Kitchen Knife Specialty Store

📍 Osaka · 👁 436 reads

Although home appliances and cosmetics are very popular, Japanese kitchen knives have recently attracted attention along with the popularity of Japanese cuisine. It is said that many foreign tourists buy kitchen knives to bring back home, some as gifts for themselves and others as gifts for others.

Made in Japan, highly praised for its excellent quality! The biggest reason for the popularity of Japanese kitchen knives is their incredible sharpness. Japanese kitchen knives do not cut ingredients by pressing down from above; instead, they cut by pushing forward or pulling backward. Therefore, the greatest advantage is that without exerting force, you can achieve clean, beautiful cross-sections without damaging the food fibers. Additionally, durability is a selling point. With proper care, they can last up to 30 years—amazing! When sharpening on a whetstone, the blade edge gradually becomes smaller, but the sharpness never diminishes. Being able to use the same kitchen knife for a long time is another outstanding feature of Japanese kitchen knives!

The owner, from Canada, was captivated by the charm of Sakai's Japanese kitchen knives and opened the store in 2011. Now, through word of mouth, it has become very popular, and many foreign tourists visit this place. The store carries about 500 types of knives, including "Sakai Uchihamono" (Sakai forged blades) produced in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, as well as knives from various regions across Japan. The store is filled with knives as far as the eye can see—a delightful sight! Prices start from around 6,000 yen, but the most popular knives seem to be in the 10,000 to 20,000 yen range. Additionally, they sell whetstones, pocket knives, nail clippers, and more.

Although they are all called kitchen knives, there are many types: single-edged "Japanese kitchen knives" like deba knives and sashimi knives mainly used for Japanese cuisine, and double-edged "Western kitchen knives" like santoku knives, gyuto (chef's knives), and petty knives, etc. With such a wide variety, it's really hard to choose!

Here, you can select a few kitchen knives you like and try cutting with them! There are cutting boards on the counter. First, the staff will explain how to use the knives. All staff speak English—that's great! Sometimes there are also staff who speak Chinese, French, Danish, or Spanish, so foreign tourists can feel at ease. The cutting techniques include the "straight cut" (push cut) used for harder root vegetables, and the "pull cut" used for soft items like tomatoes or sashimi pieces. Once you get the knack, it's not difficult at all. When test cutting, try with a hard carrot. Insert the tip first, then smoothly slide it through, and you can cut it easily. Moreover, the cut surface of a carrot using an ordinary knife will be rough, while with a quality knife, the surface is very smooth, and the blade never gets stuck. You can even cut a tomato without juice leaking out! I've never seen tomatoes sliced so thin! That's proof of incredible sharpness.

At the back of the store is a workshop where you can closely observe craftsmen sharpening kitchen knives. Be sure to check it out! At TOWER KNIVES OSAKA, you can experience the essence of Japanese craftsmanship through the charm of kitchen knives. It's just a stone's throw from Osaka's iconic landmark, Tsutenkaku Tower. Feel free to drop by while sightseeing in Osaka! You are sure to find the perfect kitchen knife for you ♪

Travelogue Directory

1. 01 The greatest charm is both sharp and durable ♪

2. 02 A specialty store with about 500 types of kitchen knives

3. 03 Find the perfect kitchen knife for you

4. 04 Also visit the craftsmen's workshop

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