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FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING FROM JAPAN
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING FROM JAPAN

Bizen Osafune Swordsmith

Hand-Forged Knives made of Tamahagane Steel made from scratch in Okayama by swordmaking artisan with 40+ years of experience.

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TAMAHAGANE STEEL MADE FROM SCRATCH
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MADE IN OKAYAMA UNDER THE OSAFUNE SCHOOL TECHNIQUE
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MADE-TO-ORDER COLLECTION
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ARTISAN WITH 40+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Bizen Osafune Swordsmith

Bizen Osafune has been Japan's most revered sword-making tradition for over 800 years. These kitchen knives are forged by its master swordsmith from tamahagane steel he makes himself, the same steel used for Japanese swords. We are proud to showcase the made-to-order knives of Bizen Osafune Swordsmith, workshop led by Ueta Norihito, government certified swordsmith who has trained more than 14 apprentices in his 50 years of independent metalworking. Each blade is made to order specially for you.

Master swordsmith Ueta Norihito, from Bizen Osafune Blacksmith, holding a hand-forged knife at his forge in Osafune, Okayama, Japan
Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Gyuto Knife 212mm with its black presentation box, hand-forged by master swordsmith Ueda Sukesada
$2,300.00 - $2,300.00
$2,300.00
$2,300.00 - $2,300.00
$2,300.00

Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Gyuto Knife 212mm

Bizen Osafune Swordsmith
Only 3 left!

The Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Gyuto Knife is a Japanese kitchen knife hand-forged using the traditional Japanese sword-making process at master swor...

View full details
$2,300.00 - $2,300.00
$2,300.00
$2,300.00 - $2,300.00
$2,300.00
Master swordsmith Ueta Norihito, from Bizen Osafune Blacksmith, holding a hand-forged knife at his forge in Osafune, Okayama, Japan
Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Santoku Knife 175mm displayed next to its white presentation box
$2,290.00 - $2,290.00
$2,290.00
$2,290.00 - $2,290.00
$2,290.00

Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Santoku Knife 175mm

Bizen Osafune Swordsmith
Only 5 left!

The Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Santoku Knife is a Japanese kitchen knife hand-forged using the traditional Japanese sword-making process at master sw...

View full details
$2,290.00 - $2,290.00
$2,290.00
$2,290.00 - $2,290.00
$2,290.00
Master swordsmith Ueta Norihito, from Bizen Osafune Blacksmith, holding a hand-forged knife at his forge in Osafune, Okayama, Japan
Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Sashimi Knife 310mm displayed next to its black presentation box with gold Japanese calligraphy
$3,150.00 - $3,150.00
$3,150.00
$3,150.00 - $3,150.00
$3,150.00

Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Sashimi Knife 310mm

Bizen Osafune Swordsmith
Only 5 left!

The Bizen Osafune Tamahagane Sashimi Knife is a Japanese kitchen knife hand-forged using the traditional Japanese sword-making process at master sw...

View full details
$3,150.00 - $3,150.00
$3,150.00
$3,150.00 - $3,150.00
$3,150.00
Portrait of Bizen Osafune Swordsmith master artisan while smiling and holding a blade

MEET THE ARTISAN BEHIND BIZEN OSAFUNE SWORDSMITH

Osafune, in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, is the birthplace of the Japanese sword. For over 800 years, this valley produced more master swordsmiths than anywhere else in the country. And today, approximately half of all historically significant Japanese swords still in existence were made here. The Osafune School, established in the Kamakura period, shaped the course of Japanese sword-making for centuries, supplying blades to feudal lords and samurai across the country at a time when demand was unmatched. The region had everything required: iron-rich sand in its rivers, clean water, and Japanese red pine charcoal with exceptional thermal properties for smelting.

Ueta Norihito is one of the last active swordsmiths working within this lineage. In Japan, the title of swordsmith cannot be self-granted. Artisans must pass a formal examination administered by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, after which they are permitted to make no more than 24 swords per year, a regulation reflecting the fact that each traditional katana requires no fewer than 15 days of active labor. Ueta-san holds this certification, placing him among a very small number of people in the world legally practicing this craft. He has also personally trained over fourteen other swordsmiths across Japan, making him not just a practitioner but a root of the tradition.

