Mr Amano makes all his blades close to Kochi City in his own workshop on a hill overseeing a small city at the Pacific Ocean. He operates his furnace entirely with local charcoal and makes all his razors alone. The razors are quenched in water.We recently visited him and could witness his craftsmanship, His shop is far away from any trouble of modern day cities and he can fully concentrate on his product. Besides razors he also produces a variety of farming and gardening tools.
Known marks
Takami-standardReading
白一 (Shiro Ichi) — White Paper Steel No. 1
丸に天 (Maru ni Ten) — the Takami mark: Ten (天, meaning heaven / sky) within a circle
天水作 (Tensui Saku) — Made by Tensui
Tensui is the smith's art name; the razors are sold under the Takami name. Mr. Amano works in Kōchi Prefecture, on the Pacific coast of Shikoku — historically known as Tosa Province.
watetsuReading
白一 (Shiro Ichi) — White Paper Steel No. 1
丸に天 (Maru ni Ten) — the Takami mark: Ten (天, meaning heaven / sky) within a circle
天水作 (Tensui Saku) — Made by Tensui
和鉄 (Watetsu) — Japanese iron. Chiselled by hand into the lower part of the handle, added individually to every razor of this edition to mark the material of the body.
Tensui is the smith's art name; the razors are sold under the Takami name. Mr. Amano works in Kōchi Prefecture, on the Pacific coast of Shikoku — historically known as Tosa Province.
