Description
A special offering as 2025 comes to a close, this one-of-a-kind work bridges the craft of two extraordinary Eatingtools artists from opposite sides of the world. The blade, meticulously designed and hand-forged by Hiroshima damascus artist Shoichi Hashimoto, is crafted from a complex six-alloy formula which, in its finished twisted damascus form, is known as Tobikumo (跳雲), meaning “bouncing clouds.” The handle—handsome and unmistakably true to form—is the work of the wildly talented Isaiah Schroeder.
The metallic striations within Tobikumo damascus remind Shoichi of clouds passing overhead at regular intervals, giving the pattern both its name and meaning. To produce the final 4,570 layers, the six alloys begin as three distinct layered steel components, containing five, five, and four alloys respectively, before being carefully combined into the final billet from which the blade is forged. Measuring 240mm / 9.4” in length and 52mm at the heel, the blade features masterfully shaped convex bevel geometry and a thin, hard, razor-sharp zero edge, with cutting performance as its sole mission. Final polishing and edge sharpening are carried out by Shoichi’s colleague, edge specialist Mr. Takahashi.
Dynamic and purposefully shaped, the blade remains stiff and sturdy throughout its length, qualities enhanced by a full distal taper along the spine that slims steadily forward to a fine, pointed tip. This geometry lends the forward section of the blade to precise slicing and exacting detail work.
Each cut—every movement the work of an artist’s hand—is guided by fingers wrapped around the striking handle crafted by Madison, Wisconsin’s Isaiah Schroeder. Shaped in a traditional octagonal wa profile that honors the blade’s origins while adding a subtle dash of umami, richly figured Turkish walnut is paired with copper at both the front and rear. A fine silver snake inlay coils its way around the heirloom-fit butt, lending motion and quiet symbolism to the form.
Versatile and beautifully balanced, this singular work of culinary art exists as both pure tool and living history—telling the ancient story of skilled artisans shaping everyday objects while communicating the vision, passion, and knowledge of the cultures from which they come.
