Sakai City: The Legacy of Japan’s Finest Knife Craftsmanship

Sakai City, based in Osaka Prefecture, is one of the world’s most renowned cities for its exceptional artisans and craftsmen in knife making and manufacturing. The passion and legacy of this city have created an atmosphere where Japanese knife-making becomes a symbolic representation of Sakai City. With a history steeped in tradition and a reputation for producing some of the finest blades, Sakai is one of the finest manufacturers in Japan’s knife-making industry.
The roots of Sakai City’s knife-making tradition can be traced back to the Kofun Period, when the city was known for producing and manufacturing different cutlery, including Samurai Swords. During the Muromachi Period, Sakai became a general hub for crafting high-quality samurai swords and benefitted from its proximity to Osaka Bay, which was the main center for all sorts of trade and support.
After the end of the Samurai Era during the Edo Period, the craftsmen of Sakai shifted from crafting swords to knives for everyday uses and purposes for all sorts of users and customers - and this transition was fueled by economic demands and Japanese culture, which needed precise and intricate cuts and tools that were able to execute those functions, for Sashimi and Sushi. At the end of the 16th century in Japan, there was a boom in tobacco leaves due to international trade and to implement intricate cuts to these leaves, the craftsmen of Sakai came up with much more detailed knives and cuts for this case.
By the end of the 17th century, the Tokugawa Shogunate granted them an official seal of approval, further elevating the craftsmen’s statuses.
Being passed down through generations. The city specializes in Honyaki (single-forged) knives, prized for their precision and durability. Knives are often handcrafted in multiple stages, with specialized artisans handling different parts of the process—blade forging, sharpening, and handle crafting. In Musashi, most of our knives are forged all the way in Sakai City, where most of our craftsmen are from and you can have a look at it on our website. These knives are sold all over the world and they are bought and collected by professional chefs and daily users. Although there has been a significant increase in the number of mass-production knives, Sakai Knives will continue to rise due to their unique and traditional designs, patterns, and the mastery of artisans behind the production.
Sakai City remains a beacon of Japanese craftsmanship, where traditions meet innovations to meet modern cutlery demands. Its knives are not just tools but cultural artifacts that symbolize precision, dedication, and artistry.