About KAMA-ASA

WELCOME

KAMA-ASA

KAMA-ASA is a cookware store dedicated to providing quality kitchen tools and knives selected from across Japan. Founded in 1908, now we run stores in Tokyo and Paris, offering the finest collection of products to professional and home cooks for over a century.

Our Story

KAMA-ASA was founded in 1908 by Minosuke Kumazawa in Kappabashi, Tokyo. Kappabashi is a unique “kitchenware district” entirely populated with shops selling all kinds of tools to equip restaurants. In the past, Kappabashi was a place only for professional cooks, but now it is open to everyone including non-professional cooking enthusiasts. In 2018, the fourth generation owner, Daisuke Kumazawa, opened the first overseas branch in Paris. Both stores are filled with a wide range of kitchen tools and knives that accompany your culinary journey.

Our Philosophy

KAMA-ASA is built on a philosophy, “good tools have a reason.” Every single product at KAMA-ASA has a “reason” for being made of different materials in different shapes. All those reasons assist users to demonstrate their best version of cooking skills and bring the best flavor of ingredients. Tools with good reasons have a timeless design that has been developed for many years through the wisdom and ingenuity of craftspeople. Those tools may not grab your attention much at first glance; however, you will find yourself feeling fun, proud, unique and comfortable when you actually use them to cook with.

Our Products

At KAMA-ASA, you won’t find a lot of products that deteriorate and need to be replaced every few years. Instead, you will discover a collection of sturdy products that last long with proper maintenance. We travel across Japan to visit craftspeople and find products that we think are exceptional. Each product is carefully investigated to ensure quality that we can sell with pride. We are also passionate about making our original products that embodies our philosophy, “good tools have a reason.”

Craftspeople

All the products at KAMA-ASA reflect the craftsmanship and techniques of manufacturers and craftspeople that we are truly proud of and respect for. Unfortunately it has become increasingly difficult for the craftspeople to pass on their artisanal skills and cultures to the next generation. It is one of our important missions to promote the outstanding value of traditional Japanese crafts in order to preserve their skills, cultures and history.

Our Promise

The heart of our business is to stand between the craftspeople and customers, not just as a retailer, but as a storyteller and an advisor. We are passionate about telling stories behind each product and addressing questions and concerns that our customers may have. Through one-on-one conversations with customers, we are able to understand their skills and needs, and help their understanding of products by thoroughly explaining both benefits and downsides of them. It is all because we want each customer to find products that they can cherish for many years to come. As much as we do at our stores in Tokyo and Paris, we will do our very best to assist each customer in finding a product that is right for them here online.