ECHIZEN
UCHIHAMONO

Fukui Prefecture Echizen Uchihamono

Traditional 700-year-old technique

Echizen Uchihamono (forged knives) are said to have originated in 1337, when Chiyozuru Kuniyasu, a swordsmith in Kyoto, moved to the Echizen region (present Echizen City) looking for a better place to forge katana, or Japanese swords, and made sickles for neighboring farmers. It is said that every time Kuniyasu made a katana, he carved a guardian dog from a grindstone and sank it in a well. This contained his wish as an artisan that a sword must not be a tool for killing people and should be only a symbol of a samurai. This spirit has been handed down to artisans of Echizen Uchihamono, who are determined to make tools of the highest quality.

Traditional craft products designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry

Designated as a traditional craft product in 1979 for the first time in the blade field

In recognition of its history and techniques, in 1979, Echizen Uchihamono became the first designated traditional craft in the blade field.

Echizen Uchihamono-superb craftspersonship shining in distinctive forging techniques and manual finishing

Echizen Uchihamono products are still being made while sticking to traditional Japanese forging techniques and manual polishing steps. Using the forging techniques, which were important for making Japanese swords, we make tough blades that have high strength in bending and breaking.

Echizen Uchihamono artisans' pursuit

Echizen Uchihamono artisans continue to pursue how to make light, thin, robust and long-wearing blades so that any user can be satisfied regardless of material. Each Echizen Uchihamono product has quality that can satisfy anyone who actually uses it.

Responding to changing times, we have transformed their excellent techniques into those for household utensils that are closely connected to people's lives, and now we deal in a wide variety of products, including farming, forestry, gardening and fishery-related tools, in addition to familiar knives and other kitchen utensils, which are our main products.