Crafting Excellence: A Day with the World-Famous Tasai (田齊): Forging and Maintaining Chisels

In this video, we are in Sanjo, Niigata, Japan hanging out with Tasai Nomi Seisakusho. This father and son duo produce some of the finest chisels in the world. You can find their products almost everywhere. If you have the opportunity to use a Tasai chisel you would understand why they are so desired.
The techniques for forging chisels have been modified through the years, but the basics remain the same. It is this iterative process that has allowed Tasai to perfect his skill and make an amazing product.
I brought one of my Tasai chisels to the shop to ask about repairing the "Ura" of backside of the chisel. I had a hard time flattening the backside and I wanted to get some advice from the younger Tasai on what I should do. Most chisel and plane blade manufacturers in Japan will always help repair their own products and also provide advice on sharpening techniques. I was fortunate enough to have Tasai help me repair my chisel to an extent.
We hope you enjoy this video.

[@danielanderson2893]

I love the elder Tasai throwing shade at carpenters' sharpening abilities 😆

[@joschmoyo4532]

Very very interesting and informative video. My master sharpened in a similar way. No two craftsmen sharpen exactly the same way but I agree with everything this man is sharing. Marvelous instruction. Do please extend my gratitude to the Tasai workshop for extending to us the privilege of this visit.

[@daganael]

As an owner of some Tasai's chisels, I feel very privileged to see the workshop and the masters at work. Thanks a lot for the video and for the kindness of Tasai father and son to let us intrude into their workshop.

[@paulstanding7267]

Really like seeing older people doing what they love it just shows old traditions are still out there and new blood sons daughters are following on with the traditional methods. Keep these videos coming very informative. 👍😀😀

[@charliecain5275]

Someone tried talking to me but I saw this video dropped and just walked out of the room on them. This makes my day, I can’t wait for the next one

[@-romaric1419]

He just looks at the chisel for a second and is able to tell every detail of thé position of your hand, the angle you use, and so on ... I want one of his chisels !!

[@twcmaker]

It gets easier to spot these small details as you get more experience. Especially if you have to correct peoples techniques. 🙏

[@hiroakiminowa7431]

形がイイ！仕上げを変えている物も有り、鑿以外も作っていて、勉強熱心と言うか、研究熱心！地金の木目も難しい技術にも、凄いの一言！

[@JustTruthleft]

They are treating these tools as Jewels and no price can be paid for the extreme human effort behind these creations, thanks to channel to bring this to everyone, The ingredient what makes Japanese Chisels unique 22:57

[@georgewashington92]

Absolutely love your channel, another fantastic vid with lots of useful information. Hope there will be many young folks picking up the tradition

[@technocos]

Thanks a lot by showing us two great masters: father and son Tasai. The sharping tips are very handy. I got 1 Tasai chisel, the Tsushime Wakizashi 24mm. Love it very much!

[@thecarpentrylife]

Great to hear!

[@Santos-oc2no]

I was in their shop a few years ago and was humbled by their great kindness and also got to take some of their great tools, it was a magical experience to be there. They are very kind and generous. Thank you very much for sharing this video, I took also some videos there and I love it

[@samueledebartolo3609]

Thank you for this video-documentary on Tasai Masters. I really apreciate It.❤

[@dp1381]

It makes me so happy to see Japan preserving this tradition while also leaving room for newcomers to innovate. What a beautiful people. Though an American of European heritage, I feel myself a kindred spirit to these Japanese craftsmen.

[@huthuka]

As wonderful as the masterful skill of the Shokunin was, what struck me most was his very endearing humility and wisdom. I'd be delighted to learn from him! Thanks for the beautiful video.

[@pn4960]

wonderful video, it's fascinating to see the forging and sharpening process, and the conversation with the Ojiisan was very cute

[@roninrtist560]

Great video. Was nice to see where my set of Akio Tasai timber frame chisels came from. I ordered a set a few years back and they are a work of art. Absolutely scary sharp compared to all my other cutting tools. They make my Lie Nielsen's look like butter knives. Michio gave a master class in sharpening. Truly talented artisans over there.

[@HondoTrailside]

This is an amazing channel. When I got into Japanese tools in the 70s, the supplier traveled to japan and shot videos of the better smiths he dealt with. These 1 hour videos cost about $250 each in current dollars. Amazing what comes for free these days. Those videos are on KZbin today, for free.

[@frogpondfarms3145]

I enjoy all of your videos but particularly enjoy the blacksmith visits!

[@uwatenage9]

i enjoy all of your videos, but i REALLY enjoyed this one! ありがとうございます!

[@haroldschultz5864]

Thank you for the video , I learned some great tips on techniques of sharpening .

[@KamikazeeNYC]

This is so AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@freerkderuiter8822]

These tools, the way they are made and the people who make them are amazing.

