Bushcrafty stuff from Japan?

[Tiley]

I am lucky enough to be going out to Japan next week to check that my eldest son is eating properly, has clean underwear and misses his aging parents. I will be out there for just under three weeks. I know that Japanese steel, tools and blades in general are very good but can anyone recommend anything specific that would be worth sniffing out while I am in the Land of the Rising Sun?

Many thanks for any sensible, affordable suggestions!

 

[Janne]

Holu crap, you are a lucky guy!

Buy kitchen and bush knives, japanese style axes, saws. Plus water stones. And other sharpening stones.
Maybe a proper scissors too?
But do a bit of research on the steel. From the traditional steels, the Blue super steel ( Aogami Super) is by far the best.

Then you have the other of metallurgy, the fantastic powder steels..
If I was you I would bring an extra suitcase!

 

[sunndog]

I saw some beautiful japanese folders once.....i'll be damned if i can remember what they were now, anyone?

 

[Wayne]

Where are you going? There are lots of wonderful destinations but it helps if we know your starting point.

 

[tsitenha]

Knives by Seki are great, check local laws though.

 

[Janne]

The Japanese tourists I have seen ( the Outdoor ones) all seems to have ultra modern equipment, same brands we can buy. Patagonia, Helly Hansen and so on.
The only difference between their camping equipment and ours what I have seen is their stoves. Some have the gas ones we can buy, but some have a totally different design.
Also they like to wear ridiculously looking hats and caps.

 

[Janne]

I saw some beautiful japanese folders once.....i'll be damned if i can remember what they were now, anyone?

Yes, fantastic stuff. But most seem to lack a locking mechanism.
Since christmas I have spent many hours researching Japsnese hand made kitchen knives, as my son wants some for his graduation.
Many of the makers also do folders and hunting knives. Folders are usually not so expensive

 

[forrestdweller]

find the next shop where they sell hand forged tools and treat yourself to a nata! or knife(blade)/wood chisel/ axehead......
or Japanese water stones....

 

[Silkhi]

The Silky saws are nice, very sharp (be careful!) but I trust more in the Bahco as it feels sturdier - but I haven't enough long term experience to make a proper judgement

 

[Woodywoodpacker]

The Japanese have some fine titanium cooking pots also they are very expensive to import into this country due to the import duty. So they may be worth a look at and being titanium they are very light so you can buy lots.

 

[Janne]

Knives by Seki are great, check local laws though.

Seki is a city with old traditions in making edged implements ( swords, knives and so on), not a brand.
Everything from pricey traditionely handmade to cheap massproduced.

 

[homesicksteve]

"Seki Cut"

http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/

http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/SekiCut.html

 

[Tiley]

Where are you going? There are lots of wonderful destinations but it helps if we know your starting point.

We start off with a few days in Kyoto; after that, my son is joining us and we are spending four or five days on the Nakasendo Trail. Then, it's back to Osaka and meandering south via an esoteric Buddhist monastery, an art island, Hiroshima and then on to his 'base' just outside Nagasaki. After that, we fly home from Fukuoka. It seems that we'll be spending a fair amount of time on the legendary Bullet Train in between places and stays but that's not a problem.

Thinking of cutting tools, my son went to his local knife maker and bought himself a kitchen knife on which the blade smith etched his name. Apparently, they have been making knives there for 500 years.

Many thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep my eyes peeled for axes and such like as well as folders; if time and money permit, I might see if I can't get this same knife maker to produce a hunting knife for me - or something that will have a serviceable, bushcraft function - for when I get back. The best part of the trip is that we will overlap with the cherry blossom, which I understand is truly beautiful.

 

[forrestdweller]

The Silky saws are nice, very sharp (be careful!) but I trust more in the Bahco as it feels sturdier - but I haven't enough long term experience to make a proper judgement

I never handled a bahco but from what I understand they're designed to cut on both pull and push which requires a thicker (==stronger) blade; Japanese saws are designed to cut on pull only-- which allows for thinner blades(== less material to cut) but you have to be careful as not to jam them on push.....

 

[Tengu]

Ive never had trouble with my silky, not had a laplander but used them.

I prefer my silky.

 

[AdeInTokyo]

Mate I live in japan, and to be honest, I order most stuff from the uk, with legal restrictions on knives, and the general style of glamping above camping means the equipment out here is very expensive and lightweight. The pricing means that it is cheaper for me to order and ship from the uk than to buy locally.

Kitchen knives and scissors are all mainly mass produced stuff now. The hand foraged stuff is very very hard to find and will make you cry when you see the price. There is no bartering out here, and certainly not with foreigners. Xenophobia is rampant out her especially in seki were most of the metal work is done. Most people will flat out refuse to deal with foreigners. Second hand markets are unheard of.

You may not believe me, but I have been here over two years now. My Co worker has been here for nearly 30. He works at a rubbish tip twice a week to get his hands on old japanese kitchen knives. But you cannot buy from a tip. They will not sell. He worked his way in over a few years. Good luck enjoy your trip.

If you are worried about laws, don't. It's pretty much the same as the uk. If it's in a bag, wrapped up you'll be fine. Traditional swords are 100% illegal/impossible to buy unless you have an art dealers license.

Any questions. Feel few to pm me.

 

[AdeInTokyo]

If however you want modern hiking mountaineering gear, you will be spoilt for choice.

 

[Janne]

Apart from the modern "western" stuff, do they have something unusual they use?
As I mentioned earlier, I have seen them use a type of stove I have never seen before. Looks like a perforated stove pipe, stainless steel (?) about 30 cm high, maybe 20 across.
It was fed with small sticks, I recall.

Yes, artisan made kitchen knives are quite pricey. About 500 -700 dollars each pricey.

 

[Tiley]

Mate I live in japan, and to be honest, I order most stuff from the uk, with legal restrictions on knives, and the general style of glamping above camping means the equipment out here is very expensive and lightweight. The pricing means that it is cheaper for me to order and ship from the uk than to buy locally.

Kitchen knives and scissors are all mainly mass produced stuff now. The hand foraged stuff is very very hard to find and will make you cry when you see the price. There is no bartering out here, and certainly not with foreigners. Xenophobia is rampant out her especially in seki were most of the metal work is done. Most people will flat out refuse to deal with foreigners. Second hand markets are unheard of.

You may not believe me, but I have been here over two years now. My Co worker has been here for nearly 30. He works at a rubbish tip twice a week to get his hands on old japanese kitchen knives. But you cannot buy from a tip. They will not sell. He worked his way in over a few years. Good luck enjoy your trip.

If you are worried about laws, don't. It's pretty much the same as the uk. If it's in a bag, wrapped up you'll be fine. Traditional swords are 100% illegal/impossible to buy unless you have an art dealers license.

Any questions. Feel few to pm me.

Thanks for this. I think that, unless I see one of those 'must have' items, I'll save my pennies. It's the appeal of the extraordinarily advanced steel technology out there that appeals.

 

[mrcharly]

It's the appeal of the extraordinarily advanced steel technology out there that appeals.

I think that is a myth.

Japanese knives, particularly kitchen knives, are of a different design. They favour very thin, deep blades, hard steel and well sharpened. The truly great cutting characteristics come from the design, not any 'wonder steel'.
Most 'western' kitchen knives are made far too thick and are too soft.