Watch Bizen Osafune Swordsmith in action!
Portrait of Bizen Osafune Swordsmith polishing a blade

What separates Ueta-san's kitchen knives from almost anything else begins before the forge. Most craftsmen start from commercially produced steel. Ueta-san does not. He uses a magnet to gather iron sand from rivers across Japan, sorting each harvest by chemical composition. That sand is smelted in a tatara, a traditional Japanese furnace he designed and built himself, to produce tamahagane: the steel of Japanese swords. The grain structure, the carbon distribution, and the behavior of the edge all come from this source. It cannot be replicated with modern mill steel, because it is not made the same way.

He is also very proud of Japanese style of metalworking and has actively served a role in perpetuating the culture and skills, having trained more than 14 apprentices and now balcksmiths. And despite his 78 years old age, he still thinks he has time and energy for training a couple more!

Also, because sword commissions take priority, Ueta-san's workshop produces only 2 to 3 kitchen knives per month. There is no inventory. Every knife in this collection is made after you place your order. When you reserve a blade, Ueta-san's process begins. Iron sand. Tatara furnace. Forge. Sakai craftsman. Final edge. The blade that arrives was made specifically for you, because no one else would have ordered that exact knife before you did.

Bizen Osafune Swordsmith master artisan examining a knife's blade in his workshop
Piece of raw tamahagane steel from Bizune Osafune Swordsmith
Bizen Osafune Swordsmith artisan hammering a blade while sparks fly.
Bizen Osafune Swordsmith master artisan hammering a blade while sparks fly.

More Bizen Osafune Swordsmith in action!

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Bizen Osafune knives different from other high-end Japanese knives?

The steel. Ueta-san produces tamahagane himself by smelting iron sand in a tatara furnace, the same process used for Japanese swords. This isn't commercial steel with a swordsmith's name attached. It's steel made from scratch, by the same person who makes the knife, using a method unchanged for centuries. It provides the best of Japanese katana swords' strength with the best of the Japanese kitchen knives' performance.

What steel are these knives made from?

Tamahagane, the traditional Japanese sword steel, produced by smelting iron sand in a tatara furnace. Ueta-san collects the iron sand himself and controls the entire steel-making process. This is the same steel used in Japanese swords, and the same steel Ueta-san forges for his katana.

Are these suitable for home cooks, or are they professional-level tools?

They're working knives built to be used. They perform best in hands that are comfortable with traditional Japanese knives and willing to maintain them on a whetstone. There's no reason a dedicated home cook can't use and love these blades. What matters is willingness to care for them, not professional credentials.

Are Bizen Osafune Swordsmith knives dishwasher safe?

No, Bizen Osafune Swordsmith knives should not be washed in the dishwasher. To prevent damage to your knife and ensure it lasts you for years to come, please wash the knife by hand with a mild detergent and gentle sponge.

How should I care for my knife?

After each use, be sure to wash the knife by hand using a mild detergent and gentle sponge. Rinse clean and wipe with a soft dish towel until completely dry. Store in a dry place. Sharpen with a quality whetstone (1000/3000 or 1000/6000). Avoid pull-through sharpeners and dishwashers. For whetstone recommendations, we suggest the Tadokoro 2-Piece Sharpening set, available in our store.

Will my Bizen Osafune Swordsmith knife rust?

Bizen Osafune Swordsmith knives are made of Tamahagane Steel. Thus, they are prone to rust, so be sure to dry your knife completely before putting it away and to store in a dry place to prevent corrosion.

How long will it take to ship my order?

All prices include FREE international shipping. Please note that you will be notified by email after confirming lead time with Bizen Osafune Swordsmith of the expected time of delivery. You will also receive an email with the package's tracking number after the item leaves our warehouse. Please see our Shipping Policy for more details.

Please note: Our products ship directly from Japan to you. You may be required to pay customs duties and/or customs clearance fees upon delivery (if applicable in your country). US customers please see our Important Notice for US Customers.

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