Wabi-sabi is the Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection, teaching us to value simplicity and accept that nothing is permanent.
カミラ
Kamila founded Oishya after a trip to Sakai left her unable to look at a supermarket knife the same way again. She splits her time between Europe and Japan, working directly with the bladesmiths whose knives the shop carries, and writes about the people, workshops and small rituals behind Japanese craft — the parts that never fit on a spec sheet.
The Art Of The Japanese Tea Ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony explained, from matcha and the Way of Tea to the rituals, utensils and hospitality behind each gathering.
Four Knives Your Kitchen Just Can’t Live Without
Skip the fifteen-slot block. A Gyuto, a Nakiri, a Petty and one serrated blade handle nearly everything you’ll cut at home.
Guide: Best Kitchen Knives At Any Price Range
You’ll reach for the chef’s knife 99% of the time, so spend there first. Why a £30 blade can beat a £500 one, and why the sharpest is the safest.
8 Ways To Use A Magnetic Kitchen Knife Rack
That magnetic strip will hold more than knives: drill bits in the workshop, drying paintbrushes, makeup brushes, pot lids and stray bobby pins.
The Difference Between Aogami #2 And Aogami Super Blue
Both come from Hitachi, but Aogami Super adds vanadium for a harder, longer-lasting edge, while #2 stays easier to sharpen. Which fits how you cook?
What Is Yasugi Steel And What Makes It So Great?
Smelted from sand iron in Shimane, Yasugi steel splits into yellow, white and blue grades. Top smiths favour the white and blue and skip the cheap yellow.
What Is Rockwell Hardness (A.Ka. HRC)?
An axe sits near 50 HRC, supermarket knives 54-58, good kitchen blades 60-66. What that diamond-point test measures, and why harder isn’t always better.
How To De-Rust And Sharpen An Old Knife Like A Pro
How to remove rust from an old knife using vinegar or lemon juice, then sharpen the blade back to a clean edge on a stone or honing rod.
Are Japanese Knives Worth Their Price?
A £1,000 knife can take five weeks and a workshop of four to forge. What the price buys: layered steel, hand-welding and balance.