Welcome to TETSUFUKU.

My name is Hiroshi Urata. I established TETSUFUKU as an officially recognized international selling agency to connect the living heritage of Japan's master blacksmiths directly with passionate professionals and collectors worldwide.

My journey and devotion to these tools were forged through three deeply personal encounters during my years interviewing artisans for the premier Japanese journal "Niwa Magazine" (currently "NIWA") and the documentary series "DEKIRU! Shokunin".

Cultural Tool Archivist, Researcher & Author of Japanese Craftsmanship

I am engaged in activities to research, document, and preserve the "living heritage" of traditional Japanese forging techniques. I visit blacksmiths to record processes such as forging and heat treatment, and I visit gardens to document how the resulting tools are actually used. These records take various forms, ranging from written accounts to photography and video. Through these activities, I have become committed to passing on Japan's forging techniques and garden culture to future generations, and I am currently working to document these elements across a variety of projects. The mission of Tetsufuku is to encourage the use of Japanese forged products; by growing the fan base, we aim to revitalize the producers themselves.

My research, field documentations, and archival works are featured across premier Japanese craft media and platforms:

• "NIWA" Magazine: This is the most historic and authoritative specialist publication dedicated to traditional Japanese gardens and landscaping. I have written a long-running column for the magazine focusing on blacksmithing techniques and specialized gardening tools. I also conduct interviews covering gardens and key players in the landscaping industry, handling both the writing and photography (View my article archive: NIWA Archive).
• "DEKIRU!" Artisan Series: This series profiles Japanese artisans active today. While artisan work is typically covered in a solemn, heavy documentary style, I questioned whether that was the only way to tell their stories. Instead, I structure the articles as lighthearted conversations that reveal the artisan's personality, while still conveying the true essence of their craft. I handle the writing, photography, and videography (View the feature archive: DEKIRU! Shokunin).
• EDGEs YouTube: This channel archives the videos featured on this site. It compiles unique video content that only I can produce—ranging from blacksmiths at work and maintenance tutorials to common questions posed to gardeners and dialogues between artisans (Watch on YouTube: @edges_japan).

1. Connecting Culture: My Encounter with Junichi Takagi

The first spark was meeting the late Junichi Takagi, revered as one of the last master Chona (traditional adze) blacksmiths. When I interviewed him for "Zasshi Niwa", I asked him why he continued to swing his heavy hammer at such an advanced age. His answer was beautifully simple: "Because if we forge enough truly good objects, our culture will connect to the future."

He proved this by successfully replicating an ancient Edo-period adze purely from museum artifacts. He taught me that as long as a physical "masterpiece" remains, and a dedicated blacksmith exists to decipher it, any culture can be saved from extinction. To protect these master creators, I realized we must sell their work through authentic channels at a fair price, allowing their craftsmanship to survive.

2. A Compact Cosmos: My Encounter with TOBISHO

The second turning point was discovering TOBISHO, also during an interview for "Zasshi Niwa" (now "NIWA"). Holding their pruning shears for the first time, I felt I was holding a "compact cosmos"—a flawless universe of balance and sharpness. I spent hours speaking with the late master Yasuhito Tobitsuka. He was a man of few words, soft-spoken, radiant with a warm smile, much like an ideal father.

To hear such a humble, honest artisan pour his soul into explaining the meticulous ingenuity hidden within those shears—no one could remain unmoved. It felt like destiny. I vowed to bring Tobisho’s world-class tools to the global stage directly, eliminating unnecessary middlemen margins so the world could experience their true value.

3. The Men Behind the Steel: Our Authorized Lineup

Finally, my mission was solidified by the master blacksmiths I met through my work with "Zasshi Niwa" and "NIWA", who generously granted me permission to represent them internationally. Watching them daily, standing before the roaring forge, hammering raw steel and mastering the fire, I knew I had to act.

TETSUFUKU stands as a direct bridge to these living legends. We maintain strict, official partnerships to ensure you receive 100% authentic tools straight from the anvils of:

• TOBISHO (Authorized Dealer)（株式会社飛庄）
• Izumimasa（源泉正）
• KANETAKA（金高刃物老舗）
• Sasaoka（笹岡鋏製作所）
• Kondo Stonemason Tools Factory（近藤石工道具製作所）
• AJIKATAYA (HINOURA)（日野浦刃物工房 / 槌の音）
• KISUKE (MANAKA)（貴輔 / 間中刃物店）
• YASUHIRO（安広）

Thank you for supporting the living heritage of Japan's master blacksmiths. I am honored to bring their masterpieces to your hands.