KIREAJI Blog About Japanese Knives

Black Friday and the True Meaning of Value:Why Real Craftsmanship Doesn’t Go on Sale

Black Friday and the True Meaning of Value:Why ...

A thoughtful look at Black Friday discount culture and how it contrasts with the enduring value of handcrafted Sakai knives. Instead of seasonal sales or inflated margins, KIREAJI chooses fair...

Black Friday and the True Meaning of Value:Why ...

A thoughtful look at Black Friday discount culture and how it contrasts with the enduring value of handcrafted Sakai knives. Instead of seasonal sales or inflated margins, KIREAJI chooses fair...

Washoku Day

Washoku Day

This article explores the cultural meaning of Washoku Day (November 24)—a celebration of Japan’s traditional food culture, rooted in seasonality, gratitude for the harvest, and harmony with nature. It explains...

Washoku Day

This article explores the cultural meaning of Washoku Day (November 24)—a celebration of Japan’s traditional food culture, rooted in seasonality, gratitude for the harvest, and harmony with nature. It explains...

The Japanese Knife Workbook — Learn, Then Speak It Forward

The Japanese Knife Workbook — Learn, Then Speak...

The journey continues with The Japanese Knife Workbook—a hands-on guide designed to transform learning into expression.Through interactive quizzes, detailed explanations, and reflective practice, this book helps you embody the art,...

The Japanese Knife Workbook — Learn, Then Speak...

The journey continues with The Japanese Knife Workbook—a hands-on guide designed to transform learning into expression.Through interactive quizzes, detailed explanations, and reflective practice, this book helps you embody the art,...

The Legacy of Yuzan — A Hidden Master Whose Blades Still Live Today

The Legacy of Yuzan — A Hidden Master Whose Bla...

Yuzan was one of Sakai’s last true masters of mizuyaki honyaki — a technique so rare and demanding that only a handful of craftsmen could attempt it.More than 20 years...

The Legacy of Yuzan — A Hidden Master Whose Bla...

Yuzan was one of Sakai’s last true masters of mizuyaki honyaki — a technique so rare and demanding that only a handful of craftsmen could attempt it.More than 20 years...

November 8 — The Day to Honor the Blade

November 8 — The Day to Honor the Blade

On November 8 — The Day of the Blade — Japanese craftsmen pause to give thanks to the tools that shape their art.From the ancient Fuyigo Festival to modern knife-making...

November 8 — The Day to Honor the Blade

On November 8 — The Day of the Blade — Japanese craftsmen pause to give thanks to the tools that shape their art.From the ancient Fuyigo Festival to modern knife-making...

The Evolution of Sakai Knives: A Legacy of Over a Thousand Years

The Evolution of Sakai Knives: A Legacy of Over...

Sakai City’s blacksmithing tradition spans over a millennium, evolving from iron farming tools of the Kofun period to samurai swords, matchlock guns, and tobacco knives, culminating in the creation of...

The Evolution of Sakai Knives: A Legacy of Over...

Sakai City’s blacksmithing tradition spans over a millennium, evolving from iron farming tools of the Kofun period to samurai swords, matchlock guns, and tobacco knives, culminating in the creation of...

The Soul of Craftsmanship

  • The Essence of Knife Making: Crafting a Story Through Material and Shape

    Knife making is not merely the act of producing a tool—it is the art of weaving a story through steel. Every piece of raw material is heated, hammered, and drawn out, gradually transforming from unshaped metal into a blade that feels alive in the hand of its user. The moment when steel responds to the rhythm of the hammer, as if infused with spirit, is where the true joy of the craft lies.

  • What we pursue is not only sharpness, but the “perfect strike” that connects seamlessly with its user. A knife becomes complete only when it carries the story of its making into the kitchen, continuing its journey through the meals and memories it helps create.

  • Each blade, therefore, is more than a tool—it is a story waiting to unfold in your hands.
Sakai Traditional Craftsmen Collection

Our Story

  • Tradition of Sakai, in Your Hands

    "Where can I find a truly great knife?"
    We started KIREAJI to answer that question. While the number of skilled craftsmen is declining in Japan, many people overseas are seeking authentic blades. With that in mind, we carefully deliver each knife—bridging tradition and kitchens around the world.
Our Story