JP-crafts launched TSUKI on May 26, 2026 to fund the initial production run of YEBISUYAIBA’s (Ebisu Blade) moon series. The campaign is denominated in yen, so every dollar figure here is an approximate conversion as of June 9, 2026. As of that snapshot, 974 backers have pledged J¥37,290,899, roughly $215,000 at recent Kickstarter exchange rates. That is about 7,458 percent of the original J¥500,000 target (around $3,125 USD).
Price: From ¥36,187 (About $226) | Bundle
Where to Buy: Kickstarter
We have seen a lot of kitchen knives pass through crowdfunding. Most promise Damascus patterns and hand-forged pedigree, then deliver questionable steel from unverifiable workshops. TSUKI is taking a different angle. The knife is officially part of YEBISUYAIBA’s catalog, sharpened in Sakai, with VG-10 steel from Fukui and a paulownia gift box from Yamaguchi. The price sits well below most entry-level artisan alternatives.
A knife designed to be admired, not just used
The name TSUKI means moon in Japanese. The campaign describes a crescent-curved handle profile, with blade geometry that references lunar phases rather than traditional Japanese knife silhouettes.
Buyers choose between a kabazakura (Japanese birch) wood handle and a reinforced resin handle, in matching dark and light packaging. The blade carries a Damascus pattern with tsuchime hammer marks across the spine, an intentional nod to the cratered lunar surface. The campaign photography leans into moody, low-light compositions where the knife’s silhouette does the work.
Most kitchen knives that succeed on crowdfunding lead with steel specs and forge mythology. TSUKI leads with aesthetics. The tagline is literally “designed to be admired.” That is either a refreshing pivot or a red flag, depending on how seriously you take your blade geometry.
The specs: VG-10 Damascus steel, kabazakura birch or resin handle
The blade is VG-10 Damascus stainless steel, approximately 210 mm (8.3 inches), with an overall length of about 260 mm (10.2 inches) over a 50 mm handle. The campaign-stated hardness is 58 HRC, though VG-10 typically runs 59 to 61 HRC. Each knife ships in a custom paulownia gift box from Yamaguchi, wrapped in Echizen washi paper from Fukui and tied with handmade Japanese mizuhiki cord.
VG-10 is a well-known Japanese stainless that holds its edge reasonably well and resists corrosion. The Damascus layering and tsuchime hammered spine are the headline visual features. Each blade is finished and sharpened in Sakai, the Osaka prefecture city with a 600-year knife-making tradition.
YEBISUYAIBA (恵比寿刃, Ebisu Blade) already produces multiple named knife lines, including the Red Dot Design Award winning kuro and the VG-10 Damascus Hana, and sells through WAFUU and Amazon Japan. JP-crafts is the Kickstarter-side entity bringing TSUKI to a global audience. This is not a mystery workshop or a third-party badge job.
The campaign lists 0.5 kg on its spec page, but YEBISUYAIBA’s own TSUKI santoku is listed at about 110g. The 500g figure almost certainly includes the paulownia gift box and packaging. Worth clarifying with the creator before pledging.
Pricing tiers: From $142 to $488
A single TSUKI chef knife in either black or white costs $142. A chef-plus-petty set runs $226. A dual bundle with two chef knives and two petty knives runs $416, with a higher-tier version at $488. The campaign lists estimated retail prices between $219 and $718.
Add-ons include a pull-through knife sharpener for about $21 and a leather burr removal strop for roughly $19. Both are positioned as maintenance tools rather than professional sharpening solutions.
Shipping is estimated for December 2026. The campaign notes DDP terms for U.S. backers, meaning duties and taxes are included. All other regions ship DDU, so international backers should budget for customs fees.
The risks every Kickstarter backer should consider
Crowdfunding is not pre-ordering. JP-crafts. acknowledges this in its risks section, listing craftsmanship variability, production delays, and supply chain disruptions. The team claims to have built buffer time into the schedule and completed multiple prototype iterations.
Our position on Kickstarter kitchen knives has not changed. We wait for real units before we validate performance claims. The funding numbers suggest strong market interest. They do not guarantee edge retention, handle durability, or on-time delivery.
TSUKI has already raised over J¥37M, and the goal was just J¥500,000
Per JP-crafts.’s campaign update relayed by Kicktraq, TSUKI became the most-funded Japanese knife project from Japan on Kickstarter inside its first three days. As of this update, 974 individual backers have pledged.
Three early-bird tiers have sold out, including the cheapest single chef knife at roughly $131. That leaves the standard single-knife pledge at about $142 and the chef-plus-petty set at about $226 as the current entry points. A premium four-knife bundle runs roughly $416, with limited quantity remaining.
Stretch goals have started unlocking. A first stretch goal cleared around J¥17,733,435 / about $111,000. The second, a Nakiri vegetable knife add-on, unlocked June 7 at the $200,000 / J¥32,000,000 mark, per Kicktraq’s update tracker. A further milestone at roughly $300,000 would add a branded coaster.
Where things stand with 38 days left
TSUKI has already cleared its funding goal by a margin most campaigns never approach. Two stretch goals have already unlocked, including the Nakiri add-on confirmed on June 7. If the current pace holds, this will end as one of the more successful kitchen knife campaigns on the platform this year.
Price: From ¥36,187 (About $226) | Bundle
Where to Buy: Kickstarter
If you are already shopping in the sub-$150 Japanese chef knife space, TSUKI is now a name to research alongside the usual retail suspects. If you prefer to wait for hands-on reviews, that is the safer play. The campaign closes July 18, 2026.
2-Pack LED Video Light Kit, NiceVeedi Studio Light, 2800-6500K Dimmable Photography Lighting Kit with Tripod Stand&Phone Holder, 73" Stream Light for Video Recording, Game Streaming, YouTube
(as of June 8, 2026 12:59 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
