• Workshop Introduction

  • KIREAJI's Japanese knives are crafted here at the Shiroyama Knife Workshop. We blend tradition with cutting-edge technology in our manufacturing process, where skilled artisans meticulously craft each knife, pursuing the highest standards of quality and functionality.

Commitment to Knife-Making

  • At Shiroyama Knife Workshop, we emphasize the art of knife-making, which relies on three key components: superior materials, precise heat treatment, and expert forging techniques. These pillars form the foundation of every exceptional blade. A knife may appear similar to others at first glance, but beneath its surface lies a three-dimensional craftsmanship, with varying thicknesses carefully balanced to enhance cutting performance. Whether it’s a slightly thicker section for added strength or a thinner edge for sharpness, these subtle nuances ensure the knife slices through ingredients effortlessly.

  • Where the Spirit of the Blacksmith Lives

  • The world of blacksmithing might evoke images of old, dimly lit workshops. Indeed, there is a certain timeworn atmosphere, with tools and techniques passed down over generations, imbued with the dignity of tradition. However, for us artisans, it’s far more than just a “workplace.” It’s a special “space” where we stand face-to-face with iron and shape it with our own hands.

  • The process of blacksmithing is simple: heating iron, striking it, and changing its form. Yet, it’s not just about “striking.” We breathe life into the iron, pouring our skill and soul into every single blow. Handling hard, unyielding steel requires not just strength, but also wisdom, ingenuity, and—most importantly—love.

  • Every tool we use holds a special place in our hearts. Take the bellows, for example. We treat it with great care and respect. The bellows are our lifeline, the very heart that nurtures the fire. By feeding air into the flames, it heats the iron until it glows red. Without it, we couldn’t do our work. That’s why we hold a special ceremony, the “Bellows Festival,” to honor and cherish it. There is an old saying among blacksmiths: “No matter what, take the bellows with you if you have to flee.” That’s how important it is to us.

  • Even the well-worn tools hold a certain charm. Many of these tools have been passed down from the previous generation. We feel the “weight” of the history and tradition that has been carefully handed down, and with it, we approach our work each day. In each tool lies a sense of gratitude, respect, and a connection to the masters and predecessors who came before us.

  • What lies before us is not just iron. It’s a raw material that, when combined with our passion, skill, and the weight of history, takes on a new life. By mastering fire, striking iron, and crafting form, the iron transforms from a mere “thing” into a “creation” imbued with our very spirit.

  • The work of a blacksmith may not always be visible to the outside world. Yet, with every blow, we pour our hearts into refining each form, creating pieces that will be cherished for years to come. And with that dedication, we face the fire and iron once again today.

Why Famous Chefs Seek These Knives

  • The reputation of our knives has spread globally through word-of-mouth among top chefs. Whether it’s a renowned chef or an enthusiastic home cook, the knives made here offer the same level of quality. The perfect balance of sharpness, durability, and precision makes them indispensable in professional kitchens. Chefs demand knives that can handle delicate cuts as well as tougher ingredients, and these blades deliver on both fronts. When chefs say that the knife feels like an extension of their hand, it speaks to the fine craftsmanship that meets their high expectations.
Chefs Using KIREAJI Knife

Shiroyama Knife Workshop's Commitment

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    We carefully select the appropriate steel for each knife and employ the optimal hardening process to maximize performance. For instance, Honyaki-Mizuyaki, Blue Steel #2, and White Steel #2 undergo water hardening, while Super Steel (Honyaki), ZDP189, and Ginsan are vacuum-hardened followed by Sub-Zero Processing. Honyaki-Mizuyaki, in particular, requires advanced techniques, resulting in exceptional sharpness.

    From material selection to manufacturing and final finishing, every step at Shiroyama Knife Workshop maintains the highest standards, ensuring our knives offer superior sharpness and durability to users.
Sub-Zero Processing

Inheriting Craftsmanship Techniques

  • While we respect tradition, innovation in materials and tools ensures continuous improvement. Modern tools like belt sanders and advanced sharpening stones are utilized alongside traditional methods to push the boundaries of knife performance. Though the core principles of knife-making remain intact, adopting newer materials and techniques has enabled the creation of knives with longer-lasting sharpness and improved cutting abilities. The spirit of craftsmanship is not just passed down unchanged; it evolves with each generation to meet the demands of modern culinary professionals, ensuring that our knives remain relevant and revered.

  • Since traditional Japanese knives are handmade, they may initially have a flaw called "aike." This flaw becomes visible after the knife is properly sharpened, but many stores sell these knives without sharpening, so customers might unknowingly purchase them. At our shop, we perform quality control during the final sharpening process, ensuring you can buy with confidence. This delicate balance of tradition and innovation keeps our legacy alive, as new generations of artisans refine their skills while maintaining the core dedication to quality that has made our knives world-class. Please take this opportunity to try our diligently crafted products.

    Aike 
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The Origin of Craftsmanship

  • Honoring Tradition, Forging the Future

    “Preserving the trust built by our ancestors and weaving it into the fabric of the next 100 years. This is the commitment and mission we carry in our craft of knife-making.”

  • Knife-making is not a skill mastered overnight. It is the culmination of techniques honed through generations and the trust meticulously earned over time. This legacy empowers our work today, and it is our duty as craftsmen to ensure it endures into the future.

  • A knife is not just a tool—it is a companion to those who create with it. The sharpness, durability, and beauty imbued in every blade live on in the hands of those who use them. Hearing words like, “This knife cuts beautifully” or “It feels perfect in my hand” reminds us that the efforts of our ancestors have not been in vain.

  • With pride in our heritage, we will continue to craft each blade with care, passing down our skills and trust to the next generation. Every day, as we light the forge and hammer the steel, we do so to forge not just knives but a lasting connection to the future. The spirit of knife-making lives on, stronger with each passing day.
Sakai Traditional Craftsmen Collection

KIREAJI's Three Promises to You

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    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.