Osaka-Sakai Knives
MetalworkKansai
National Traditional Craft
Price range
¥5,000 ~ ¥300,000
Professional chef's knives from Osaka's Sakai, preferred by 90% of Japanese chefs.
Sakai uchihamono (forged knives) from Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, are considered the finest professional kitchen knives in the world, used by the vast majority of Japanese chefs. The tradition began in the 16th century when craftsmen who forged tobacco-cutting knives adapted their skills for kitchen blades. Sakai knives are distinguished by a division of labor between forgers (kajiya) and sharpeners (togishi), with each blade hand-forged, heat-treated, and honed to an exceptionally sharp single-bevel edge.
Materials
Hagane steel, soft iron
Techniques
Forging, sharpening, handle fitting