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Buy a knife direct from Tsubame-Sanjo, through us
Most makers on this site sell only in Japan, in Japanese, at Japanese prices. I live here, so I can walk in, buy it, and post it to you. No stock, no mark-up on the knife itself: a flat service fee plus real postage. This is a small, personal service — a handful of orders a month — so please allow a few days for replies.
How it works
- Tell me what you want. Use the template below, or just describe it. Not sure which knife? Say what you cook and I will suggest two or three.
- I quote. Japanese price (export = no 10% consumption tax) + service fee + postage, in JPY and your currency, usually within 3 days. Sold-out or made-to-order items get an honest lead time from the maker.
- You pay by PayPal. I buy the knife new from the maker or their authorised shop, photograph it and the mark for you, and pack it blade-guarded.
- Tracked shipping. EMS or FedEx with tracking. Import duty, if any, is charged by your country on arrival.
Fees
| Order value (knife + stones) | Service fee |
|---|---|
| up to ¥30,000 | ¥4,000 |
| ¥30,001 – ¥80,000 | ¥6,000 |
| over ¥80,000 | 8% of value |
Postage (estimates, 1–2 kg boxed)
| Destination | Service | 1 knife | Knife + 2 stones |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | EMS 4–7 days | ¥3,900 | ¥5,800 |
| Canada | EMS 5–9 days | ¥3,900 | ¥5,800 |
| Australia | EMS 5–8 days | ¥3,600 | ¥5,300 |
| Singapore | EMS 3–5 days | ¥2,800 | ¥4,000 |
What I can source
- Yoshikane Hamono — Santoku, Nakiri, Deba, Ika-saki, Gyuto, Bunka, Kiritsuke, Petty, Sujihiki
- Hinoura Hamono Kobo — Petty, Santoku, Nakiri, Gyuto, Yanagiba, Deba, Chinese cleaver, Nata
- Tadafusa (Hocho Kobo Tadafusa) — Santoku, Petty, Nakiri, Deba, Yanagiba, Gyuto
- Nakagawa Shokai (Sadaaki 定明) — Sake-kiri, Takobiki, Yanagiba, Deba, Nakiri, Santoku
- Wakui Bar Hamono (forges Kinjiro) — Santoku, Gyuto, Petty, Nakiri, Sujihiki, Deba, Yanagiba, Ajikiri
- Wakui Co. (Kinjiro · Yamabito) — Santoku, Gyuto, Petty, Nakiri, Deba, Yanagiba, Ajikiri, Nata
- Nakajo Kanamono (wholesaler) — Deba, Yanagiba, Nakiri
- Tsurugi Kenshin — Nakiri, Santoku, Gyuto, Deba, Yanagiba, Ajikiri, Petty, Chinese cleaver
- Babacho Kanamono (BABACHO · Chozaburo) — Petty, Gyuto, Nakiri, Santoku, Nata
- Babacho Co. (Kireru Yorokobi) — Deba, Yanagiba, Santoku, Gyuto, Nakiri, Petty
- Yajimaya (ROKUSHIRO) — Santoku, Gyuto, Petty
Shigefusa: orders are suspended by the maker; I cannot get one. Tojiro and GLOBAL ship overseas themselves, and I will say so when buying through me makes no sense.
Stones and extras
Shapton Kuromaku, King, Naniwa and Tadafusa stones, saya (wooden sheaths), camellia oil, rust erasers: cheaper in Japan and light enough to add to a knife parcel. See what to buy for your steel.
Rules
- New items only, bought from the maker or an authorised shop, with receipt.
- Kitchen knives, nata and whetstones only. No swords, no restricted blades.
- Shipping to the US, Canada, Australia and Singapore for now. Ask about other countries; the UK needs age verification and is slower.
- You are responsible for your country's import rules and any duty.
- If I am at capacity I will tell you a date rather than keep you waiting.
Send a request
Email a request (template opens)
Template
Knife or set wanted (maker / type / blade length / steel)
Budget
Country and city
Left- or right-handed (for single-bevel)
Whetstone / saya / camellia oil too?
Anything else
Knife or set wanted (maker / type / blade length / steel)
Budget
Country and city
Left- or right-handed (for single-bevel)
Whetstone / saya / camellia oil too?
Anything else