Description
Koji Hara: Japan’s Master of Custom Knife Artistry
Koji Hara stands as one of Japan’s most respected custom knife makers and designers, known for creating pieces that capture the spirit and soul of Japanese craftsmanship.
Since starting his journey of custom knife making in 1988, Koji Hara has carved out a reputation for his breathtakingly detailed work and his dedication to artistic excellence.
His knives are more than tools—they’re works of art, each one crafted with an extraordinary level of care and a touch of Japan’s traditional aesthetic.
Each knife is a reflection of Japan’s rich cultural heritage, carrying with it a sense of timelessness and artistry that sets his work apart.
Koji Hara & the "Air Step" Award Story
In 1998, Custom Knife Maker Koji Hara received the "Most Innovative Design" Award at the prestigious East Coast Custom Knife Show in New York, recognizing his groundbreaking work on a custom folding knife featuring his original "Air Step" technique. This award marked a significant milestone in Koji Hara's career, as it brought international recognition to his unique design philosophy and exceptional craftsmanship. The "Air Step" technique—Koji Hara’s signature innovation—involves meticulously carving the handle material in layered steps to create a striking three-dimensional effect. This approach not only enhances the visual elegance of each knife but also demonstrates a seamless fusion of function and artistry, qualities that define Koji Hara’s most celebrated works.
In 2024, we commissioned Master Koji Hara to create a new custom knife inspired by his iconic Air Step design.
As you may know, over the past 30 years, the knife market—and the design preferences within it—have evolved dramatically. Throughout his decades-long journey as a custom knifemaker, Koji Hara has continuously gathered inspiration, wisdom, new techniques, and experience.
The result of this incredible journey is a knife that beautifully fuses modern design, classical elegance, and the refined skills Koji has honed over a lifetime. Today we are proud to introduce Koji Hara New Masterpiece.
Koji Hara KH-580 "Air Step 2025 赤銅 SHAKUDO Edition" M-390 Perfect Mirror Polish Fighter
This exquisite Custom Folding Knife represents the culmination of Koji Hara’s 76 years of life and craftsmanship — a one-of-a-kind creation that fuses elegance, tradition, and innovation. As one of Japan’s most revered custom knifemakers, Koji Hara brings his signature "Air Step" technique to this refined piece, which evokes both Japanese cultural motifs and modern slimline form.
Koji Hara selected 赤銅 SHAKUDO for his Air Step Custom Handle.
"赤銅SHAKUO" is a traditional Japanese metal alloy made mainly of copper with a small amount of gold or silver. It is known for its deep black or dark purple patina, often used in samurai sword Tsuba (Fitting) and fine decorative metalwork.
The Air Step handle, crafted from 赤銅SHAKUDO, is intricately engraved with a scene of dolphins swimming freely through the ocean.
To highlight the beauty and movement of the dolphins, the liner plate has been finished with a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating, which adds contrast and enhances the natural tone and texture of the 赤銅 SHAKUDO.
Both the liner lock plate and the backspacer have been meticulously sculpted to complement the Air Step design, reflecting Koji Hara’s latest and most refined design sensibilities and thoughtful craftsmanship.
Koji Hara has created numerous mirror-finished art knives throughout his career, and his experience shines through in his choice of materials. The M-390 steel, known for its exceptional edge retention and cutting performance, is highly regarded for both its sharpness and strength.
This high-quality steel also complements Koji Hara's expert mirror polishing process perfectly, resulting in a stunning mirror finish. This is one of the reasons Koji Hara selected M-390 for this blade. The mirror finish achieved with M-390 steel reflects not only the sharpness of the blade but also the craftsmanship and beauty that Koji Hara is known for.
A masterpiece from Japan's premier custom knife maker, bringing elegance to your table and making every dinner time extraordinary.
M-390 Mirror Polished Blade in 3mm thick, 85mm blade, 108mm handle, 186mm overall, weight 127g
Specification
Knife Model: Koji Hara KH-580 "Air Step 2025 赤銅 SHAKUDO Edition" M-390 Perfect Mirror Polish Fighter
Blade Material: M-390 Mirror Polished
Rockwell Hardness (HRc): 60 to 62
Handle Material: The Air Step handle, crafted from 赤銅SHAKUDO, is intricately engraved with a scene of dolphins swimming freely through the ocean with Black lip MOP thumbstud
Overall Length: 186mm
Blade Length: 85mm
Blade Thickness: 3mm
Weight: 127g
