User's Voices

At Katsuyama Construction Co., Ltd. in Nagano, Japan, a team of uncompromising builders — craftsmen who approach every house-building project with professional skill and dedication—rely on SUIZAN tools in their daily work.

About Katsuyama Construction

Katsuyama Construction specializes in traditional Japanese wooden architecture, blending heritage and precision to create timeless homes.They cherish the character of aged timber and carefully preserve its warmth, passing it on to the next generation through dedicated craftsmanship.

Their approach is called authentic restoration: rebuilding entire structures by hand, without using a single nail.The quality and elegance of their work have earned international acclaim, and today, requests from overseas clients continue to grow—sharing the beauty of Japanese craftsmanship with the world.

Among these artisans is Mr. Miyamoto, a carpenter with over 13 years of experience, who uses SUIZAN planes and saws every day for their enduring sharpness and exquisite finish.

Mr. Miyamoto was inspired to become a carpenter as a young boy when a family friend — a carpenter — built a room for him, making him think, "Carpenters are so cool."

The Texture Only Achieved by Hand

At Katsuyama Construction, the foundation of their craftsmanship lies in using real wood for every home they build—nothing artificial, nothing compromised.

"In most modern houses, the materials you see aren’t real wood," explains Miyamoto.
"They’re made by pressing wood chips together and covering them with a sheet that only looks like wood.But in our homes, every part is genuine timber. Even the pillars are intentionally left visible—that’s our concept of a home with exposed structure."

While many construction companies now rely on automated planers, Katsuyama Construction remains devoted to finishing every surface by hand.

"A carpenter is nothing without his plane," Miyamoto says with a smile.

"There’s a world of difference between something finished by hand and by machine," says Miyamoto. "Anyone can see it instantly—and feel it the moment they touch it.Personally, I’m not fond of machines. I take pride in smoothing and perfecting the surface with my own hands.That’s why I always carry my plane with me."

Feel the Sharpness Instantly

Mr. Miyamoto first started using SUIZAN through a recommendation from staff member of the brand.

"The moment I first used it, I thought, 'Wow, this is really something.’ I could tell right away how good it was," says Miyamoto.

"For this price range, the quality and sharpness are outstanding. It just feels like a really well-made tool. What I like most is how long it stays sharp — even after using it for a long time, the feel doesn't change. That kind of consistency means a lot when you rely on your tools every day. I have no complaints about SUIZAN, so I just keep using it."

SUIZAN saws are built with the kind of Japanese quality that professionals can rely on.
Even with daily professional use, they can go an entire year without needing a blade change — all at a price that stays within reach.

Performance that Ensures a True Hand-Finished Quality

SUIZAN planes are widely recognized for their hard steel and long-lasting sharpness.Even with daily use on professional job sites, they resist dulling, allowing craftsmen to reduce sharpening time and improve work efficiency.Their dependable performance under tough conditions is one reason professionals like Miyamoto trust them completely.

"SUIZAN's planes have very hard, sturdy blades that really hold their edge," says Miyamoto.
"They require far less sharpening, which saves time and keeps my workflow smooth.They're tools I can truly rely on."

"With the planes I used before, the blades would start to dull after planing about 10 timbers.But with SUIZAN planes, the sharpness hardly changes — even after the same amount of work — so I can just keep going."

High-end planes can easily cost several tens of hundreds of dollars, but SUIZAN offers comparable quality for less than half that price.Their tools deliver more than enough performance for professional use,providing an ideal balance that satisfies everyone from beginners to seasoned craftsmen.

Growing Demand from Overseas

More than half of Katsuyama Construction's clients are from overseas.Many of them build houses in Nagano to use as guesthouses or vacation homes.

"Our overseas clients really like houses where the wood is visible," says Miyamoto."Some want to restore old Japanese houses, while others ask us to build new homes in the traditional style — like the classic kominka."

For this kind of work, hand tools such as planes and saws are indispensable.Because every house is built by hand using real wood, the quality of the tools directly determines the quality of the finish.

Bringing Japanese Craftsmanship to the World

Katsuyama Construction is dedicated to traditional handcrafting, building classic Japanese homes and sharing Japan's heritage of craftsmanship with the world.

"In today's world, there's less and less work done by hand," Miyamoto reflects."That's why I feel so grateful to be doing this kind of traditional carpentry — building homes entirely by hand."

Made in Tsubame-Sanjo, one of Japan's most renowned cutlery regions, SUIZAN tools are celebrated for their quality — and real-world use proves they truly live up to their reputation.

When in Doubt, Choose SUIZAN

"SUIZAN tools are great even if you're just starting out," Miyamoto says."The steel is solid, and the blades stay sharp for a long time.If you're new to woodworking, I'd say start with a double-edged saw.It can cut any kind of wood — both along and across the grain — so if you have one, you can handle almost anything."

He adds with a smile:"If you're not sure which tool to choose, just try SUIZAN first. Even if it's not a high-end tool, it'll give you professional results. It's easy enough for beginners to use, but delivers a finish that even craftsmen can be proud of. For the price, there's nothing else like it."

Katsuyama Construction, devoted to authentic craftsmanship using real wood,and SUIZAN, committed to sharpness and usability —their shared philosophy comes together on the job site,where tradition and innovation meet to create something truly timeless.