Kurogane Knife Making Workshop

Master blacksmith Nobuya Hayashi’s workshop is located at the end of a narrow country lane at the foot of the mountains that rise up from the Shimanto River. It is the perfect place to experience creating a one-of-a-kind kitchen knife made from tamahagane (the traditional Japanese iron from which the swords of the samurai were made) with its characteristic slow-rusting, complex shimmer.

Kurogane’s most popular course is their one-day blacksmith experience in which you can pound out red hot iron to produce an engraved kitchen knife to take home (fully finished knives are sometimes sent by mail at a later date in the case of large groups). The good natured and patient Hayashi can speak basic English and has lots of experience guiding non-Japanese speakers through the process. If you need a break, where better to take a breather than on the side of the Shimanto River?

For those who wish to experience the entire process, Kurogane offers multi-day courses in which participants can make their own tamahagane iron to work with and learn traditional forging techniques, before moving on to creating their own knife or bladed tool.

Whichever plan you choose, a workshop at Kurogane is sure to be an unforgettable experience and provide you with a keepsake that will bring back memories of the Shimanto River and Kochi for years to come.