YouTube filming for the first time in a year
We are excited to make a fresh start as the “Japan Knife Research Institute,” formerly known as “The World’s Most Maniac Knife Channel” 👏
Although video uploads stopped after the announcement of “Kensho Ishizue,” the two have reportedly been working together during that time on improving whetstones and the research and development of the new steel material “T3.”
The next filming is scheduled for around January 2026. Given that, the first episode might even start from the history of mankind (lol).
They also mentioned they “want to complete the collaboration knife within this year,” and we are truly looking forward to seeing it take shape.
Kensho Ishizue
The new Kensho Ishizue, as its name “Ishizue” (foundation) suggests, is a whetstone developed with the concept of “creating the foundation for the ultimate sharpening.”
It is crafted using high-quality abrasives and a special bonding agent, finished through a high-temperature firing process. By increasing the internal porosity of the stone, it aims for a performance level positioned between the previous Itadaki and Zan series.
With a very consistent and well-balanced feel, this whetstone is ideal for precise foundational work, such as thinning the blade, flattening a rounded edge, or neatly refining the secondary bevel.
T3
T3 is an unprecedented stainless steel characterized by its ultra-fine carbides. It is a new steel material that has finally been realized after more than several years of research and development.
Generally, stainless steel has large carbides, which present challenges in terms of re-sharpening and edge quality. However, despite being a stainless steel, T3 possesses properties extremely close to carbon steel. While retaining the advantages of being rust-resistant and easy to maintain, its extremely fine carbide structure achieves a level of sharpness and ease of sharpening comparable to carbon steel.
Due to this fine grain structure, the edge can be freely adjusted from a coarse bite to a delicate finish. This makes it a high-potential steel capable of handling every possible application in a professional culinary environment.
