Any knifemakers ever been to Japan?

killthelights

killthelights

Joined
Jan 6, 2016
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Taking a trip next month to Japan, mainly Tokyo and Osaka. Wondering if anyone had any suggestions on knife related stuff to check out. Classes, shops, makers, stores, ect. Thanks!
 
Lived there from 1997-1999 and again 2020-2022. Most of the stores focus on high end kitchen cutlery, but there are a few that have camping knives. Tokyu Hands had a section for outdoor stuff, but they seem to have changed last time I went to one (Machida).
 
navman said:
Lived there from 1997-1999 and again 2020-2022. Most of the stores focus on high end kitchen cutlery, but there are a few that have camping knives. Tokyu Hands had a section for outdoor stuff, but they seem to have changed last time I went to one (Machida).
Click to expand...
Most of what I make are chef's knives so I don't buy a lot of those types of knives. I'll most likely pick a couple things up while there but looking more for tours, classes, museums, ect. I know Osaka has a lot small forges/makers that make some of the best blades in the world but it's tough to find info not understanding Japanese.
 
I was in Sasebo and there was a local knifemaker who offered tours through the USO/MWR. I'll see if I can get some details for ya.
 
oh shoot...just realized you aren't going to Kyushu....disregard. There are areas that you can go to such as Seki city that may be of interest.
 
I've been to Japan five times, and each time I did something knife related. I've toured a couple of factories. I've attended the Seki Hamono Matsuri (Seki knife festival) twice. I've visited a sword maker. I've been to lots of shops. And best of all I attended a five day tamahagane and knifemaking class at Workshop Kurogane.

In Tokyo, you have Kappabashi Street also known as Kitchen Town. There are lots of knife shops there. There is a similar street in Osaka called Sennichimae Doguyasuji. Seki in Gifu is the knifemaking capital of Japan. It's an industrial city where some of the most well known brands are made, like the Kai factory that makes Shun Knives and the Zwilling factory that makes Miyabi knives. I know someone there that takes me to different factories, but without knowing someone it's not particularly tourist friendly. In early October they have the knife festival, which is a great place to see lots of knives and buy factory seconds. Echizen and Sakai are also well known knifemaking cities.

If you Google "japan knife making class" you will find quite a few options. Don't be afraid of going outside Tokyo and Osaka.

Here are some pictures from the workshop:

n69zTud.jpeg
 
killthelights said:
Most of what I make are chef's knives so I don't buy a lot of those types of knives. I'll most likely pick a couple things up while there but looking more for tours, classes, museums, ect. I know Osaka has a lot small forges/makers that make some of the best blades in the world but it's tough to find info not understanding Japanese.
Click to expand...
A lot of the knifemakers I met in Japan were more esoteric than the rest of Japanese society. They were all very friendly and willing to talk about their craft. They also mostly spoke Japanese, but I've had full conversations with them using the Google Translate app. You can set it to conversation mode where you each speak in turn and it translates it back and forth. You could use Google Translate to write a nice email introducing yourself and ask if they would be willing to give you a tour of their shop.
 
SirSpice said:
I've been to Japan five times, and each time I did something knife related. I've toured a couple of factories. I've attended the Seki Hamono Matsuri (Seki knife festival) twice. I've visited a sword maker. I've been to lots of shops. And best of all I attended a five day tamahagane and knifemaking class at Workshop Kurogane.

In Tokyo, you have Kappabashi Street also known as Kitchen Town. There are lots of knife shops there. There is a similar street in Osaka called Sennichimae Doguyasuji. Seki in Gifu is the knifemaking capital of Japan. It's an industrial city where some of the most well known brands are made, like the Kai factory that makes Shun Knives and the Zwilling factory that makes Miyabi knives. I know someone there that takes me to different factories, but without knowing someone it's not particularly tourist friendly. In early October they have the knife festival, which is a great place to see lots of knives and buy factory seconds. Echizen and Sakai are also well known knifemaking cities.

If you Google "japan knife making class" you will find quite a few options. Don't be afraid of going outside Tokyo and Osaka.

Here are some pictures from the workshop:

n69zTud.jpeg
Click to expand...
I’ve followed Workshop Kurogane and one of the apprentices there for years on insta. How was the class? It looks like a lot of fun, and in a beautiful spot, too.
 
jnaught said:
I’ve followed Workshop Kurogane and one of the apprentices there for years on insta. How was the class? It looks like a lot of fun, and in a beautiful spot, too.
Click to expand...
It was probably the most fun I've ever had. Both Nobu and Jesse have interesting backgrounds. Jesse mostly ran the tamahagane workshop, and Nobu ran the one day knifemaking classes. They both have a lot of experience. Jesse was a professional blacksmith in Canada before moving to Japan. Their process yields a lot of usable tamahagane. Even though it was five full days, we still almost ran out of time at the end. I chose to take my unfinished knife home and do the finish grinding, polishing and etching in my workshop. Otherwise, they would have finished it and shipped it to me.

nXMnCbz.jpeg
 
SirSpice said:
A lot of the knifemakers I met in Japan were more esoteric than the rest of Japanese society. They were all very friendly and willing to talk about their craft. They also mostly spoke Japanese, but I've had full conversations with them using the Google Translate app. You can set it to conversation mode where you each speak in turn and it translates it back and forth. You could use Google Translate to write a nice email introducing yourself and ask if they would be willing to give you a tour of their shop.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't have thought to do that. Good idea. Thanks!
 
SirSpice said:
It was probably the most fun I've ever had. Both Nobu and Jesse have interesting backgrounds. Jesse mostly ran the tamahagane workshop, and Nobu ran the one day knifemaking classes. They both have a lot of experience. Jesse was a professional blacksmith in Canada before moving to Japan. Their process yields a lot of usable tamahagane. Even though it was five full days, we still almost ran out of time at the end. I chose to take my unfinished knife home and do the finish grinding, polishing and etching in my workshop. Otherwise, they would have finished it and shipped it to me.

nXMnCbz.jpeg
Click to expand...
Gorgeous work, man! Sounds like an epic week.
 
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