On December 18, 2025, the Kobe Shimbun morning edition ran a story on the Banshu blade brand "Ichizo" and our efforts to bring it to a global audience.
My name is Kanazawa, and I run Ichizo Honpo. By day, I work as an IT engineer in software development. Alongside that, I serve as the web director for Hariyoshi Co., Ltd. — a fishing hook manufacturer approaching its 80th anniversary this coming spring — and as a member of TAKARAZA LLC, where I'm working to take the Banshu knife brand "Ichizo" to its next stage.
The coverage came from a trade show I attended, the Kenshin Business Matching event. The article quoted me this way:
"Our tiger puffer fish rigs have been well received. We also carry knives from the local 'Ichizo' brand — ideal for cleaning the fish you catch — and people know us as 'the fishing hook shop that sells knives.' We want to share the quality of Banshu fishing hooks and blades with the world."
I'd like to take this opportunity to explain why an IT engineer like me has chosen to work in the world of fishing hooks and kitchen knives — industries rooted in analogue craft and regional tradition.
Connecting "Catching" and "Eating" Through Banshu Craftsmanship
The question that caught the journalist's attention was straightforward: why would a fishing hook manufacturer sell kitchen knives? The answer, for us, is just as straightforward.
A fisher's goal doesn't end when the fish is landed. The full experience is bringing that fish home fresh, cooking it well, and sharing it at the table with family and friends. That's where the joy of fishing completes itself.
"Caught with Banshu craft. Prepared with Banshu craft."
We want to connect that entire experience through the traditional industries of the same region. That's the idea behind the phrase that's started to stick: the fishing hook shop's knife.
Using an Engineer's Perspective to Bring Tradition to Its Next Stage
There's another reason I'm doing this. I want to elevate the value of "Ichizo" — a brand with real history — and use the tools of the digital world to carry it further.
Ichizo represents a tradition of Banshu blades that has been carefully preserved in this region for generations. There are already many people doing wonderful work to share Japanese knife culture with the world. But I believe the metalworking heritage specific to Banshu still has untapped potential — potential that deserves a wider audience.
"If I apply what I know as an engineer, I think I can help accelerate this — and reach more people overseas."
That conviction is what drives me. In practical terms, my work involves:
- Digitizing dormant inventory data and uncovering new value in overlooked stock
- Using platforms like TikTok to communicate the appeal of Banshu crafts across language barriers
- Building an online purchase flow that's intuitive for international buyers
"Historic tradition × digital tools" — combining analogue craftsmanship with IT capability to bring Banshu knives to the world. That's my way of honoring and sustaining a tradition I believe in.
An 80th Anniversary — and the Road Ahead
This coming spring, Hariyoshi — one of the foundations of this project — marks its 80th year in business.
Carrying forward the dedication of the craftspeople who have kept this tradition alive, and building on what they've made — that's what this milestone means to me. It's also a moment to push harder on the work of bringing Japanese craftsmanship to kitchens around the world.
Encouraged by this coverage, I'll keep moving forward — steadily, one step at a time. The goal: a day when Banshu craftsmanship finds its place on tables everywhere.
Hariyoshi Co., Ltd. (Fishing hook manufacturer, est. ~1945)
TAKARAZA LLC (Operating company of Ichizo Hamono Honpo)