What Would You Take to Space?

  • Februray 3, 2026

  • Choosing What Truly Deserves to Last

    If humanity were to leave Earth and begin life somewhere new,
    what would you take with you?

    Space would be limited.
    Replacing broken things would not be easy.
    Disposable objects would make no sense.
    Everything would need to be used carefully, repaired when necessary, and kept for a long time.

    Under such conditions, what would you choose?

    The latest technology?
    Trendy products made for speed and convenience?
    Or objects that have already survived decades, even centuries, of use?

    When people are asked this question, many instinctively imagine the latter.
    Not the newest things, but tools and objects that have endured time.
    Things made to last.

    That choice reveals something important.
    What truly matters to us is not defined by speed or convenience alone.

  • Why Do We Choose Differently in Everyday Life?

    What is interesting is how quickly our standards change when we return to daily life.

    We begin to choose based on price.
    Availability.
    Trends.

    These are not wrong criteria.
    But they are criteria designed for short time horizons.

    The questions that naturally arise when imagining life in space
    — Can this last? Can it be repaired? Is it worth time and care? —
    almost disappear from our everyday decisions.

    We work more than ever before.
    We produce more than ever before.
    And yet, surprisingly few of the things we make feel worthy of being carried into the future.

    The problem is not technology.
    It is not productivity.
    It is that we often choose without asking the deeper question.

  • Buying Is Not Just Consumption. It Is a Choice.

    Buying something is not a neutral act.
    It is a choice about what we support — and what we allow to continue existing.

    Some objects are designed to be replaced quickly.
    Others grow more valuable as time is spent with them.

    Every purchase is a quiet vote for one of these worlds.

    And over time, those choices shape the kind of future we pass on.

  • A Japanese Knife as One Answer

    This is where a Japanese knife enters the conversation.

    A Japanese knife is not made to be replaced.
    It is made to be maintained.

    When the edge dulls, it is sharpened — not discarded.
    When the handle wears, it can be replaced.
    The knife continues its life.

    A Japanese knife does not grow old in the usual sense.
    It grows closer to its user.

    It exists outside the logic of speed and disposability.
    It embodies a different value system —
    one where longevity, care, and responsibility matter.

  • The Question We Are Really Asking

    When we imagine what we would take to space,
    we naturally try to choose things with meaning.

    There is no reason we cannot bring that same mindset into life on Earth.

    This is not only a story about Japanese knives.
    It is a story about how we choose to live.

    Not by asking what is cheapest or fastest,
    but by asking what is worth time.

    Perhaps the future will not be shaped by how much we produce,
    but by what we decide is worth carrying forward.

How to Choose a Japanese Knife

Choosing a Japanese knife is not only about specifications or sharpness.
It is about finding a tool that quietly aligns with how you cook, move, and think.
If you are ready to explore that choice more concretely, this guide will walk you through the process step by step—from knife type and steel to size—so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

How to Choose a Japanese Knife

About KIREAJI

KIREAJI connects the 600-year tradition of Sakai craftsmanship with kitchens around the world. We deliver authentic, handcrafted Japanese knives directly from master artisans—uniting heritage, innovation, and a lifelong respect for true craftsmanship.

About KIREAJI

The Soul of Craftsmanship

  • From Our Hands to Your Life

    When we forge a knife in Sakai, we are not thinking only about how sharp it will be on the day it is finished.
    We think about how it will be used, how it will age, and whose hands it will pass through.

    A good knife does not end its life in the workshop.
    It begins its life there.

    Every blade carries the time, the skill, and the spirit of the people who made it.
    And when it is used with care, it slowly begins to carry the time and the story of its owner as well.

    The greatest joy for us craftsmen is not when a knife is sold.
    It is when we hear that the knife is still being used many years later — or even passed on to the next generation.

    A knife is not just a tool.
    It is something that lives in a kitchen, grows with a family, and becomes part of someone’s story.

    I am grateful that KIREAJI does not simply send our knives to the world,
    but also carries the spirit and the story behind them.

    If a knife we made in Sakai becomes a part of your life, and one day a part of someone else’s life too,
    then our work has truly been worth doing.

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.