Tōshō is the brainchild of Olivia Go and Ivan Fonseca. Both share a love of food and an appreciation for the beauty of a well made knife.

As a New York trained chef, Olivia gained an early respect for the tools of her trade, especially the functionality of her knives. Wishing to learn more on their care she sought instruction from a Japanese knife master at Korin. It was here she developed her passion for sharpening.

Returning to Toronto, Olivia pursued this passion, teaching classes in knife care. It was during this time that she serendipitously met the like-minded Ivan Fonseca who shared her passion.

A professional chef, Ivan Fonseca is also a master knife sharpener and polisher. He has been studying the properties of Japanese steel and the design of knives for over 20 years. Ivan introduced Olivia to the art of polishing and a deeper appreciation of the art of sharpening. Tōshō was born, and a knife care service soon blossomed into a Japanese knife importing business.