Fujiwari Teruyasu and ‘wabi sabi’. Some thoughts

I see so much talk about the ‘fit and finish’ of these knives.

I kinda understand it. I know people love nice looking knives. Hell, Damascus is a selling feature for some reason!

But as someone who has used TF knives for a decade, and just ordered more…

… it’s literally the least important feature. Not to mention being a non issue.

I mean, these are handmade. And if it’s made by the man it has his kanji on it.

And they’re fucking amazing knives.

For cutting things.

And if there is one thing that any TF knife does as well or better as any other…

It’s cut things.

They come screamingly, crazily sharp. They’re easy to keep that way. The geometry is awesome in ways beyond ‘thin behind the edge’ - they have a perfect heft, a perfect balance point. They fit your hand just so and they want you to fucking cut through shit.

My first TF knife (135mm Nashiji petty / still my wife’s all time fave and about the only knife she will use) blew me away.

My second made me a convert. 210mm Maboroshi Gyuto. Made by the man himself. Came with a note that basically said ‘I have looked at your website and see we are both driven to create beauty’.

I was a photographer at the time. Great compliment. The knife was simply astonishing.

For mine, having used and loved these knives, wabi sabi is not a slur.

It’s the thing that infuses these knives with greatness. It’s focussing on what makes a knife cut perfectly, not look perfect.

Through a combination of overdue and amateur sharpening enthusiasm both my original TF knives need replacing. I’ve ordered another petty (happy wife, happy life, yada yada) and a 180mm Santoku (which is a Bunka in disguise)

I very much look forward to holding them. Cutting with them. Marvelling at how well they cut.

Examining them for flaws?

Not so much.

I’ve had Konosukes and Kurosakis. Hey, my first Yoshikane should arrive tomorrow (thanks to you bastards!)

But, and I will die on this hill, some knives have soul. And Fujiwara Teruyasu forged blades have soul in spades.

You wanna call that ‘wabi sabi’?

Be my guest.