Chiswick Is 'Cutting Edge' Location For This New Business

Japanese Knife Company set to open on the High Road

The Japanese Knife Company is to open a traditional Hamonoya - an artisan knife company - in Chiswick.

The new business will be based at the former Orchard's estate agents premises at 171, Chiswick High Road and should be open in the next two weeks.

The Japanese Knife Company company was founded by Indian-born Jay Patel, who spent over ten years in Japan learning the traditional craft of knife making from some of the country's most skilled blacksmiths. His business has grown internationally since he first set up a branch in central London and his company also makes bespoke swords and ceremonial knives for royalty in the Middle East.

Mr Patel told chiswickw4.com that he had been seeking a suitable premises in Chiswick for some time and this would serve his client base from Chiswick, Richmond and west London. He is also opening stores in Berlin and Barcelona this year.

Japan has been a world leader in the craft of bladework for over 1,000 years and a bespoke top-the-range knife can cost up to £6,500.

Mr Patel (pictured below, at a knife skills workshop) says the knife is humankind’s most valuable and underrated tool. There is a big difference in taste between ingredients sliced with a sharp and a dull knife. He says that a sharp knife shouldn’t cause you many tears when chopping an onion.

The Japanese Knife Company boasts over 2,000 styles on sale and a range of accessories from truffle slicers to fish descalers.

The shop will also offer a selection of handmade penknives and hobby knives, and other gift ideas. They also offer an in-house sharpening service, and lessons on cutting techniques and sharpening.

The Chiswick store will also sell items from their 'Japanese Home' collection, of cooking utensils.

The company also provides Sushi making lessons as well as workshops on traditional Japanese food preparation and techniques, mainly from their Baker Street branch.

The JKC has three branches in Central London, as well as stores in Paris & Stockholm and its clients include top chefs as well as enthusiastic home cooks.

One of their bespoke items is a bejewelled knife costing several thousands of pounds which was ordered by a wealthy family in the Middle East- this will be used to cut the birthday cake of their five-year old son and be a family heirloom.

They have also supplied Prince Charles and members of the Royal Family with specially-crafted items.

Mr Patel says he travels to Japan on a frequent basis where craftsmen supplying items for his store have decades of experience in their trade.

The former Orchards estate agents will be the site of new knife store

Chiswick has a historical association with the craft of blade making. The Wilkinson Sword factory was based in Southfield Road in 1901 before moving to Acton where it closed in 2005.

The company was forced to shut due to falling demand, and the final blow came when the Ministry of Defence awarded the contract to make ceremonial weapons and swords for the Army, including the Household Cavalry, to a cheaper competitor overseas. The company had been supplying the British Army since 1772, including making two million bayonets during the First World War. Their presence is remembered in the name of local road Wilkinson Way.

The factory was chosen to make a specially designed sword dedicated to the people of Stalingrad to commemorate their defeat of the German army. This was presented by Churchill to Stalin at the Teheran conference in 1943. The forging of the steel blade was primarily the work of Tom Beasley - an 83 year old, who left his sickbed to make the sword.

January 10, 2020