Nakaya Heiji/中屋平治 

About Nakaya Heiji

Nakaya Heiji is a blacksmith company specializing in making traditional Japanese saw.  It was founded in 1868 in Mito City, Japan. 

Heiji I (Heiji Takeishi/武石平治)

Heiji Takeishi, the founder of the company, came to Mito city from Shirakawa, in Fukushima prefecture, as a blacksmith, specializing in traditional Japanese saws.  Under the yago, or registered house name, of Nakaya Heiji, he began his company, focused specifically on making saws.  

Heiji II (Takeishi Tatsujiro/武石辰次郎)

Tatsujiro Takeishi continued his fathers legacy.  As there were few blacksmiths in Mito City, Tatsujiro's work was in high demand.  This demand was unmatched by his producing power, as Tatsujiro only used Tamahagane, a type of Japanese steel smelted from iron rich sands. 

Heiji III (Hachisaburo Takeishi/武石八三郎, later succeeded the name Tatsujiro )
Hachisaburi began his apprenticeship to Heiji II when he was very young.  At the age of 16, he apprenticed to Sakujiro Nakaya, in Utsunomiya Prefecture.  He returned home to Mito City when he was 19.  Until the 1960's, he worked as the chief director of the Ibaragi Saw Association. He forged his saws out of Tamahagane, Kigami-Togo, and Yasuki steel.

Heiji IV (Kihachi Takeishi/武石喜八)

Kihachi Takeishi began his apprenticeship to Heiji III at the age of 12, while still a student.  His saws were known for their great sharpness, and Nakaya Heiji as a brand gained s great reputation for their saws' sharp edges.  Kihachi began shipping his saws to distant cities and countires, including Tokyo and Taiwan.  

Heiji V (Yoshibumi Takeishi/武石好文) – Current Heiji Nakaya

Yoshibumi Takeishi studied saw making under Heiji IV begining in 1963 and from Heiji IV until 1967.  Toward the end of Showa period (1926-1989), electric and cheaper disposable saws began to appear, and threatened traditional handmade saws.  Yoshibumi apprenticed to Kengo Usui, in Nigata Prefecture, to learn about making other Japanese traditional tools, including knives.   Soon after, Yoshibumi was introduced to Shigeyoshi Iwasaki, and learned about a knife making from the master.  Heiji VI is now an active member of Sanjyo, Nigata’s knife Association. 

Heiji VI (Osamu Takeishi/武石治) – Current Heiji Nakaya
Osamu has studied the making of kitchen knives and other traditional tools from Heiji V and Yoshikane Cutlery co.in Sanjyo city, Nigata since 2003.