Naoki Mazaki-san is one of Japan’s exciting new knife-making talents, hailing from Hokkaido with no family history in blacksmithing. Curious and eager to work with his hands, he hit the road on his motorcycle and eventually stumbled upon Sanjo, Niigata, a legendary hub for traditional knife making. Fascinated by the craft, he trained under the famous Tsuneo Yoshida from 2011 to 2017, soaking up time-honored techniques and building an unshakable foundation. Unlike many makers who rely on machines for speed, Mazaki-san does almost everything by hand, from forge-welding his own steel to sharpening each blade on a whetstone. The result is knives bursting with character, precision, and care. His passion, grit, and willingness to take the “hard but rewarding” path make him a perfect example of a new generation of artisans breathing fresh energy, creativity, and excitement into the world of Japanese knife making.