History of Sakai Knives

It is said that Sakai knives, made in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, have a history of 600 years, but their origins can be traced back to the time of tomb construction in the 5th century. There are many tombs in and around Sakai City, including the largest keyhole-shaped tomb of Emperor Nintoku, and it is said that ironworking technology was introduced to the area to make tools for building tombs.

That technology was passed down as sword making from the late Heian period, and in the Muromachi period, smoking knives were produced in large numbers in Sakai for cutting tobacco, which was imported from overseas through the Nanban trade.

In 1543, Portuguese sailors introduced Nanban trade goods to Japan, and Sakai City became known as a producer of guns, which were also made domestically. Their exceptional skills gained attention from powerful figures such as Oda Nobunaga, and in the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate recognized the high quality of Sakai knives and marked them with the special seal "Sakai Kiwame" to distinguish them from knives produced in other regions.

With the shogunate's endorsement, "Sakai Uchihamono" (Sakai knives) manufactured in Sakai City spread throughout Japan and became widely known.