RYUSEN HAMONOMILESTONES

SINCE 1901

Traditional techniques and its spirit
have been handed down through generations.

ABOUT US

All of us at Ryusen Hamono would like to thank you for your support during our 70 years of business.

Our beginning starts 2 generations ago, during the World War II. They started the business of attaching blades to handles, which was the most crucial part in making kitchen knives. The second generation expanded our factory by introducing integrated manufacturing system. This system led us to overcome tough times such as Energy Crisis in the 70’s and Lehman Crisis in 2008.
During those 70 years, we introduced the usage of stainless steel for regular household knifes, the first to do so in this industry, and expand the scale of production. There were times when we had to compete in prices with others that owned mass production systems. Through many complecation of trials and errors, we were able to invent and develop our products with high added value.

The world is changing with the development of AI. At the same time the skills of hand crafting are declining. We are even more eager to continue and pass down the700-year-old traditional Echizen Forged Cuteraly Steel techniques. We take pride in hand crafting method and to continue producing products that do not depend on machineries.
We would like to take this opportunity to promise to maintain the tradition, and strive for creating innovative products.

Representative Chairman Koji Masutani

  • Hitoshi Masutani

    Hitoshi Masutani

    First generation
    Experience as a blade polisher: 47 years
    Date of death: December 4, 1959

  • Hiroshi Masutani

    Hiroshi Masutani

    Second generation
    Experience as a blade sharpener: 67 years
    Date of death: April 11, 2016

  • Representative Director Koji Masutani

    Representative Chairman

    Koji Masutani

    Third generation
    Producer and edge-creating craftsman

  • Executive Director Taiji Masutani

    Representative Director

    Taiji Masutani

    Third generation
    Experience as a blade polisher and edge-creating craftsman: 36 years

HISTORY

HISTORY

START

  • 1901

    Hitoshi Masutani, the founder, gains the best craftsmanship skills as a blade polisher.

  • 1953

    Hiroshi Masutani, the second, founds Ryusen Hamono Manufacturing.

  • 1961

    Started the researches to develop kitchen knives using stainless from Takefu Tokusyu Kouzai Corp.

  • 1970

    The first to launch multi-layered stainless kitchen knives based on traditional skills.

  • 1973

    Joint development with Murayama Corp. from Sanjyou-shi, Nigata, we developed Henkei Roll Tanzou (Deformation Roll Forging).

  • 1974

    Succeeds in developing low heat forging processing that doesn't damage components of steel, and launches the products.

  • 1988

    Launches sales of Bonten Unryu, a kitchen knife for pro cooks.

  • 1989

    Founds Ryusen Hamono, Limited.

  • 1990

    Wins Minister Prize of Economic, Trade and Industry.

  • 2002

    Launches sales of Bureizen, a kitchen knife for pro cooks.

  • 2003

    Hiroshi Masutani, the president, wins a Yellow Ribbon Medal.

  • 2008

    Kouji Masutani becomes the third president.

    Enlarges the second factory.

  • 2009

    Launches sales of Tanganryu series.

    Joins "Japan Brand Business" , a promotion organization for Echizen Uchihamono globalization.

  • 2010

    Exhibits the products at "Ambiente" in Frankfurt, Germany, 2010.

    Becomes the chairman of the National Cutleries and Hand Tools Federation for 2 terms.

  • 2011

    Exhibits products at "Haute Cuisine" in Paris, France

  • 2012

    Exhibits products at "Ambiente" in Frankfurt, Germany, 2012.

    Joins the Echizen Products Business Division for enforcing business overseas.

  • 2013

    Supports Japanese contestants at Bocuse d'Or World Cooking Contest by developing and making a steak knife.

    Launches sales of the steak knife that was specially made for the 2013 Bocuse d'Or World Cooking Contest.

    Wins the Good Design Award, Steak Knife "ASYMMETRY SK01."

  • 2014

    Wins the Good Design Award, Steak Knife "COLORS / NATURE SK03."

  • 2015

    Wins the Good Design Award, Letter Opener "LICORNE LR01."

    Exhibits and sales products at "Le SALON" in Paris, France.

  • 2016

    January
    "Asymmetry SK01" selected at "New Selection in KANSAI 2016"

    February
    Wins the highest award at "First Fukui Furusato Company Awards"

    March
    Makes organizational name change from Ryusen Hamono, Ltd. to Ryusen Hamono Co., Ltd.

    March
    Selected at "300 vibrant SMEs 2016"

    September
    Exhibits and sells products at "Chefs Revolution 2016" in Zwolle, Netherlands

    October
    Wins the Good Design Award, Kichen Knife "TANGANRYU Premium series"

  • 2017

    October
    Wins the Good Design Award, "Steak Knife SK04 + Fork FR05"

    November
    Provides a demonstration at a distributor "Japanese Knife Imports" in Los Angeles in the U.S.A.

    November
    Selected as "Excellent Successor of Traditional Craftsmanship "

    December
    METI Manufacturing Industries Bureau Director-General Award" at National Traditional Crafts Exhibition: awarded to product "SK06 YOSEGI"

  • 2018

    September
    Exhibits and sells products at "Chefs Revolution 2018" in Zwolle, Netherlands

  • 2019

    January:
    Exhibits products at "Sirha 2019" in Lyon, France.

    April:
    Opened the Ryusen Factory & Store.

  • 2022

    Increases sales abroad - Foreign sales exceeds domestic sales for the first time.

  • 2023

    - Taiji Masutani became the fourth president.

    - 70th anniversary of the company's founding.