Tsuru in Japanese means tool. A knife, at its’ core, is a tool. An integral part of our daily lives which in many ways makes life easier. This fact is often overshadowed by fear and misunderstanding. Inspired by the Japanese Bunka, I set out to make a knife I envisioned would be versatile, usable for the everyday needs of the typical person; a tool first, a ‘knife’ second.
Food prep was of particular focus for this design. Most of us have knives in the kitchen that we don’t psychologically associate with a threat – and as such was a good starting point for this design. The blade shape came from the venerable Bunka – an almost clipped cleaver with either a flat or slightly curved front edge. I opted to curve mine, reducing the piercing aspect of the knife, making it more socially acceptable. The broad cutting edge offers tremendous slicing ability and the incredibly neutral handles are directly inspired by traditional kitchen knives.