• Shogo Yamatsuka

  • In Sakai, Japan — the heart of 600 years of blade-making — one craftsman stands apart. Shogo Yamatsuka, a rare master of Ginsan steel, blends the forging wisdom of his father with a relentless drive to innovate. Every KIREAJI Ginsan knife he creates is shaped entirely by his own hands — a fusion of precision, beauty, and respect for the art.

Sakai Traditional Craftsman Collection: Shogo Yamatsuka

Shogo Yamatsuka: Master of Ginsan and Beyond

  • The Path of a Bladesmith: Began Apprenticeship in 1973

    Shogo Yamatsuka began his career as a bladesmith in 1973, training under his father, a blacksmith from Sakai. His father used the mark “Yuzan” on his blades, though it is unclear whether this was his given name or a professional alias. Since then, Yamatsuka has honed his skills in working with a wide range of steels, including White Steel, Blue Steel, and the rare forgeable stainless steel known as Ginsan.

  • Official Recognition

    In 2012, Yamatsuka was formally recognized as a Traditional Craftsman (Dentō Kōgeishi) in Sakai’s blacksmithing community, acknowledging his exceptional forging skills

  • Specialization in Ginsan Steel

    As one of Japan’s rare masters of Ginsan steel—a unique stainless alloy that must be forged like carbon steel—Yamatsuka exemplifies both tradition and precision

  • Guiding Motto

    His guiding principle is “Work never betrays you”, a reflection of his steadfast dedication and pride in craftsmanship

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

Shogo Yamatsuka : Master of Ginsan and Beyond

  • For over 600 years, Sakai has stood at the center of Japanese knife-making. Among its distinguished artisans, Shogo Yamatsuka is one of the few who have mastered Ginsan steel—a rare stainless steel that can be forged like carbon steel. While his work spans White #1, White #2, and Blue #2 steels, his command of Ginsan has earned exceptional respect among professional chefs worldwide.

Why Ginsan Is So Difficult to Forge

  • Ginsan is unlike typical stainless steels. Its carbon content allows it to reach sharpness and hardness comparable to high-carbon steels, while still offering rust resistance. However, this unique balance comes with significant challenges:

  • • Precise temperature control is essential—overheating or underheating can ruin the blade.
    • Its hardness and toughness make forging extremely labor-intensive.
    • Only a limited number of blacksmiths in Japan possess the expertise to bring out its full performance.

  • Tradition Meets Relentless Innovation

    While Yamatsuka is firmly rooted in Sakai’s traditions, he continually pushes the craft forward by experimenting with new materials and forging methods. To him, mastery means honoring the past while refining the future.

  • The Signature of a Yamatsuka Knife

    Every KIREAJI knife—whether forged from Ginsan, White, or Blue steel—is shaped entirely by Yamatsuka’s hands. His Ginsan blades are especially prized for their rust resistance, a refined and lasting edge, and a balance that feels alive in the hand.
    For professionals, they represent a rare harmony of tradition, durability, and precision performance.

  • Why Chefs Treasure Them

    Owning a Yamatsuka knife is not simply acquiring a tool—it is embracing a living tradition. Each cut reflects six centuries of Sakai craftsmanship combined with Yamatsuka’s forward-looking innovation.
    For chefs and dedicated home cooks, these knives become lifelong companions that elevate cooking into an art form.

  • Discover What Makes Ginsan Exceptional

    Ginsan’s distinctive blend of sharpness and durability is the reason only a handful of master smiths can forge it successfully. Understanding the precision and discipline required reveals why it remains one of the most celebrated symbols of Japanese craftsmanship.

The Master Craftsmen of Sakai Uchihamono

In Sakai, centuries-old techniques are carried forward by government-certified Traditional Craftsmen. Each knife is not just a tool but a living symbol of tradition, precision, and spirit—kept alive through their hands.

Sakai’s Traditional Craftsmen

Why Do 98% of Japan’s Chefs Trust Sakai Knives?

For over 600 years, Sakai has perfected a unique craft where each stage—forge, sharpen, finish—is mastered by specialists. This tradition makes Sakai the birthplace of Japan’s most trusted knives.

Why Do 98% of Japan’s Chefs Trust Sakai Knives?

The 98% Statistic: More Than a Number

According to the Sakai Tourism Bureau, “98% of Japanese chefs use Sakai knives.” This figure isn’t just a claim—it reflects the deep trust chefs place in Sakai’s centuries-old craftsmanship.

Sakai City Official English Site

Sakai’s Dwindling Masters: A Legacy at Risk

Once the heart of Japan’s finest cutlery, Sakai now has only a handful of blacksmiths left. With rising competition and fading interest among the young, new markets and fresh apprentices are vital to survival. Supporting these craftsmen means safeguarding a 600-year cultural legacy.

Sakai's Declining Japanese Knife Craftsmen

Yuzan

Yuzan, father of Shogo Yamatsuka, was a master craftsman who devoted his life to Mizuyaki Honyaki knives. This collection features extremely rare pieces he forged 40–50 years ago—treasures seldom found on the market today.

Yuzan

The Soul of Craftsmanship

  • Work Never Betrays — The Voice of Steel and the Spirit of a Craftsman

    No matter how steep the path may seem, I believe with all my heart that true effort always takes form.
    Each time I gaze into the forge’s fire and bring my hammer down upon the steel, I am reminded of this truth.

  • Blade-making is not simply my profession—it is the rhythm of my life. There are days when the steel cracks, or the form I seek refuses to appear. Yet, by refusing to surrender, by striking again and again, there comes a moment when the steel begins to whisper, guiding my hands to its destined shape.

  • Work never betrays us. The sweat, the hours, the struggles—they all become visible in the blade’s edge, in its feel, in its life. This is the pride of a craftsman: to be better tomorrow than today, and better still the day after.

  • With this belief in my heart, I light the forge once more today. My hope is that those who take my knives into their hands will not only sense their sharpness, but also feel the spirit of dedication that gave them form—a spirit that connects craftsman and chef across time and distance.
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.