For the collector seeking something beyond the ordinary, this Masamoto Sohonten Hongasumi yanagiba 360 offers a rare opportunity. Made during the 1980s–90s, when Masamoto was at the height of its international reputation, the knife represents a piece of Japanese craft history in its most timeless form.

With its 360 mm long blade, it carries all the hallmarks of a classic yanagiba: Good weight and stiffness, balanced, and with a quiet authority in its lines. The magnolia handle, paired with a blonde buffalo horn bolster, emphasizes both tradition and elegance.

The knife is completely new in its box and has never been used. Only time has left its mark—a slight softening of the shine, a gentle patina that hints at its age. No rust, no stains, nothing that compromises its integrity. It is a blade preserved with reverence, yet with a history that gives it soul.

For the collector wishing to honor the legacy of Masamoto Sohonten, this is not just a knife—it is an encounter with a masterpiece from a bygone era.

Specifications:

• Grind: Single-beveled (kataba) for right-handed use

• Steel: Shirogami #2

• Blade length (tip to heel): 350 mm

• Blade length (tip to ferrule): 368 mm

   

• Blade height: 40 mm

• Blade thickness at heel: 5.5 mm

• Blade thickness at center: 4,5 mm

• Weight: 325 grams

• Steel: Shirogami #2 with iron cladding (non-stainless)

• Finish: Polished migaki with horizontal kasumi