I live in Sydney. My kitchen has a mishmash of stainless steel products - some I bring from Japan and some I buy from Australia (most of those are probably not made here I'd say). I don't think anybody checks what kind of stainless steel a dish rack or mixing bowl are made of when you buy them. Do you? I certainly don't. Even if I may know a bit more than your average consumer since steel is part of my business, I still get "cheated" by products in disguise. You only realise that some are better than others after a time. I took this photo as it shows my point; not all stainless steels are the same and kitchen products should not be made with low grade stainless steel that rust so easily. How long did I use these? Maybe 10 years. The main dish rack is from here in Sydney and I ... Continue Reading
Japanese Manufacturers
Where do Japanese artisan steel products come from?
Scissors, knives, sickles, axes, chisels, nail clippers.... Japan and Germany are the two big names when it comes to good quality steel blade products. In Japan there has never been a clear distinction between art, craft and design. Generations of artisans have refined their skills, which are admired around the world, to the point where a product intended for everyday use could equally be worthy of museum display. There are seven regions that are famous for forged steel blade products in Japan. It is hard to determine which region is the best as each has their own strengths. Sakai, for example, is best known for professional chefs knives while Takefu, Yasugi and Tosa are more known for quality agricultural or forestry tools. Craftsmanship of Seki blades is derived from centuries of ... Continue Reading