Koichi Morimoto was certified as a Master of Japanese Traditional Crafts for blade grinding and sharpening by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1987. He was also awarded "Naniwa-no-Meiko (Master Craftsman in Osaka)" by Osaka's prefectural government in 2005. He runs his business (Morimoto Knife Manufacturers) in Sakai with his sons. http://www.morimotohamono.com/