Toyo Steel TWR

Fantastic quality and just precision mechanism with the folding it is something that I will have in my bag forever

Had a similar knife but the handle didn't kick up like this one, so banged knuckles are a thing of the past and it has no problem with the solid sourdough breads.

These are very balanced, beautiful Genno heads. I matched mine with a 19mm. Gumi handle,
and it performs beautifully! Another beautiful hand crafted tool from JTA! Thanks guys!

Well, where to start. If packaging was anything to go by, then I was up for confirmation of my peaking expectations. The box in which the set was shipped was half the size of a small shipping container. I am kidding, of course, but the packaging certainly did justice to the precious cargo inside.

These Tasai mokume bench chisels are certainly the pinnacle of my 'collecting' ambition. Yes, that is correct, an ordinary citizen might be tempted to actually use these chisels; and a superb job they would do. However, I see this as an investment. The quality and presentation are outstanding. The workmanship, that I can only guess at, as detailed in the JTA listing suggests a degree of sophistication that is likely unmatched. In my research before committing I have found other offerings. None I saw as matching this set. While in some cases the asking price was near equal, in one case I came across a vintage set, of kind of 'ordinary' execution, but with a price tag that would make your eyes water. Which does get me back to the notion of an investment, rather than an every day use kind of purchase.

In another case, and referring to the very same set of Tasai mokume chisels, not only was it presented very carelessly, but I was told on asking for some higher quality images, that the set had been sold. Additionally, the comment was made the they were unlikely to be able to restock this set owing to the fact that the artisan mainly responsible for their creation was only doing a very limited number each year. Need I say more about 'investment grade'?

And then, of course, there is the business - JTA - and their offerings. While I am surely a very small customer, anything I ever bought is of outstanding quality. I am particularly enamoured with their high precision drill bits. These cut with an accuracy that even my routers will not achieve. The one other offering I will mention are tapered drill bits and japances tapered wood pins to go with these. They are just a ripper addition to my tool box.

These Okatsune pruning shears 180mm are the BEST I've ever used!!
As a full-time Horticulturist they get an absolute workout. Super sharp for clean cuts on roses, fruit trees, shrubs etc.
I also have the 200mm model, as a spare, but being female the smaller shears are better suited for my smaller hand size. Well priced and worth every dollar if you use secateurs regularly.

These little wedges are perfect for
The Japanese Genno. Tap in with care and you will have the tightest fit possible. JTA even included one for free when I ordered my genno head. You just can’t beat JTA’s customer service.
Highly recommend!

I'm really enjoying this knife, it gets razor sharp easier than any of the stainless knives I used to use, and it's easy to maintain that sharpness.
The white carbon steel hasn't blemished at all after weeks+ of use, it still looks like new.

It's built a bit more solid than some of the more traditional Japanese knives, pinned instead of glued in place. The round handle is also a bit more familiar and comfortable than square or hexagonal handles. I like both, but that's a consideration.

This is an update to my previous review, updating to 5 stars.

This is keeping my carbon knives flawless and my chopping board looking nice.
I'm going to need a bigger bottle next time.

Incredibly easy to use. I don’t know how I’ve done without stops on my rulers for so long - it makes marking up a breeze. The stops are nice and shallow so can be used even on thin materials (unlike most squares). The rulers are very easy to read; no annoying half-mm markers. I bought the 15 and 30cm versions and am very pleased

Cuts quickly in plywood and gives a great edge, no sanding required for cleanup. Takes some practice to get a square edge, but easy to cut in a straight line and feels much more natural than a push saw

Great quality, feels right in the hand, small enough to be convenient. If you work with small parts that don’t require a full size calliper, this is perfect

I recently gave a pair of sécateurs to a friend for her birthday, so I ordered gift wrapping. It was very impressive, really nice paper and expertly wrapped. Great value.

I saw someone on YouTube gardening in Japan stating a way to save your knees is go use a good quality hoe. I googled and found this and it is incredibly easy and takes the impact rather than my body. I have hard clay and it ploughed through the weeds like it was made of butter, so impressed. highly recommend.

The best scissors I've ever owned to cut fabric, they are amazing and comfortable to use. They just feel like they are built to last. Thank you

I recently purchased several sizes of these wooden beech nails. It’s fun using them a bit different from nails & screws & just as effective.
I have finished making a traditional Japanese toolbox with them.