[@darrenmacmartin9392]

Thank you for sharing this, it’s fantastic! I’m so appreciative that you’re taking the time to do this, and the craftsmen you’ve visited here and in previous videos have been very generous with sharing their time and information. It allows me to feel some optimism for the future of traditional Japanese tool making 😊

[@thecarpentrylife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@augustwest8559]

I am please to have seen this video. I have 8 Tasai chisels. 5 are for dovetails joinery and are called Shinogi nomi. They are very special in size and quality of the blue steel is a joy to sharpen. I bought my first ones from a guy called Hap many years ago. They really were not very expensive compared to the last one I bought about 8 or 9 years ago. I can definitely tell between ones made by the older fellow and the younger guy. I would also like to share what the fellow said about the shape of the tip being very important. He called it a rice shape I call it the apple seed shape. Both convey the same message. Good Luck always

[@HondoTrailside]

Was that Harrison Stanley? That is where I bought my Tasais. I gather he went on to create the Shapton Craze.

[@augustwest8559]

@HondoTrailside Yes sir. Harrelson Stanley. His diamond plate for flattening Shapton stones are great.

[@jasper12785]

Wow, many thanks for sharing, this is a treasure of information from highly experienced and skilled craftsmen, kudos!

[@thecarpentrylife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnfowler4820]

Fascinating. Very informative and we are privileged to observe these craftspeople

[@brettallenthomas]

What an amazing amount of information provided regarding blade design and sharpening by a master....

[@maxgrey435]

very interesting - such precise work!

[@ayuiop]

I'm glad I found your channel. These series of master japanese crafters are full of precious knowledge!

[@johnland7318]

A master class in sharpening in a few minutes, mixed in with the absolute magic of his father casually fire welding the cutting edge to chisels. As usual your videos are beautifully filmed, full of mouth watering tools or techniques or houses. I just wish Japan was much, much nearer to the UK. !!

[@dekalbes335]

So much to learn , thank you !

[@feraligatrs]

Love hearing your conversations with these talented blacksmiths! Are regular people able to visit their shop or factory? I've always wanted to meet Mr. Tasai as well as Mr. Funahiro

[@dp1381]

I’ve been acquiring Japanese tools for timber framing and heard some of the lore around the coveted Tasai chisels. I decided to treat myself to one of his chisels in a very popular size for timber framing: a 36 mm tatami-nomi in the blue steel. It is one of my most cherished tools. It is very neat to see the shop that produced this utilitarian treasure.

[@azjohn520]

I spend a fair amount of time in Japan throughout the year, and I’ve been able to visit only one of the shops you talk about (“near” Tokyo station) but wish I could spend far more time. Where I work is in Hachinohe so it’s not easy to get to shops in the southern half of Japan. Thank you for exposing us to the masters of their craft, and I’m happy for you getting to experience all that you do in your travels.

[@thecarpentrylife]

You might like the shop we will introduce next week. Please wait for it!

[@azjohn520]

Sounds exciting! I’ll be headed there late next month for a few weeks.

[@natewarner]

This was great, thank you for the educating information!! Having just sharpened a chisel this weekend (having thought it was properly sharpened as purchased: I should have known better!!!), I appreciate the education I can get from this. For example, I'd thought that keeping a perfectly flat bevel was a good plan, or using synthetic whetstones to get the chisel to glass reflective was a good plan. Maybe on my next Japan trip I'll look into a natural (not clean edged ;) ) stone!

[@borp6912]

This channel is such a gift, thank you!

[@JensKliewer]

Very very good, great insight, very much learned and much more appreciated. Thank you so much 🙏

[@krish-ut9de]

that old man is so wise

[@WoodFleshJakubMiziolek]

Great video! Really deep insights! And now I'm even more inclined to swallow the hefty price tag of those chisels.

[@HondoTrailside]

