Kiya (Nihonbashi, Tokyo): Knives
Kiya knife makers was founded in April of the 4th year of the Kaisei Era (1792).
The original Kiya house in Osaka was an apothecary shop run by Kubei Hayashi and patronized by the Toyotomis. His brother was invited by Ieyasu to travel down to Edo and start a shop in 2-chome Nihonbashi Honcho.
Later the shop was moved to Muromachi 1-chome and several shops such as Forged Knives Kiya, Shamisen Kiya, Cosmetics Kiya, Stationary Kiya and Ivory Kiya lined up and “the navy blue shop curtains of Kiya blooming in Muromachi” became very famous. This Kiya house in the Edo period was similar to present-day trading houses, and carried fancy goods, lacquerware and candles, and so on.
In the 4th year of the Kansei era (1792), the first Isuke Kato separated from the main Kiya house and founded another shop. Separating was allowed as long as the new store carried different products from those carried in the main house, so Kato decided to sell knives.
Kiya website
http://www.kiya-hamono.co.jp/
The original Kiya house in Osaka was an apothecary shop run by Kubei Hayashi and patronized by the Toyotomis. His brother was invited by Ieyasu to travel down to Edo and start a shop in 2-chome Nihonbashi Honcho.
Later the shop was moved to Muromachi 1-chome and several shops such as Forged Knives Kiya, Shamisen Kiya, Cosmetics Kiya, Stationary Kiya and Ivory Kiya lined up and “the navy blue shop curtains of Kiya blooming in Muromachi” became very famous. This Kiya house in the Edo period was similar to present-day trading houses, and carried fancy goods, lacquerware and candles, and so on.
In the 4th year of the Kansei era (1792), the first Isuke Kato separated from the main Kiya house and founded another shop. Separating was allowed as long as the new store carried different products from those carried in the main house, so Kato decided to sell knives.
Kiya website
http://www.kiya-hamono.co.jp/