Our story

We are in love with Japanese craftsmanship and we hope you fall in love with our products. They are the embodiment of Japanese aesthetics, flair and values – their commitment to quality and attention to detail.

Our co-founder, Kamila, started Japana when she was unable to find a quality, affordable Japanese knife for her boyfriend. After searching with no luck through multiple London shops and kanji-filled websites, she decided to go directly to the source and contacted a Japanese blacksmith who made her a custom-engraved knife.

It was an extremely beautiful gift and she wanted more people to be able to experience the joy of it. So, in early 2016, together with her high school friend Anna they co-founded Japana. It wasn’t easy navigating the intricacies of different cultures and facing language barriers, but the love for craftsmanship prevailed.

japana knives meeting with craftsmen in Osaka, Japan

Japanese blacksmith making kitchen knives

Timeless

We resist the temptations of modern times and say “no” to the trend of fast fashion. After all, when was the last time that cutting corners actually worked?

Instead, we believe that truly great products take precision, time and passion. Combine those with the highest quality, locally sourced materials and the results are breath-taking.

All Japana products are designed and made to last. We mean it when we say that we want our products to serve you and your family for generations.

Craftsmanship

We do not use ready-made components and we do not mass-produce. We personally oversee the end-to-end crafting process.

We travel the world to develop our exclusive collections of home goods. Country by country, we curate, select and partner with artisans who pride themselves on vigilance and respect for the craft that no machine can replicate.

We combine their individual traditions into a unique minimalist style to create unique quality pieces. The results speak for themselves: fresh and exclusive designs of curated kitchenware for the perfect mix of functionality and flair.

japanese blacksmith forging knives japana

sakai kyuba brown japanese kitchen knife set on wooden magnetic rack

Essential

Here at Japana we have a minimalist heart. We believe our homes should be filled with essential, long-lasting, quality products. We are huge advocates of quality over quantity. Why should you invest in countless single-use appliances when you can invest in a few high-quality tools that can help you tackle almost every kitchen task?

This is why we strive to provide a limited number of essential products that will serve you in the kitchen. All our products are intended to streamline your kitchen, and reduce the amount of tools you need to buy. At Japana we follow the Japanese minimalist concept of danshari and believe “less is more”. More space. More time. More peace of mind.

Nature and sustainability

We believe in nature’s timeless simplicity and embrace the concept of wabi-sabi by highlighting nature’s beautiful imperfections. We focus on three sustainable natural materials: metal, stone and wood.

Their inherited durability and longevity makes them sustainable, as they won’t have to be replaced overtime. Thereby by selecting, quality and durable natural materials we prevent thousands of more disposable, low-quality ones from entering the environment.

walnut cutting board japanese kitchen knives thick

That’s the entire essence of our brand. Quality products that last, crafted with love. Share your Japana moments with #myJapana

Media About Us

“Inside Japana: A Women-Owned, Direct-To-Consumer Japanese Knife Company”

“Best Japanese-style UK chef’s knife… but the nakiri is even better”

“Look as amazing as they perform.”

“The passionate and dedicated team oversees the entire process from beginning to end.”

“How three Polish women started selling handcrafted Japanese knives to the world.”

“The female Samurai who decided to conquer the male dominated world.”

“Three women like three valiant samurai decided to conquer the market dominated by men.”

“The edge of success.”

“Japana: 3 women navigating alien business culture.”

“Interview: Japana, Ladies with Japanese Knives”

“Female business in patriarchal Japan. Three Polish women, knives and blacksmiths from the village.”

“Female business: Girls who love Japan [INTERVIEW]”

“INTERVIEW: Girls with knives – founding team behind the Japana brand, tell us about the business with Japan”

“Women, sharp knives and Japanese business [Interview]”