Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
Nikken Cutlery makes their home in the town of Seki, Gifu Prefecture. Seki is famous for its rich tradition and history of samurai sword making, as well as its state-of-the-art Japanese cutlery, and Nikken Cutlery has fully embraced that local heritage in the past with letter openers inspired by some of Japan's most famous swordsmen.
They're continuing with that tradition, this time with what appears to be a successful crowdfunding effort to produce expertly crafted high quality knives inspired by the signature blades of three of Japan's most prolific swordsmen.
At the time of writing, the campaign on Japanese crowdfunding site Makuake has already reached 92% of its goal, meaning we are very likely to see an official release of exceptional Japanese knives (for use in the kitchen and outdoors) modeled after the swords of Ryoma Sakamoto, Toshijo Hijikata, and Nobunaga Oda. Each blade was crafted by Seki blade experts, and hopes to recapture the quality of sharpness of Japan's famous swordsman.
Ryoma Sakamoto
Now romanticized in Japanese popular culture, Sakamoto was leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during Japan's Bakumatsu period. This knife carries the motif of his sword, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki.
Toshijo Hijikata
Hijikata was knwon as the "Demon Vice-Commander" of the Shinsengumi special police force, the blade is inspired by his sword, the Izumino Kami Kanseda.
Nobunaga Oda
A powerful feudal lord who attempted to unify Japan during the late Sengoku period, the blade carries the motif of his favored Heshikiri-Hasebe.
The authentic sword-like grip actually translates well to the kitchen making a slip of the hand less likely. Each swordsman's crest adorning the blade adds a shine of authenticity as well.
With the crowdfunding goal in sight, it looks like we should be getting samurai sword quality knives to prepare our meals in the future.
Read more stories from grape Japan.
-- Japanese Twitter User Shares Grandfather’s Miracle War Story and Photos of Life-Saving Item
-- Titans Attack the Roppongi Skyline in Mori Tower’s Open-Air Shingeki no Kyojin AR Rooftop Experience
- External Link
- https://grapee.jp/en/
3 Comments
Login to comment
u_s__reamer
Beautiful artifacts manufactured with the consummate skills of Japanese craftsmanship, yet in the wrong hands of some wannabe samurai and when misused, they can become fearsome weapons.
LB315
I don't know. I'm conjuring up seppuku knives.
12pak
Any chance these might be sold in the states? I go through kitchen knives like crazy because I have to sharpen them way to often. I'd LOVE to have good quality Japanese steel knives.