“This is the knife my mother bought when she got married…” Letters like this often arrive at Fukube Kaji along with requests for repairs. These are knives that once supported family meals but have since fallen out of use. At Fukube Kaji, such memories are carefully received along with the knives themselves, and they are revived to serve once more.

The online delivery repair service “Pochispa” only requires you to send your knife in a special box. Repairs are often thought of as something high-barrier, but we wanted to make them more accessible. Born from that wish, this system embodies Fukube Kaji’s philosophy of cherishing “the joy of living with tools in everyday life.”

Fukube Kaji began in the Meiji era as a “field blacksmith,” making farming tools and kitchen knives to support the daily lives of the people of Noto. Even as mechanization advanced and mass-produced goods became the norm, Fukube Kaji carved its path with the skill of “repairing.

”Every repair is one of a kind—whether it’s fixing chipped blades, straightening bends, replacing handles, or adjusting weight and angle. By tailoring each piece to the user’s lifestyle and needs, the “lifespan as a tool” can be multiplied many times over. For Fukube Kaji, repair is not merely restoration; it is the practice of reconnecting people with their tools.

Kentaro Hoshiba, who now leads Fukube Kaji, once worked at the local government office. After the sudden passing of his mother, he took over the blacksmith shop. Through ventures in mobile sales, online sales, and the launch of “Pochispa,” the business now receives over 20,000 repair requests annually.Craftsmen divide tasks depending on blade material, length, and degree of distortion. With their independently developed order management system, they meticulously track the condition and progress of each knife. By offering before-and-after photos, responding to consultations via LINE, and paying attention to details, they’ve earned the trust of many repeat customers.

Fukube Kaji’s work is not limited to kitchen knives. From the voices of Noto’s ama divers and fishermen came the “Noto Makiri,” a knife that can do everything from shelling clams to cutting nets and ropes. The “Squid-Slicing Knife,” specialized in shape and material for preparing squid, has supported workers in Noto’s satoumi for decades. There are also knives made specifically for ama divers to pry off abalone, and industrial knives for vegetable processors—many tools born from listening to the needs of the people.They are also taking on overseas expansion. Products announced via crowdfunding, such as “SINBU” and “TAFU,” have been well received in the U.S. market, spreading the techniques and spirit of Noto to the world.

Fukube Kaji’s work is not limited to kitchen knives. From the voices of Noto’s ama divers and fishermen came the “Noto Makiri,” a knife that can do everything from shelling clams to cutting nets and ropes. The “Squid-Slicing Knife,” specialized in shape and material for preparing squid, has supported workers in Noto’s satoumi for decades. There are also knives made specifically for ama divers to pry off abalone, and industrial knives for vegetable processors—many tools born from listening to the needs of the people.They are also taking on overseas expansion. Products announced via crowdfunding, such as “SINBU” and “TAFU,” have been well received in the U.S. market, spreading the techniques and spirit of Noto to the world.

“More than buying something new, people want to use what they already have again. Answering that wish is the true calling of a blacksmith.” Hoshiba’s words embody a philosophy of treasuring tools as more than mere objects.

When the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck on New Year’s Day 2024, Fukube Kaji’s area was also heavily damaged. Yet the staff drew water from natural springs and resumed sharpening work even without electricity. “Repairing tools leads to restoring daily life.” That conviction became the force that set both their community and work in motion again.In daily life, there are tools you want to use once more. Fukube Kaji will continue to support that bond between people and tools—with the hands of its craftsmen and with solid systems.