Akio Tasai is over 70 years old and resides in Sanjo, Nigata prefecture, Japan. He has been hand-making chisels for more than 60 years and is one of only a handful of master shokunin who can make this claim. Of this handful he uses the most ancient methods. For instance, the surface of the head is made in a hand forge, folded and hammered many times then filed and scraped by hand, giving these Tasai Nomi their peculiar and distinct mokume appearance.

It is at this point that the Sandlewood handles are fitted to the tang. The son of Mr. Tasai is a willing apprentice-successor to his father. This will ensure that this tradition will not die out for at least one more generation. Whether you use these chisels as their maker intended or collect them for their sheer beauty and investment value, they will give you a lifetime of enjoyment. Weight: 2.6kg.