All Japanese Knives

  • Discover the Entire KIREAJI Collection

    Experience the soul of Japanese craftsmanship with knives hand-forged in Sakai City — where 98% of Japan’s top chefs turn for their blades.

    From seasoned chefs to passionate home cooks, find your perfect edge.

    Tradition. Precision. Sharpness — in your hands.

All Japanese Knives from Sakai Collection

New Arrival Notice: Inherited Blades from a Retiring Blacksmith

From a blacksmith closing his forge, we’ve received a rare stock of hand-forged Blue Steel blanks—shaped with pine charcoal and time-honored skill.
They will now be entrusted to master sharpeners.
If you're seeking a specific type, steel, or size, please contact us.
At KIREAJI, we honor not just craftsmanship, but the tradition behind it.

Inherited Blades from a Retiring Blacksmith

KIREAJI's Three Promises to You

  • japanese_knife_made_in_Sakai

    1. Forged in the Legacy of Sakai

    From Sakai City—Japan’s renowned birthplace of professional kitchen knives—each blade is crafted by master artisans with over six centuries of tradition. Perfectly balanced, enduringly sharp, and exquisitely finished, every cut carries the soul of true craftsmanship.

  • 2. Thoughtful Care for Everyday Use

    Every knife includes a hand-fitted magnolia saya for safe storage. Upon request, we offer a complimentary Honbazuke final hand sharpening—giving you a precise, ready-to-use edge from day one.

  • 3. A Partnership for a Lifetime

    A KIREAJI knife is more than a tool—it is a lifelong companion. With our bespoke paid aftercare services, we preserve its edge and beauty, ensuring it remains as precise and dependable as the day it first met your hand.

Why Many Product Photos Show Only the Blade

At KIREAJI, every knife is made to order in Sakai, Japan. Photos show the blade before the handle is attached, allowing artisans to perfect the balance and edge for your specific order. Your knife arrives fully finished — tailored just for you.

Made-to-order Japanese knives

Global Delivery from Sakai

Across the world, discerning cooks seek authentic Japanese knives from Sakai — Japan’s legendary knife-making city with over 600 years of tradition.
At KIREAJI, we work alongside master artisans in Sakai to fulfill that desire, shipping genuine handcrafted knives directly from the workshop to kitchens worldwide.

Global Delivery from Sakai

Why Is Sakai City Famous for Knives?

  • From Tokyo’s Michelin-starred kitchens to family homes across the globe, one name quietly commands the respect of chefs everywhere: Sakai. This small city in Japan has spent over 600 years perfecting the art of knife-making, forging blades that combine unmatched sharpness, balance, and durability. Here’s why Sakai is more than a place—it’s a promise of culinary excellence.

  • Why Is Sakai City Famous for Knives?

    The quiet capital of Japanese cutlery—trusted by professionals for centuries.

  • 1) Roots that shaped a craft

    Sakai’s blade-making heritage reaches back to ironworking in the 5th century, when tools were forged for the massive Kofun burial mounds near the city. By the Edo period (1603–1868), Sakai had become famous for ultra-sharp tobacco knives that even received monopoly status under the Tokugawa shogunate—launching a national reputation.

  • 2) A design made for precision

    Sakai codified the modern single-bevel Japanese knife: hard steel laminated to soft iron, forged and ground to acute geometry that slices cleanly without crushing texture—perfect for fish- and vegetable-centric cuisine. The craft is recognized by Japan’s government as a Traditional Craft.

  • 3) Masters of one stage, working as one

    Each knife passes through specialists—bladesmith, sharpener, handle maker—in a division of labor refined over centuries. This focus at every step produces blades that are razor-sharp, balanced, and durable.

  • 4) Proven in professional kitchens

    The Sakai Tourism Bureau reports that 98% of professional chefs in Japan use Sakai knives—a testament to performance and trust built over 600+ years.

FAQ About Sakai Knives

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Sakai forged knives are trusted by professional chefs worldwide for one simple reason — exceptional sharpness and quality.

These knives are made using a time-honored forging process that combines hard steel for a sharp edge with softer iron for flexibility. The result? A blade that's not only razor-sharp, but also strong, durable, and resistant to chipping.

