Fujii Knife Works
JP
A craftsman sharpening a Sakai knife with a layered Damascus blade

A KNIFE SMITHY IN SAKAI

One knife.
Made for you.

4 min walk from Shichido Station Open 9:00–18:00 Left-handed knives available

Sakai knives, and our workshop

Knifemaking in Sakai goes back some 600 years, and Sakai forged knives are an officially designated traditional craft of Japan.

Here, forging, sharpening and handle-fitting are usually done by separate specialists. Fujii Knife Works does all of it in one workshop.

The people who forged and sharpened your knife are right here. Ask them about choosing a knife or resharpening.

One workshopForging to the maker's mark, all in-house
Left-handedLeft-handed knives on request
ResharpeningKeep your knife sharp for years

Keiichi Fujii

Knifesmith in Sakai · over 60 years at the forge

THE CRAFTSMAN & MEDIA

Every knife carries weight

Interview (Featured Craftsman)
What he believes “Making things is how I can be useful to the world.”

When he works hard, it turns into someone's smile. That is what keeps him at the forge.

01Learned by watching

Raised in a family of craftsmen, from his grandfather to his father, he helped in the workshop as a child. Skills were not taught; you watched and learned. That is why he still goes and asks whenever he wants to know more.

▶ Watch from 1:40

02Your one knife

He has made hundreds of thousands of knives. But for the person who holds one, it is the only one. He never forgets that.

▶ Watch from 3:40

03Passing it on

His goal now is to train the next generation to make knives to the standard he holds himself to.

▶ Watch from 4:24

04Meeting the people who use them

Talking with customers and seeing them smile is, he says, the greatest joy of his working life.

▶ Watch from 5:32
Workshop video (Japanese)
Featured in Japanese media 20+ times Including NHK, Kansai TV, the Yomiuri and the Asahi

How a knife is made

More than ten steps, all by hand. Here are the five main ones.

  1. Forging01 · 生だたき

    Forging

    Steel is hammered at room temperature with a belt hammer to tighten it.

  2. Hardening02 · 焼入れ

    Hardening

    The blade is heated to 780–800°C, then cooled fast to harden the edge.

  3. Sharpening03 · 刃付け

    Sharpening

    Ground on whetstones to form the edge and the shape.

  4. Handle fitting04 · 柄付け

    Handle fitting

    The finished blade is fitted with a handle that sits well in the hand.

  5. Engraving05 · 銘切り

    Engraving

    Our mark, Sakai Kanechika, is cut into the blade.

Our knives

Five series, by type of steel. See every knife and its price on the next page.

10A Nickel Damascus knife 10A Nickel Damascus AUS-10 stainless core clad in nickel Damascus layers. Rust-resistant, and every pattern is unique. See all → VG10 knife VG10 VG10 stainless core clad in stainless steel. Rust-resistant and easy to care for. See all → Ginsan, three-layer knife Ginsan, three-layer Ginsan stainless core, hand-forged by the smith. Rust-resistant, with an ebony handle. See all → Yasuki steel knife Yasuki steel White #2 and Blue #2 steel cores clad in iron, hand-forged. A designated traditional craft. See all → Photo coming soon Special steels Mirror-finish dice steel and Strix knives. See all →
ServicesResharpening　from ¥1,400 (tax incl.)

See all knives and prices

Visit us

NOTICEHands-on classes are currently suspended. Workshop visits are available by phone.

Address
1-2-21 Kitahatagocho-nishi, Sakai-ku, Sakai, Osaka
Station
10 min walk from Shichido Sta. (Nankai Main Line)
4 min walk from Takasu-jinja Sta. (Hankai Tramway)
Parking
None (coin parking nearby)
Hours
9:00–18:00 (Closed: Sundays and national holidays)We are often out for lunch between 12:00 and 13:00. Visiting just outside that hour lets us give you our full attention.
Payment
Cash or card
Email
[email protected]
Phone
+81-72-232-4097
Open in Google Maps →
The workshop from the street
Our workshop
Knife sharpeners at Fujii Knife Works
Our sharpeners