Traditional craftsmen working on this product
Shotaro Nomura
The Craftsmanship and Beauty of Sakai Knives
- Started his career in 1962 and was certified as a Traditional Craftsman in 1988.
- Mr. Nomura trained at the well-known Ino Hamono in Sakai City, where he dedicated himself to mastering the art of sharpening. Over the years, he has become a steadfast guardian of Sakai's tradition, carrying forward techniques passed down through generations.
KIREAJI's Three Promises to You
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1. High-quality Japanese Knive
KIREAJI offers high-quality knives crafted by skilled artisans from Sakai City. Utilizing traditional techniques and carefully selected materials, we achieve superior sharpness and durability.
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2. Genuine Sharpness
To ensure you experience sharpness, we provide a free Honbazuke by our skilled craftsmen.
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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.
Honyaki
Honyaki knives are manufactured using a different method from general knives. Unlike kasumi knives, honyaki knives lack a soft iron core, making them more susceptible to shocks and very prone to cracking during the hardening process, as there is no escape for the damage. To mitigate this and make the blade less likely to break, a process called "tsuchioki" is performed. Tsuchioki involves applying a mud-like clay to areas that should not be hardened before the hardening process. This ensures that the steel on the spine remains tough and flexible, preventing the blade from cracking. The shape of the tsuchioki application creates wave patterns or Mount Fuji patterns on the blade. Due to the complexity of the hardening process, only a few craftsmen in Sakai (or nationwide) can produce honyaki (mizuyaki) knives.
Aburayaki
While still hard, Honyaki (Aburayaki) knives are slightly softer than Honyaki (Mizuyaki) knives. The hamon (burning edge pattern) on Honyaki (Aburayaki) knives is particularly beautiful, appealing to collectors. The hamon is more pronounced on Honyaki (Aburayaki) knives compared to Honyaki (Mizuyaki) knives.
Before Using a Knife
We hope that everyone will use their knives for a long time. To achieve this, I'd like to review what we should pay attention to and what we shouldn't do in order to continue using them effectively.
Daily Care of Japanese Knives
We aim for all of you to use your knives for a long time. To achieve this, we have summarized what aspects of knife care you should pay attention to on a regular basis.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. (Estimated reply time: within 10 hours)
