Meet The Craftsmen
Building lifetime relationships through timeless craft
Our mission is to bring beautiful, premium quality and unique handcrafted products that last. In a time of fast-paced technology and disposable fashion, we are proud to support groups of small artisans who pride themselves on vigilance and respect for the craft that no machine can replicate. All Oishya products are handcrafted using the finest materials and created in small batches to check for quality and ensure they are made to last. We do not use ready-made materials and we do not mass-produce. We believe that truly great products take precision, time and passion.
We believe that the hands that craft our products are as important as the products themselves. Every knife, every handle, every piece tells the story of artisans who dedicate their lives to perfecting their craft – creating tools that transform cooking from a task into a joyful art form.
Where are our Japanese products made
The ancient art of Japanese knife making
Japanese knives are handcrafted using the same methods that were used to make samurai swords over 1,000 years ago. Over the years, the Japanese have perfected their blade making techniques, which have resulted in knives with a strong reputation and unmatchable quality.
At Oishya, we collaborate with one of the most respected and talented blacksmiths from Osaka under the name Sakai Kyuba. Our blades are handcrafted in Sakai, the birthplace of traditional Japanese knives with a 600-year-old blacksmithing tradition. Each blade is meticulously forged using techniques perfected by our blacksmith’s family over centuries.
As true high-quality Japanese knives, our Sakai Kyuba blades are forged on a small scale and are made by hand. It takes more than 3 months and around 220 steps to craft one Sakai Kyuba knife. They are not just knives, they are unique pieces of artwork.
These family businesses embody our belief in quality over quantity. They don’t chase trends or flood the market with unnecessary variations. Instead, they focus on perfecting essential tools that have served kitchens for centuries. Working with them allows us to maintain our commitment to small-batch production, where each knife receives the individual attention it deserves rather than being rushed through mass production lines.
Sakai Kyuba: masters of Osaka
Seki Kyuba: the precision of Gifu
Our Seki Kyuba collection represents the exceptional craftsmanship of Seki, Gifu – a region renowned for its blade-making heritage spanning over 700 years. Here, skilled artisans forge our SHIN, RYU, KATA, NIJI, and PAN collections using time-honoured techniques passed down through generations.
The craftsmen of Seki are masters of both traditional forging and modern precision. Each Seki Kyuba knife undergoes meticulous hand-forging, where premium steels like VG10 and SG2/R2 are layered with Damascus cladding to create blades of extraordinary beauty and performance. The hammered tsuchime finish is applied by hand, ensuring no two knives are ever identical.
From the entry-level KATA series with its 3-layer VG10 construction to the premium SHIN collection featuring 31-layer Damascus and powdered steel cores, every blade represents the pinnacle of Japanese craftsmanship adapted for the modern kitchen.
Where are our European products made
Knife handles: European artistry
Our knife handles are made in Europe by talented artisans. As true handmade products, no two handle patterns or pieces are ever the same.
Both Sakai Kyuba and Seki Kyuba handles are crafted from limited European maple burl. Like all burls, they must be stabilised through a process where the burl is impregnated with resin at very high pressures, filling the wood throughout. This results in a very dense, tough and solid wood handle that is completely waterproof.
This whole process takes time. The burl must be dried for two years before it undergoes stabilisation. During this process, craftsmen add dye to the resin to create our signature colours: Olive Green, Mediterranean Blue, and Natural Brown.
Once the wood is completely dried, it undergoes handle forming and blade mounting. It takes around a week to dye, shape and attach one handle to our Japanese blades.
To create our Kintsugi-inspired tableware, we collaborated with a porcelain manufacturer whose history dates back to 1860. All products in our Kintsugi collection are hand-decorated, with each piece checked for quality. A 24-carat gold Kintsugi pattern is applied by hand to finely crafted New Fine Bone China (FBC) porcelain, creating a contemporary interpretation of ancient Japanese philosophy.
The production process of New FBC porcelain is more demanding than traditional white porcelain. To achieve its signature ivory colour, the porcelain must be processed at 1,222°C. With more than 160 years of experience, our craftsmen and craftswomen know exactly how to produce New FBC porcelain of the highest quality.
Fine bone china: the Kintsugi collection
Wooden utensils: preserving ancient arts
Our wooden utensils are handcrafted by local European craftsmen. Wood carving is one of mankind’s oldest art forms, and the handmade method takes years to perfect. Like our craftsmen, it’s a skill passed down from generation to generation. In a world where this process is mostly machine-run and automated, we proudly support artisans who remain active today, keeping the art of wood carving alive.
Our craftsmen undergo an astonishing number of steps that make creating a single spoon last almost an entire day. These steps include carefully hollowing, fine-tuning, drying, sanding and oiling each piece, with craftsmen repeating many steps to achieve perfect shape and smooth finish. Their dedication, time and precision make each wooden utensil truly one of a kind.
Each of our linen products is handcrafted, one piece at a time, with exquisite precision, care and craftsmanship. Every Oishya table linen piece is created with love and celebrates traditional craftsmanship.
Instead of opting for mass production in this technology-driven world, we work with a talented team of craftswomen in Europe who take pride in their superior workmanship and attention to detail. Each piece reflects the timeless beauty of European textile traditions, woven into modern designs that enhance your culinary experiences.
