I simply adore the tactile joy of beautiful objects. When they are created by a true artisan, even more so.
Last year I invested in an equity crowdfunding round by TOG Knives. As a gift from TOG to investors, when I got back from Cayman this week I found this mini-knife had arrived in the post. With a blade that is only 37mm long, this tiny knife is simplicity itself, yet I know that every package or letter I open with it will bring me a smile and joy.
The knife is called a “Higonokami Mini肥後守”, the story behind it (the site page is here) is:
A ‘Higonokami’ is a traditional Japanese folding pocket knife, designed in 1896. These knives were once carried by virtually every person in Japan. The name means “Lord-of-Higo”. Higo was an old province in Japan, on the island of Kyūshū, today’s Kumamoto Prefecture. “Kami”, literally “protector”, was used as an honourable title for Samurai of very high rank bestowed upon them by the shōgun.
The only maker allowed to call his knives ‘Higonokami’ now is 5th generation blacksmith Mr Nagao, based in Miki. Mr Nagao has produced these knives for TOG and we have laser etched our logo on the handles.
Thank you TOG, and thank you, Mr Nagao.
Oh, and you can buy this particular tiny joy-giver for only £40, or kitchen knives that range from £155 to £330.
If you cook at all and do not yet have a high-quality knife, I do recommend you invest in one. Every time I handle such an object it brings me such tactile joy.