Japanese Imports

There's a long tradition behind Japanese tools, and it's one worth honoring. For centuries, Japanese blacksmiths have laminated hard, high-carbon steel to a softer steel body, forging an edge that takes a keen bevel and holds it. Their saws cut on the pull stroke, which keeps the blade thin and the kerf clean, so you can work with a precision that's tough to match. That same thoughtful design carries through whether you're refining a joint with a ryoba, weeding a garden bed with a hori hori, or carving by hand.

We've always been partial to Japanese steel. Sharp tools make the work safer, more precise, and a whole lot more satisfying, and few tools take an edge quite like these do. If we're recommending them, it's because we reach for them ourselves.