, polished, restored or professionally sharpened and are offered in their present vintage condition.
Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding. The photographs form an essential part of the description and show the actual condition of the blades, edges, tips, ferrules, handles and markings.
These are vintage working knives rather than fully restored modern kitchen knives. Cleaning, sharpening, adjustment and other maintenance or restoration may be required depending on the buyer's intended use.
Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the vintage condition—including the edge chipping, tip damage, ferrule dents/misalignment and general wear—and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.
With the combination of the “東村光作” Deba with its “堺登録 東村光 特撰” handle branding and the “萬治作” Yanagiba with its surviving gold-colored label, this is an appealing pair for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, and admirers of traditional Japanese culinary tools.
■ IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING

● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK,UNITED KINGDOM,UNITED STATES (USA)

● 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 at this time due to ongoing international shipping restrictions.
Shipping service to the United States remains temporarily suspended and we are currently unable to accept orders with US delivery addresses.
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.

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

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● 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.