Behind this quality lies over 600 years of tradition from Sakai City, Japan, where generations of artisans have perfected their craft — from blacksmithing to sharpening to handle-making.

The secret lies in the forging process and the unique single-bevel design. By combining hagane (hard steel) and jigane (soft iron) and carefully shaping the blade by hand, Sakai artisans create knives that glide effortlessly through food, preserving flavor and texture.

In Japanese cuisine, precision is everything. That's why chefs turn to Sakai knives — for their unmatched sharpness, perfect balance, and superior craftsmanship. Every knife reflects the expertise of specialized artisans who focus solely on forging, sharpening, or handle-fitting.

Despite its proud history, the Sakai knife industry faces a shortage of young craftsmen. With fewer people entering the trade, preserving these traditional skills is a growing concern for the future.

Sakai is one of Japan's three major knife-producing regions and holds a dominant position in the professional chef market. In fact, it's estimated that around 90% of Japanese cuisine chefs in Japan use Sakai knives.

Why Do 98% of Japanese Chefs Choose Sakai Knives?

The answer lies in a centuries-old tradition of craftsmanship, a unique division of labor, and a fully handcrafted process that has made Sakai the heartbeat of Japan’s knife culture.

Why Do 98% of Japanese Chefs Choose Sakai Knives?

The 98% That Tells a Story

According to the Sakai Tourism Bureau, “98% of Japanese chefs use Sakai knives.”
This remarkable figure is more than just a statistic—it reflects the enduring trust chefs place in Sakai’s unmatched quality and precision.

Sakai City Official English Site

Sakai Uchihamono: 600 Years of Unrivaled Craftsmanship

For over six centuries, Sakai’s artisans have perfected the art of blade-making. Each knife is the result of meticulous forging, expert sharpening, and precise handle attachment. The outcome is Sakai Uchihamono—a blade celebrated worldwide for its ultimate sharpness, balance, and beauty.

Sakai Uchihamono

Sakai's Declining Japanese Knife Craftsmen

This heritage faces an uncertain future. Today, only about a dozen blacksmiths remain in Sakai, as younger generations turn away from the demanding craft. Global competition and waning domestic interest pose further challenges.

Sakai's Declining Japanese Knife Craftsmen

Why Sakai’s Knives Command Premium Value Overseas

Sakai’s knives are more than just expensive tools—they are symbols of tradition, quality, and cultural heritage. Renowned for their unrivaled craftsmanship, they have become coveted treasures among culinary professionals and passionate home cooks worldwide.

Why Sakai’s Knives Command Premium Value Overseas

The Soul of Craftsmanship

  • A Legacy of 600 Years Forged into Every Blade

    From the blacksmithing traditions of Osaka and Sakai comes a heritage spanning over six centuries. Through generations of refinement, the form of the blade, the spirit of the steel, and the art of sharpening have reached their pinnacle. Chefs choose Sakai knives not only for their unparalleled cutting ability, but for their balance, reliability, and enduring sharpness that stand the test of time.

  • Heating, hammering, cooling, and sharpening—every step is performed by hand, with the blacksmith pouring soul and pride into the steel. This devotion gives each knife its razor edge, resilience, and character that transforms cooking into joy. By preserving this tradition and embedding it into every blade, we deliver true authenticity into the hands of chefs. This is the pride—and the promise—of Sakai’s blacksmiths.
Sakai Traditional Craftsmen Collection

How Japanese Knives Are Made: The Sakai Tradition

VIDEO PROVIDED: JAPAN TRADITIONAL CRAFTS AOYAMA SQUARE (YOUTUBE)

  • Sakai Forged Blades — Six Centuries of Unrivaled Craftsmanship

    Loved by chefs around the world and trusted by 98% of Japan’s top culinary professionals, Sakai knives are more than tools—they are the living legacy of over 600 years of master craftsmanship.

  • At KIREAJI, we work directly with the Shiroyama Knife Workshop in Sakai, Japan, ensuring every blade is hand-forged, finished to perfection, and shipped straight from the workshop to kitchens across the globe. No middlemen. No mass production. Only authentic, artisan-made knives, crafted to elevate your cooking for a lifetime.