Kurouchi Santoku Kitchen Knife 160mm

In the rural town of Shiroishi, Saga Prefecture, Kawasaki Kajiya has quietly supported everyday life for over a century. Run today by a third-generation master and his nephew, this small forge continues to craft blades the traditional way, by hand, with purpose, and always with the community in mind.

From kitchen knives to farming tools, each blade reflects a deep-rooted history of craftsmanship shaped by the needs of local people. This is not a place of mass production. It is a workshop where every edge has intention.

Kawasaki Kajiya makes a wide range of blades including kitchen knives, kama sickles, hoes, axes, machine blades, and custom pieces. They also produce arrowheads used in local yabusame horseback archery ceremonies. Everything is handmade using high-grade steel, with a focus on practicality and durability.

Orders are shaped by real-world use. Customers bring their needs, harvesting tools for a specific crop, a preferred balance or weight, and the smiths shape each blade accordingly. The workshop has also taken on materials from a now-closed forge, continuing the legacy of others as well.

The blacksmithing is led by an experienced craftsman in his sixties, who inherited the forge from his grandfather. Alongside him is his nephew, who left a more conventional career path to carry on the tradition. The uncle now handles the forging, while the younger craftsman is focused on sharpening, polishing, and final finishing.

The approach is collaborative. The younger smith speaks of surpassing the previous generation not out of pride, but out of responsibility, to keep improving what came before and ensure the forge evolves with the times.

Kawasaki Kajiya also offers sharpening and repair services for all kinds of blades, kitchen knives, sickles, scissors, and machinery tools. With skilled hands and a steady eye, they restore tools to their original sharpness using traditional techniques.

Each blade is finished with precision. Final edge work is done by feel, not machines, and verified through careful adjustment. Proper care, they say, can extend a blade’s life for decades. Many tools are passed down through families, staying sharp and reliable with regular maintenance.

We’re a small forge, just the two of us. But this workshop has been around for over a hundred years. People still need knives and tools that last, even if the times change.We don’t think blades will ever disappear from daily life. As long as people grow food, prepare meals, and work with their hands, there will be a need for sharp tools. That is why we are here. And we hope someone will carry this forward after us, just as we carried it from those before.