Evan Atwell, Owner of STRATA, 67 Washington Avenue, Portland, at his Cutlery Store, in the Fomer J. J. Nissen Bakery Building, Recently.
The recent arrival of Katana, Wahizashi and Tanto from Japan have ushered in a new era for STRATA at the 6 year old Washington Avenue cutlery business. By the way, these are not visitors from Japan.
Rather, they are samaurai swords whose history dates back to feudal Japan that Evan Atwell purchased to introduce to US markets at STRATA. After months of challenges that would test the most patient among us, the swords arrived in Portland two weeks ago. They are not on view yet because the display case designed by Studio 89 Furniture & Design is under construction in its workshop. That’s expected to happen in a few weeks from now.
Currently there are five swords at STRATA in three different sizes. They were crafted by Kunihara Kawachi, 80 +, who is so revered for his workmanship that he is regarded as unjudgeable according to Atwell who has immersed himself in the Japanese culture and history of the samurai swords. “He has achieved a level of skill that is considered to be unjudgeable,” said Atwell of Kawachi. “This was done by years of competition among Japan’s elite sword makers.” Atwell explained that eventually these master sword makers are barred from competitions and put into a special category – a category that Kawachi occupies.
An unspoken requirement with the knife makers is a business trip to Japan to meet the craftsmen. STRATA’s inventory of Japanese knives is about 80% of his entire product line. Japenese knives are consistently high performing knives and he has always carried them. Atwell and his wife were going to Japan in 2020 to meet this unspoken requirement – that is until the COVID-19 pandemic hit preventing any travel abroad. “But it is essentially a requirement to visit the sword maker in Japan,” said Atwell last week at his Washington Avenue store. So this fall Atwell intends to make the obligatory journey to Japan to fulfill that responsibility – meeting with both a knife maker and the sword maker. After that visit to Japan, the swords will be available for purchase – following a complex process of its own.
STRATA is also known for its large selection of cookbooks, glassware and other dining and kitchen accessories for the discerning hostess.
“I appreciate the functional art, the culture and history behind these swords,” said Atwell. “These craftsmen are dedicated to the nth degree and I respect that. That’s why I want to sell them here in the US.”
STRATA is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
For more background information on the samurai swords, please visit post herein dated September 7, 2023.