• Satoshi Nakagawa:
    The Youngest Traditional Craftsman in History

  • Background

    Satoshi Nakagawa trained under the renowned blacksmith Kenichi Shiraki, mastering the traditional techniques of Sakai. After completing his apprenticeship, Nakagawa went on to establish himself as an independent craftsman, carrying forward his mentor’s legacy while infusing his own innovative spirit.

  • Expertise and Craftsmanship

    • Wide Product Range: Nakagawa excels in producing a diverse range of knives, working with various types of steel. His skills are recognized as being among the top-tier in Sakai, setting him apart from his peers.
    • Advanced Craftsmanship: Known for his unparalleled precision and speed, Nakagawa crafts knives of exceptional quality, gaining the trust of professionals in the field.

  • Approach to Craftsmanship

    • Spirit of Innovation: Nakagawa is never content with the status quo, continually seeking to improve and explore new designs and techniques.
    • Attention to Detail: His commitment to meticulous detail ensures that every knife he produces is not only of superior quality but also a reflection of his passion for perfection.
    • Contribution to the Industry: As one of the key figures in modern knife-making, Nakagawa

  • Satoshi Nakagawa’s knives are the perfect blend of tradition and innovation. Crafted with the highest level of skill, his knives not only deliver superior performance but are also works of art. Once you experience his craftsmanship, you’ll be captivated by the precision and beauty of his creations.

Satoshi Nakagawa

The Youngest Traditional Craftsman in History

  • Satoshi Nakagawa is a young traditional craftsman and blacksmith in Sakai City.
  • He was an apprentice under Kenichi Shiraki, a renowned bladesmith, and inherited the master's workshop and traditional techniques.
  • At the age of 30, his craftsmanship in producing high-quality knives was recognized, and he was officially certified as a traditional craftsman by the Sakai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2022.
  • He produces blades that combine strength and beauty, utilizing a variety of steel materials.
  • Nakagawa is sought after by top chefs, both Japanese and Western, and plays a pivotal role in supporting the industry.

Sakai City Traditional Craftsmen Collection: Satoshi Nakagawa

KIREAJI's Three Promises to You

  • All Japanese Knives from Sakai City

    1. High-quality Japanese Knive

    We offer knives crafted by craftsmen from Sakai City.

  • Honbazuke

    2. Genuine Sharpness

    To ensure you experience sharpness, we provide a free Honbazuke by our skilled craftsmen.

  • 3. Lifetime Knife Use

    Every knife comes with a free Saya(Sheath) for durability. We also provide paid after-sales services with Sakai City Japanese knife workshop.
Traditional_Craftsmen

Traditional Craftsmen of Sakai Uchihamono

600 years of history and craftsmanship

Traditional craftsmen are artisans who have mastered the craft of Sakai blades through years of dedicated apprenticeship. They are nationally recognized elite craftsmen tasked with preserving Japan's traditional crafts for contemporary times. To earn the title of traditional craftsman, they must undergo a rigorous examination process after at least 12 years of apprenticeship. Due to the stringent requirements, traditional craftsmen are exceptionally rare, with only 29 individuals holding this esteemed title in Sakai City.(As of May 2024)

Sakai City’s Traditional Craftsmen
Japanese_chef

Did You Know? The Secrets Behind Sakai Knives Chosen by 98% of Chefs in Japan

Explore the specialized craftsmanship and historical significance that make Sakai knives a favorite in Japan's renowned cutlery industry.

Do you know why Sakai knives are favored by many professional chefs?
Sakai_s_Declining_Japanese_Knife_Craftsmen

Sakai's Declining Japanese Knife craftsmen

Sakai's esteemed cutlery tradition, renowned for its sharpness and craftsmanship, is at risk with only a dozen blacksmiths remaining. Facing competition and declining interest, strategies such as exploring new markets and fostering youth interest are vital for survival. This situation underscores a broader challenge in cultural preservation. Supporting Sakai’s craftsmen is crucial to maintaining this legacy.

Sakai's Declining Japanese Knife Craftsmen
Knife_forging_proces

The Art of Forging: Crafting the Finest Japanese Knives

The article highlights the superior sharpness of traditional Japanese forged knives, attributing their quality to techniques derived from sword-making. These knives, including types like "Honyaki" and "Kasumi," benefit from a handcrafted process that ensures a denser structure and a finely tapered edge, outperforming many Western knives in sharpness

The Art of Forging

The Origin of Craftsmanship

  • Learning from failure and continuing to challenge oneself are the true ways to hone one’s craft.

  • The craft of blacksmithing is never perfected in a single try. It takes countless failures to gradually understand its depth—the right strength to strike the iron, the mastery of fire, the precise adjustment of temperature. None of this is clear at the beginning. Yet, it's through failure that new insights emerge, leading to the next attempt. By continually embracing these challenges, true skill is finally cultivated. This is more than mere technique. As the lessons learned from failures accumulate, they deepen, turning one's skill into something genuine.