I have a lot of Japanese chisels, as I have been using them since around '79. I got a little money together around 2000, and bought a full set of Tasai push chisels. I am not a magic chisel, or Japanese tools guy. They just make chisels to a standard that I try to make my wood projects to. However, the Tasai push chisels were unusual. They cut like an extension of my will. This is a little odd as the one problem with Japanese tools is that we have different end products in mind for the most part. They use a lot more softwood that we do, as one example. But these chisels were just right. One thing I did find is that I wanted to buy a set with boxwood handles. I love the look of boxwood handles. But I don't find them all that practical for hoop chisels as they don't deform naturally. I made that mistake buying Mac. Ebony Ouchii chisels. But with push chisels, who cares. I found that the boxwood chisels were all askew with bad angles. Could be something about how the materials dried, but frankly, I have noticed that there is a class of Japanese gear that I call "tourist" chisels (or whatever the tool is), where they assume some know nothing idiot is buying them, and that is where the seconds go. Don't buy handles wrapped in sharkskin, or fancy wood. I find that white oak handles are the most reliable. Based on the Tasai reputation, I don't believe they would do this, but the boxwood ones I rejected were like the pool cues in the Mikado. Cheap Japanese chisels can be really good. I have some planes and some chisels, from the early 80s, don't know the brand, and they were made with HSS steel. They work great. And came from Masterpiece Tools. I got into Japanese tools in the late 70s, because the stuff available in the West was garbage. That persisted for about 20 years. Today, I probably would not go the same route. There are good quality chisels that are not such an investment in time and money. That said, the Japanese tools are not overpriced. Back when I bought them a good custom knife with a forged blade, by a US craftsman, whose total history was a few years or decades, went for about 100 dollars an inch. That is around 400 dollars an inch in today's money. So for the cost of a 6 inch blade one got a set of 15 chisels by a living legend. But woodworking is about getting the work out, not going down side alleys.

[@flatlinesup]

Awesome opportunity and vid. Thank you for sharing.

[@micssticksnpipes]

Very very cool. 🙏🏽👍🏽

[@charliekingpin8568]

Amazing most interesting, many thanks

[@thecarpentrylife]

Thank you too!

[@GrantHendrick]

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful experience.

[@djburnard]

Great video! Keep them coming :)

[@thecarpentrylife]

Thank you for your support!

[@henseleric]

Wonderful clip!!

[@sal1964]

Great video

[@krish-ut9de]

so beautiful

[@anthonywall5227]

Thank you

[@morgorth3242]

wonderfull content

[@viriato8566]

Eat your heart out Bob Cosman!

[@mark-dd2oq]

Great video watching a master working his craft. I've seen a few of your videos visiting woodworking stores in Tokyo. By chance, I'm going to Osaka next year. Any chance you have a store that carries Tasai Dovetail Chisels? Thanks in advance.

[@thecarpentrylife]

The type of chisel you should search for is "Shinogi" Nomi. However, it is not common to find the type that you would hammer on. You will find Tsuki Shinogi Nomi. This because a dovetailing chisel will be too thin on the edges and may crack easily under impact. Anyways you could probably buy a Tsuki Shinogi Nomi and convert it to a hammer type. You can find Tasai chisels at Kurashige Tools or Sagami Daiku Dougu Kan. Both are suppliers of Tasai. But he is a popular blacksmith so you may want to be prepared to explore other blacksmiths.

[@joehoa6298]

Thank you for your vidéos. J’ai pu acheter 2 tasai chisels with kurashige. But I can’t find a tasai orinomi in 12 and 15. Please how i can do. I love your job😊

[@raresdudau3292]

What powders are used in blacksmithing ? What is the name of the powder or what mixture does he use when he joins the 2 pieces of metal _

[@WilliamAlanPhoto]

Arigato!

[@ConverseEvolution]

Amazing craftsmanship, as usual. How to buy/order something like this with international shipping? Aside from Kurashige Tools which has little to none Tasai in stock, ofc

[@xrufix9592]

Dieter Schmid has some Tasai chisels available.

[@trahtrebor]

Interesting the multiple tool ability in their so very specialized mentality. Absolutely not a lack of talent, but what a society will pay for. The USA wants those tools this gentleman makes, but want to pay a Harbor Freight price. I would be embarrassed to buy this man's work at a rate less than he would be comfortable receiving. Anyway, I realize I am wandering as Im waiting to have a medical procedure performed. The pain meds have me feeling maybe better than I thought.😂

[@Outinomi]

I take the Hana Nata on the display please!

[@PHolysz]

Thank you for the video. Are these available for purchase somewhere online?

[@azjohn520]

Fine Tools and Hida Tools are just two websites that sell them. Obviously very costly compared to buying them in Japan but if you can’t get over there to get them this is a reasonable alternative.

[@virajmadhusanka7428]

Post a video on how to make U- shaped chisel

[@RogierYou]

Interesting that he works from a pit rather than raising the tools and 🔥

[@mg3289]

👍

[@Nico-bu6bj]

Never really liked Tasai, doesn't cut that well and I know many daikus in Japan who feel the same. They do make a beautiful product though.

[@ボケ爺-h7f]

名前ばっかりや俺は当ったた事無いので買うの止めた

[@daganael]

I would like a custom order from Tasai but I don't know how to reach them. Could you help with that @thecarpentrylife ? have a great day !

[@thecarpentrylife]

Maybe you can email him to ask. He might suggest his retailers in your regionn. www.soho-net.ne.jp/~tasai/

[@daganael]

@@thecarpentrylifethanks so much. I was searching for a long time !