堺刀具的危机：锻造师减少的影响和解决方法
消失的锤声
堺市，这座曾经回荡着锤击钢铁之声的城市，如今正逐渐变得沉寂。如今，能够传承600多年铁匠传统的铁匠越来越少。
但这不仅仅是一个地方问题，而是一个紧迫的全球问题：
下一代是否还能体验到真正的工艺——建立在时间、灵魂和传统之上？
一场悄无声息的危机正在展开
堺市曾有30多位锻造刀刃的铁匠师傅。如今，仅存的不到一半。专家警告称，20年内，这一数字可能会降至寥寥无几。
原因很复杂，但也很熟悉：
大规模生产、自动化以及大量廉价进口产品的涌入，削弱了手工锻造刀具的需求。工匠们难以维持生计，他们的作坊也逐渐冷清。
传统还能被保留吗？
尽管面临挑战，但希望依然存在，而且行动已经在进行中。
打开世界之门
堺市的许多铁匠和刀具生产商正在转向全球市场。通过电子商务，手工刀具如今可以接触到世界各地那些重视真材实料和品质而非大规模生产的厨师、收藏家和烹饪爱好者。
与文化旅游合作
堺市的刀具工坊也正逐渐成为文化胜地。导览游、亲手磨刀体验以及铁匠演示，正在帮助游客更深入地了解日本工艺，甚至可能激励下一代。
最迫切的需求：新的双手，新的心灵
锻造一把刀需要几个小时才能完成。一位铁匠大师需要花费数年时间来打造。
传承这门手艺，关乎的不仅仅是技艺；更是信任、传承，以及跨越时空的热情。没有新的学徒，知识的链条就会断裂——而一旦断裂，可能就永远无法修复。
问题的关键不只是技术。
这是一种文化遗产，富有美感、耐心和正直。
您可以做什么
Sakai 的刀具长期以来服务于世界顶级厨房。现在，这个行业需要您的关注和支持。
您可以通过以下方式帮助传承这项工艺：
・直接从制造商或与工匠紧密合作的值得信赖的合作伙伴处购买
・分享他们的故事——在线上或晚餐时
・参观堺，参加工作坊，感受真正的工艺带来的不同
・支持年轻工匠的教育项目和培训机会
结语：锻造利刃，传承文化
堺市的铁匠不仅仅制造工具。
他们用一柄利刃铸就故事、建立关系、创造传统。
通过认可他们的价值并分享他们的愿景，我们可以帮助确保这项非凡的工艺继续激励世界各地的厨师、制造商和文化爱好者。
趁着火还在燃烧，让我们把锤子传递下去。
2 条评论
Konnichiwa Geoff-san, I’m Toru From KIREAJI. Sorry for the late reply.
Thank you for your message from Australia. We appreciate your concerns regarding the Japanese knife industry.
As you pointed out, the issue of counterfeit knives labeled as “Made in Japan” being sold online is indeed serious. Such fraudulent practices could potentially deprive many Japanese bladesmiths of their livelihoods and have a significant impact on the industry. Moreover, the availability of these fake knives at lower prices undermines the demand for genuine Japanese-made knives in the market.
We agree with your suggestion that government trade authorities should take steps to prohibit these fraudulent practices. The circulation of counterfeit products poses a serious problem not only for consumers but also for the Japanese knife industry as a whole. We hope that appropriate regulations will be implemented to reduce illicit trading.
We also found your information about brands like HUUSK Japan selling counterfeit hand-forged knives to be intriguing. Such deceptive claims could have adverse effects on the entire industry. It’s crucial for consumers to seek quality and reliability, identify counterfeit knives, and support genuine Japanese-made knives.
As you rightly said, we too hope for the continued survival and further development of the Japanese knife industry. Recognizing the value of authentic Japanese-made knives and supporting them by paying attention to the origin and quality of products is essential. KIREAJI will continue to offer handcrafted Japanese knives from Sakai’s artisans to many customers. We would be grateful to hear your opinions in the future.
Best regards,
I’m writing from Australia… konnichiwa!
I see one of the major issues of the Japanese knife business being the number of knives being sold on sites such as Amazon and eBay as “Made in Japan”, when they’re actually being made in China (PRC). And of course, these counterfeit knives are usually sold at a fraction of the cost of genuine Japanese-made knives.
I believe that Japanese knifesmiths are losing a large proportion of their trade to these deceptive trade practises, but it seems that government trade authorities are not prepared to make this practice illegal in Australia, or the UK, USA, or elsewhere in the
Western world.
One of the worst offenders is a company selling under the “HUUSK Japan” brand name, and its many imitators. And, of course, again their knives are very poor quality, with third-rate steel, silly profiles (very un-Japanese!) and cheap, poorly fitted wooden handles. But… they’re selling in their thousands on sites all over the world.
Even worse, HUUSK is claiming—illegally—that their knives are individually hand forged, and undergo something like 130 steps to produce! I believe that their knives are stamped from steel strip, complete with a rolled “hammer” pattern on the resulting blank. For some reason, they then paint this pattern with black paint.
I can only sincerely hope that the Japanese knife industry survives, and maybe even expands if consumers wake up to the fact that any cheap knife means a Chinese knife.
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu,
Geoff.