Kiku Matsuda U.S.A. Distribution - WTF?

[Beowolf Agate]

So I own 28 knives from Master Kiku. I am not trying to brag, but these knives just speak to me, and so I have been collecting them for a few years.

Most were purchased in 2018-2020 from JKD, when they handled the USA direct sales, and the others were purchased from Blade Gallery in WA. BG still carries them, but not as many as before. I will ask Daniel at BG, but I thought I'd post the question here as well:

At some point in 2019-2020, IIRC, Master Kiku started selling his knives direct to the US market, through a new website. JKD appeared to be out of the picture. Jemmy and Koki Iwahara from JKD were initially involved, but now, it appears that they are not. I have emailed them, and, crickets.....

OK, fine. So my question is, there are hardly any of Mater Kiku's knives available on his website, www.kikuknives.com, maybe one or two at any given time, but during the JKD regime there were always many more for sale. I know that he has a global clientele, and that the USA market therefore may be a low priority.

Does anybody on here know for sure, as opposed to guessing, speculating, or making stuff up?

Any solid intel would be appreciated.

 

[Arathol]

Perhaps you should contact the maker directly. Some websites are maintained better than others......

 

[Beowolf Agate]

Perhaps you should contact the maker directly. Some websites are maintained better than others......

I am not an expert on Japanese culture and ethics, but you do not seem to have thought about this: Japanese Knives Direct (JKD) handled the US and perhaps the global distribution of Master Kiku's knives for many years.

If this relationship was terminated by either party, it is not something that either party I believe would wish to speak about, to someone like me - a good customer - but not known to either party personally: It may be viewed as a private matter in Japanese culture.

This is why, I am asking here, as I said above: "Does anybody on here know for sure, as opposed to guessing, speculating, or making stuff up?"

 

[Arathol]

You're not getting this.....JKD was a distributor, not a maker. There business was selling knives, so the website always had merchandise when possible. Matsuda is a maker, not a webmaster. If he has gone off on his own and has created his own retail site, it may not be accurate or up to date. As with many people whose priority is making things vs playing on the computer, his website might not reflect his inventory. If you want to know what he has for sale, just ask him. There is contact information posted on the website. That information is there for a reason. If nobody there wanted contact with their customer base (which would be just ridiculous) there would not be a contact page.....
As to why he doesn't use JKD as a distributor, its really none of your business actually, Japanese culture or not.......
Then there is the Covid thing, which has many places in Japan in lockdown. I'm sure this has had some effect on the availability of things outside of Japan.

 

[Beowolf Agate]

You're not getting this.....JKD was a distributor, not a maker. There business was selling knives, so the website always had merchandise when possible. Matsuda is a maker, not a webmaster. If he has gone off on his own and has created his own retail site, it may not be accurate or up to date. As with many people whose priority is making things vs playing on the computer, his website might not reflect his inventory. If you want to know what he has for sale, just ask him. There is contact information posted on the website. That information is there for a reason. If nobody there wanted contact with their customer base (which would be just ridiculous) there would not be a contact page.....
As to why he doesn't use JKD as a distributor, its really none of your business actually, Japanese culture or not.......
Then there is the Covid thing, which has many places in Japan in lockdown. I'm sure this has had some effect on the availability of things outside of Japan.

I am not "getting this"? Why Master Kiku no longer uses JKD as a distributor is "none of my business"? Then "there is the Covid thing?

I really DGAF about your condescending attitude, but I do care that you have no good information to post.

My question was, and I quote: "Does anybody on here know for sure, as opposed to guessing, speculating, or making stuff up?"

Since the best you can come up with is "Ask Master Kiku" I hope you will now refrain from further unhelpful comments on the thread.

 

[KenHash]

I am not an expert on Japanese culture and ethics, but you do not seem to have thought about this: Japanese Knives Direct (JKD) handled the US and perhaps the global distribution of Master Kiku's knives for many years.

If this relationship was terminated by either party, it is not something that either party I believe would wish to speak about, to someone like me - a good customer - but not known to either party personally: It may be viewed as a private matter in Japanese culture.

