Culture

Best Higonokami Knife: 3 Japanese Folding Pocket Knives by Steel and Size

The higonokami is a Japanese friction folding knife made by Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho in Miki, Hyogo, according to the maker’s site. Three picks compared by steel (SK or Aogami), closed length and price, with how the chikiri lever works.

2026.10.19

Japanese Knives

The History of Sakai Knives: From Burial Mounds to Chefs’ Kitchens

How Sakai became Japan’s knife city: iron tools for burial mounds, guns in 1543, tobacco knives with a shogunate seal, and a three-craft division of labor.

2026.10.04

Japanese Knives

HIBANA at Sakai Knife Museum: The Chandelier Made from About 300 Knife Pieces

A close look at HIBANA (火刃七), the seven-tier chandelier at Sakai Knife Museum CUT: what the name means, what each tier shows, and how the exhibit is set up.

2026.09.28

Japanese Knives

Visiting Sakai Knife Museum CUT: HIBANA, Forging Tools, and Knife Types

A field report from Sakai Knife Museum CUT in Osaka: the HIBANA knife chandelier, a belt hammer, 17 stages of a knife, and checked visiting info.

2026.09.26

Japanese Knives

Damascus vs Non-Damascus: Does the Pattern Matter?

Does a Damascus pattern actually make a Japanese knife cut better? A clear look at what Damascus cladding is, what it changes, and what it doesn’t.

2026.09.24

Japanese Knives

What Is Honyaki? The Single-Steel Forging Process Behind Japan’s Most Demanding Knives

Honyaki knives are forged from a single steel billet — no soft iron cladding, no composite construction. Learn what makes this traditional process so technically demanding, and why it matters.

2026.08.27

Japanese Knives

Japanese Knife Steel Types Explained: VG-10 vs Damascus vs Aogami and Shirogami

Confused by VG-10, Damascus, Aogami, and Shirogami? This guide breaks down Japanese knife steel types, covering edge retention, rust resistance, and sharpenability.

2026.08.14

Japanese Knives

What Is Shokunin Spirit? The Philosophy Behind Japan’s Blacksmiths

Explore shokunin spirit — the Japanese craftsmanship philosophy that drives blacksmiths in Sakai and Echizen to pursue mastery through discipline, pride, and uncompromising quality.

2026.08.11

Japanese Knives