The Blacksmith

Takeshi Saji is a master craftsman working out of the famed Takefu knife village, an co-op of incredible craftspeople renowned for it's kitchen knife production. In 1992 he was recognized by the Japanese government as a "Traditional Master Craftsman" and he was one of the founding members of the Takefu knife village. He hand forges each of his knives using the traditional methods passed down through the generations over the past 700 years.

Takefu Knife Village

The Takefu Knife Village is a cooperative workshop in the Echizen region of Japan. It is the home to a long list of blacksmiths that we work with and many young and upcoming apprentices learning the trade. The area has a 700 year long history of smithing with roots in agricultural tools turned cutlery powerhouse.

The Knife

The Nakiri is meant to fly through piles of veg prep, not to be confused with a meat cleaver, these knives are thin and light and should not be hacked through bones or rougher ingredients, but instead the great board contact of such a light knife will make chopping tasks a breeze. 

*These knives are very thin, and more prone to chipping or other damage with misuse that some other options that we carry at the shop*

Knife Care (Stainless Steel)

• Although this knife is made from stainless steel we do still encourage our customers to keep their knives as dry and clean as possible.
• NO DISHWASHER - the high heat will ruin the wooden handle.
• Wash and dry by hand using regular dish soap and warm water using a none abrasive sponge or cloth.
• Ensure the knife is dry before being put away for storage and ensure the edge of the knife is protected to avoid any unnecessary dulling.
• Avoid Bones, Frozen foods, nuts and hard candies or anything other than fruits, vegetables and proteins.

• Simply Wipe the knife with a damp cloth immediately after use to keep it from rusting or discouloring.
• Never put your knife in the Dishwasher. The extreme heat will ruin the wooden handle.
• Highly acidic ingredients (Onions, Tomatoes, Citrus) Will cause rust and oxidation to happen faster, thus the user must ensure the knife is wiped clean immediately after working with such an ingredient.
• Should any rust form it can be removed using a rust eraser or a mixture of Baking soda and water to simply scrub it clean.