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Tsuru was born in Quebec in February 2023, in the heart of a long, cold winter. This project is the result of Jean-Simon and Anne's shared passion for Japan, its refined culture, and authentic cuisine.

They met several years ago, at a sushi restaurant in the city. At the time, Jean-Simon was working in the kitchen, with over ten years of experience in the art of sushi, creating original recipes, and carefully plating dishes. Anne worked in service. From this collaboration in the dining room, a bond around Japanese gastronomy was born, which would soon take on a whole new form: the Tsuru project.

Today, Anne is an architect and Jean-Simon is a wildlife photographer and painter. Although they have left the restaurant world behind, both felt a deep need to reconnect with their love of Japan, and more specifically its traditional cuisine, through an emblematic object: the artisanal Japanese knife.

A unique vision of the Japanese knife

When the idea for Tsuru emerged, one thing became clear: the Japanese knife market is vast, but often impersonal. Numerous models are available online, sometimes beautiful, but rarely customizable. And when customization is available, lead times are long and prices high.

It is from this observation that our mission was born:

To offer personalized, high-end Japanese knives, available immediately and without compromising on quality.

This project, which seemed simple on the surface, turned out to be a real challenge. We needed:

1. Find an artisanal forge willing to design our own Japanese knife designs.
2. Collaborate with handle artisans capable of working with the best materials in the world.
3. Remain faithful to the authenticity of Japanese craftsmanship, while integrating a Quebec signature.

Today, Tsuru offers an exclusive selection of professional-quality Japanese knives, designed for cooking enthusiasts, chefs, and anyone looking for a tool that performs as well as looks. Each knife is a functional work of art, ready to ship, crafted with care, rigor, and passion.