Houchou Koubou Tadafusa Bread Knife [HK-1] Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, Tsubame-Sanjo, Tadafusa, Blacksmith Brand, Bread Knife

The "basic three" from a long-established knife manufacturer, for those who want to use them carefully for a long time. Tadafusa, founded in 1948 in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, one of Japan's leading metalworking and hardware production areas, is a long-established knife manufacturer that utilizes traditional forging techniques to produce a wide range of blades, from household to professional use.

Their most iconic product is the "Hocho Kobo Tadafusa" series, launched in 2012 in collaboration with product designer Fumie Shibata. This series narrowed down the specialized and often difficult-to-choose knives into a simple lineup of "the basic three (santoku, petty, and bread knife)" and "the next knife" to be chosen according to one's cooking skill, earning widespread acclaim.
In particular, the bread knife is a groundbreaking product that allows for beautiful cuts without producing crumbs by having serrations only at the tip, and can also be resharpened at home.

In terms of functionality, the blade features a three-layer structure with "SLD steel" sandwiched between stainless steel, achieving both sharp cutting performance and rust resistance. The handle uses patented "antibacterial carbonized wood," which retains the warmth of natural wood while preventing bacterial growth, ensuring high hygiene. Furthermore, Tadafusa offers a sharpening service where the product packaging can be used as a "return box" to the factory. This commitment to "using one tool carefully for a long time" is another major appeal of the brand, aligning with modern lifestyles.

Even loaves of bread cut astonishingly smoothly.


The secret to its sharpness.
Amazingly, the serrations are only at the tip. It's harder to crush the bread, allowing for a smooth cut.


The serrated tip makes an initial cut, then the straight blade is used for a long, pulling cut.
*Please note that due to the craftsman's delicate hand-grinding of the blade edge, some hard breads may not be suitable for cutting depending on their "hardness."


Even soft, thick sandwiches can be cut cleanly without losing their shape.

Most bread knives have serrations along the entire blade.

Tadafusa's bread knife, however, features serrations only at the tip, with the majority of the blade being a straight edge.

First, the serrated tip makes an initial cut into the bread's surface, then the long, straight blade is used for a long, pulling motion to continue cutting.

This design makes it harder to crush the bread, reduces crumbs, and results in a smooth cut surface.
Because the cross-section is less crumbly, it's easier to spread butter or jam, making it ideal for cleanly slicing loaves of bread and sandwiches.

The blade has a complete three-layer structure with SLD steel sandwiched between stainless steel.

The blade features a complete three-layer structure combining stainless steel and SLD steel.

SLD steel, which produces a sharp cutting edge, is used as the core material, sandwiched between layers of stainless steel.

The special alloy steel, which is both hard and tough, allows for a consistently sharp edge, achieving a balanced design that is easy to handle as an everyday tool.

The straight blade portion can be resharpened, allowing for long-term use while maintaining its sharpness.
*After use, wipe off moisture thoroughly and store in a dry environment.

Blade length of approximately 23 cm. Long enough for easy pulling cuts on large loaves of bread.

【Antibacterial Carbonized Wood】

Uses antibacterial carbonized wood, born from Tadafusa's patented technology (Patent No. 4029427).

This wood is made by smoking timber in a kiln to a state just before carbonization. When bacteria adhere to this wood, there is almost no moisture or nutrients for them to feed on, preventing bacterial growth and causing them to die.

Since the wood is smoked, it has a unique aroma, but it is not an artificial or chemical fragrance.

*As natural wood is used, each piece will have unique grain patterns and colors. Please enjoy the natural variations of the material.

Comes with a gift box, making it perfect for presents. It can also be used as a shipping box for the knife sharpening service.

Recommended not only for personal use but also as a gift for those who love bread or cooking, for occasions such as wedding celebrations, new home gifts, moving gifts, or birthdays.

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While we strive to maintain stock, there may be cases where production and arrival take 7-10 days if an item is out of stock. If it will take longer, we will inform you of the new delivery date. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about stock status or arrival times.

"Hocho Kobo Tadafusa" knives, while offering a sharper edge compared to all-stainless steel knives, require a little more care during daily use. Since the cutting edge uses steel (SLD steel), rust may occur depending on care and storage conditions. Rust can occur overnight depending on care and storage. Please enjoy the pleasant sharpness along with the care and resharpening process.

After use, wash off all dirt from the knife thoroughly with hot water, wipe off moisture completely, and store it in a safe place.

If you cut foods with high salt or acidity, such as pickles or lemons, be sure to wash off the dirt thoroughly.

Do not put it in a dishwasher, dish dryer, microwave, or oven. This may cause damage.

Even a sharp blade will gradually become dull with each use. Sharpen it with a whetstone at least once every three months. If you are not good at sharpening, please leave it to the workshop.

For detailed handling instructions, please refer to the instruction manual included with the product.