A smart-looking but casual little shop in the Doguyasuji cookware arcade, Tokuzo specialises in traditional Tosa knives and other cutlery, made in the area now known as Kochi prefecture for more than 400 years. These hammer-forged blades, which have their roots in saws and axes crafted for local lumberjacks, feature a distinctive black scale finish intended to protect the knife from wear, giving them an eye-catching appearance.
Notably, most Tosa knives are less expensive than other high-end Japanese kitchen knives due to them being made entirely by a single artisan, rather than having different specialists handle each part of the forging process. For example, a general-purpose 18-centimetre Santoku knife will set you back just under ¥10,000. Tokuzo sources its products directly from Tosa blacksmiths, which lets the shop keep prices reasonable while helping the artisans maintain the vibrancy of their centuries-old craft.