To adjust the loosened caulking (Kashime)
When the caulking becomes loose after long use, place it on something hard like an anvil and tap on it with a hammer to adjust.
When the caulking(Kashime) is too tight.
When the caulking is too tight to open the blade, hit the knife on the table with the "Chikiri (tail)" faced down.
As Higonokami knives are handmade, each Higonokami has its own characteristics and its tightness is not always the same.