Morimoto Knife Manufacture | Sakai Knives

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The most luxurious paper knives
Osaka-Kinki

Area

From Humble Seaport to Home of Culinary Knives

Morimoto Knife Manufacturers is located in the city of Sakai, home of the world-renowned handcrafted Japanese knives. Located along the Osaka Bay, Sakai once was a humble fishing village, which eventually flourished through trade to be one of the most important seaports of Japan.

The city is brimming with rich history which can be observed through the shrines, temples, and ancient tombs located throughout Sakai. Curious visitors can go to the Sakai City Museum to learn more about local history and art.

The ancient tombs, called the “Kofun” burial mounds, are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are famous for their unique keyhole shaped burial mound which is surrounded by a large moat. Throughout Sakai, there are a total of 44 of these megalithic tombs, the largest of which is the tomb of Emperor Nintoku which measures approximately 470,000 square meters.

The tradition of Sakai’s handcrafted steel knives are a byproduct of this unique local history and foreign trade.

History

A Tradition Born Out of Local History and Foreign Trade

The earliest evidence of metalworking in Sakai dates back to the 5th century with the construction of the Kofun burial mounds. Local blacksmiths were summoned to create tools to excavate large amounts of dirt to create the tombs. These tools were no more than simple plows made of curved metal, but it marked a humble beginning of a local craft.

Fast forward to the mid-1500s, the metalworking tradition in Sakai as we know it today began when the Portuguese introduced tobacco to Sakai. Before the tobacco leaves could be smoked, it had to be processed by finely mincing it up with a sharp knife — a challenge that local craftsmen willingly took up, honing their skills in the process. From tobacco knives evolved samurai swords and then eventually, culinary knives.

Since 1926, the Morimoto family has been a part of Sakai’s knife industry, protecting and passing on the legacy of the local traditional craft. Aspiring to bring the history, beauty and elegance of the Sakai knives to the hands of more people, Morimoto Knife Manufacturers began making paper knives.

Morimoto Knife Manufacturers feature image

Characteristic

Personalizing Tradition

The paper knives created by Morimoto Knife Manufacturers have a minimalist, simple and elegant aesthetic. The blade of the paper knife is forged in the same way traditional culinary knives are forged. Customers can choose between two different blade types, “Kiritsuke” and “Yanagi-ba”. Upon request, the sharpness of the blade can be adjusted as well. There are three different types of finishes on the blade from which people can choose: the standard finish, the “Kurozome-Shiage” where the blade is stained black, and the “Suminagashi” where the blade gives off a marbled effect.

The typical production process of Sakai’s knives involve different craftsmen who specialize in a particular task. Respecting this tradition, the handles of the paper knives are created by craftsmen specializing in Osaka Naniwa Suzuki (traditional tinware craft) and Osaka Karaki Sashimono (traditional wood joinery craft).

Each paper knife comes with a specialized acrylic block. When not in use, the beauty of the paper knives can be admired as decor by placing it in the transparent acrylic block.

For Customers

A Paper Knife to Mark a New Beginning

The paper knives of Morimoto Knife Manufacturers preserve and respect the legacy of Sakai’s traditional culinary knives while appealing to a new audience outside of the culinary world. Blades and knives make a frequent appearance in mythology and legends as items used by the gods and worshiped by the people. The spiritual significance of blades transcends into Sakai’s knives today as the knives made by the local blacksmiths are believed to purify negative energy, ward off evil and allow one to “cut” a pathway into the future. Given this symbolism, the minimalist, traditional and simple paper knives make for a perfect gift to mark a life event or a new beginning.