This is why, I am asking here, as I said above: "Does anybody on here know for sure, as opposed to guessing, speculating, or making stuff up?"

I think I qualify as an "expert" in Japanese culture and ethics, and I assure you it has nothing to do with "Japanese culure or ethics". Same thing could happen between a Maker and an exclusive distributor in the US or any other country. It's a private matter between the two. I haven't had any contact since J and K did the Alaska trip so I have no idea what's going on. I did notice a little while ago that JKD no longer carries KM's knives and KM has his own site, and yes everything is sold out. I just assumed he would update it when he completed a new batch.
BTW congrats on a pretty big KM collection.

 

[Beowolf Agate]

I think I qualify as an "expert" in Japanese culture and ethics, and I assure you it has nothing to do with "Japanese culure or ethics". Same thing could happen between a Maker and an exclusive distributor in the US or any other country. It's a private matter between the two. I haven't had any contact since J and K did the Alaska trip so I have no idea what's going on. I did notice a little while ago that JKD no longer carries KM's knives and KM has his own site, and yes everything is sold out. I just assumed he would update it when he completed a new batch.
BTW congrats on a pretty big KM collection.

Thank you sir for your post. If you were fishing with them in AK you are clearly in the know. I get that this is a private business decision, and respect that, but my motives are selfish: I want a few more knives!

 

[Over it]

So, Jemmy retired. That is why you don't see Kiku's available on JKD anymore. I've had the privilege of having dinner with Jemmy and Mr. Matsuda a few years ago and Jemmy appeared to be Mr. Matsuda's go too guy in America. Whenever I saw them at SHOT Show or Blade Show, they were together.

Kiku moved to a direct model, but understanding that his knives are some of the most popular in Asia/Russia, you can imagine you are competing against some deep pockets. Never been to his facility in Japan, but the scuttlebutt is there are buyers waiting around to buy knives constantly.

As of today, only place in America where I've seen Kiku's instock is a gunshop in Texas, was able to handle and purchase an Azami this holiday season. Speaking with their ownership, they will be getting more they say.

 

[Beowolf Agate]

So, Jemmy retired. That is why you don't see Kiku's available on JKD anymore. I've had the privilege of having dinner with Jemmy and Mr. Matsuda a few years ago and Jemmy appeared to be Mr. Matsuda's go too guy in America. Whenever I saw them at SHOT Show or Blade Show, they were together.

Kiku moved to a direct model, but understanding that his knives are some of the most popular in Asia/Russia, you can imagine you are competing against some deep pockets. Never been to his facility in Japan, but the scuttlebutt is there are buyers waiting around to buy knives constantly.

As of today, only place in America where I've seen Kiku's instock is a gunshop in Texas, was able to handle and purchase an Azami this holiday season. Speaking with their ownership, they will be getting more they say.

Welcome to BF.

Kiku's knives have been mainly sold in USA by Daniel O'Malley at the Blade Gallery in Washington. He has a few knives in stock now but only a few. I own 28 KM knives and bought about half from BG and the rest from JKD.

The knives do seem unobtainium now in the USA, and I believe you are correct about strong Asian demand for the knives. However, I still think that there must be more to the story.

 

[Over it]

Welcome to BF.

Kiku's knives have been mainly sold in USA by Daniel O'Malley at the Blade Gallery in Washington. He has a few knives in stock now but only a few. I own 28 KM knives and bought about half from BG and the rest from JKD.

The knives do seem unobtainium now in the USA, and I believe you are correct about strong Asian demand for the knives. However, I still think that there must be more to the story.

Thanks for the lead on the other vendor! Hope this corona stuff blows over this year, hear Mr. Matsuda is planning on attending if travel restrictions lighten up.

Question, do you have the Subaru and what is your buy recommendation on that one? Haven't handled the Gen 2 yet.

 

[Beowolf Agate]

No I passed on the Subaru - not my cup of tea, especially for $2,400.00. If I was going to spend that much on a folder it would be for another Shirogorov, with all due respect to Master Kiku.