Hado

Hado represents a remarkable evolution in Japanese knife-making, founded in 2019 as a subsidiary of Fukui Co. & Ltd, a company with over 109 years of experience in blade sharpening services. Based in Sakai, Osaka—Japan's historic center of cutlery production—Hado emerged when decades of sharpening expertise combined with world-class forging partnerships to create a new standard in Japanese chef knives.

The brand's foundation rests on collaborations with master blacksmiths Yoshikazu Tanaka and Shogo Yamatsuka, who forge blades using traditional Sakai techniques enhanced by modern materials. Hado specializes in high-performance chef knives featuring SG2 powder steel and Shirogami 2 carbon steel, crafted in both kiritsuke and gyuto profiles. Each blade receives meticulous hand-sharpening by master craftsman Tadataka Maruyama, whose expertise ensures exceptional edge geometry and performance. The collection includes both Western-handle and traditional wa-handle designs, appealing to diverse culinary preferences.

What distinguishes Hado is the obsessive attention to detail evident in every aspect of their knives. Industry experts have recognized the brand's rapid ascension, with Hiomakivi.fi noting Hado as "one of Japan's top makers" despite their recent founding. Carbon Knife Co praises their "wide style grinds with perfect symmetry," while Protooling.com.au observes that "no detail [is] spared" in their craftsmanship—a testament to the brand's uncompromising standards.

The combination of master-level sharpening with elite forging creates knives that balance traditional Japanese aesthetics with cutting-edge metallurgy. For professional chefs and serious home cooks seeking precision tools backed by generational expertise, Hado represents a compelling choice—a young brand built on a century of accumulated knowledge, delivering knives that honor Sakai's legendary blade-making heritage while pushing technical boundaries forward.