堺孝行 黒影 牛刀 210mm ウェンジ八角柄
Producing Area
To pursue the finest quality, our production process - forging, adding the blade and attaching the handle - is completed in different locations that are known for each individual practice.
堺 Sakai, Osaka
©Sakai City, JAPAN
Sakai is a commuter town located in the Southern area of Osaka, and is the second most populous city in the prefecture after Osaka City.
Sakai is known for having many ancient burial mounds. Once, blacksmiths gathered and lived in Sakai from all over Japan to create tools for the construction of the mounds. This is believed to be the reason why Sakai is famous for forging.
In the Edo period, the shogunate's order included exclusive production of "Tobacco knives" in Sakai - knives for chopping tobacco leaves, which led to Sakai's fame for bladesmithing. As time went by, the technique has continued to be inherited by craftsmen over countless generations. To date, Sakai has been producing stunningly sharp knives with the best quality.
The production of forged knives in Sakai is based on the division of labor within each district.
To complete a single knife, each step, from forging and adding a blade, to attaching a handle, is handled by traditional specialists. It is expected to include more than 30 processes of knife creation until completion.
The significance of Sakai knives lies in the excellent forging and sharpening techniques which determine the edge of the blade.
Knives from Sakai are said to be used by over 90% of professional chefs of Japanese cuisine. Sakai is the leader of the world-class culture of Japanese bladesmithing.
Precautions For Use
To prevent rust
To prevent damage
- Do not ever put the knife in the dishwasher.
- Do not hold the knife over a fire or put in the oven. To disinfect the knife, please use hot water.
To prevent chips
- Do not use the knife on a hard surface, such as on a metal, stone, or glass cutting board.
- Do not cut hard objects, including frozen food and bone-in meat.
- Avoid putting multiple knives in the same drawer, as they may touch each other and chip.
For safety
- Handle the blade with care.
- Store the knives in a safe place and out of reach of children at all times.