【Black-Forged】Kitchen Knives Made by Japanese Forging Craftsmen

📍 Kyoto · 👁 1919 reads

If you go to Kyoto, be sure to stop by Yoshimune Cutlery, which sells 【black-forged】 kitchen knives made by Japanese forging craftsmen!

Kitchen knives made by Japanese craftsmen have fans all over the world because of their sharpness. Especially in Europe and the United States, people love to buy Japanese knives.

Among craftsmen-made knives, do you know about 【black-forged (Kuro-uchi)】 knives?

They are called 【black-forged knives】 because of their black appearance.

Japanese knives are made by craftsmen quenching iron and steel, then hammering them. Ordinary knives are polished clean after this process, but the characteristic of black-forged knives is that they are not polished.

If you look closely, you can see the marks of the craftsman's hammer strikes! Just one look conveys the craftsman's exquisite skill and spirit.

This black-forged knife is made in Tosa City, Japan.

Tosa was originally a region for forging samurai swords. Japanese swords were made with an emphasis on 'cutting well no matter how many times.' That forging technique has been passed down for about 400 years.

It takes about 10 years or more to become a fully independent artisan.

If the craftsman is inexperienced, impurities can mix in during the forging process, making the knife prone to rust.

The cool-looking black-forged knife actually skips the 【polishing】 step, making it different from other Japanese knives and valuable.

The blade is very sharp, allowing clean cuts without damaging the ingredients.

【Yoshimune Cutlery】 near Nishiki Market in Kyoto is a new knife store that opened in March 2020.

Knives made by Tosa craftsmen are sold directly from the factory. In addition to Japanese, they can serve customers in English. Including online sales, 80% of sales are to foreigners. It is especially popular in Europe and the US.

There are 2-3 permanent staff, and their customer service is impeccable.

The sharpness of a black-forged knife is outstanding; it cuts as if tearing, and the cross-section is beautiful. The texture of the ingredients is smooth.

Because of their refined functionality, many foreign tourists visiting Japan make a point to visit Japanese knife shops.

Japanese knives made of steel can last 20 to 30 years if properly maintained.

Some families even pass down a knife to their children, using the same knife for a very long time.

By the way, the most popular is the all-purpose knife that can be used for various dishes.

Additionally, knives are also popular among vegetarians.

Besides these, there are many types of Japanese knives. When you visit Kyoto, please be sure to check them out.

Address: 〒604-8042 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Nakagyo Ward, Nakano-cho 537-1 B1F

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Travel Notes Directory

1. Where are black-forged knives made?

2. There is a black-forged knife shop at the famous Kyoto sightseeing spot 【Nishiki Market】!

3. Yoshimune Cutlery