About Osaka

Located in southern Osaka and serving as a satellite city of Osaka City, Sakai has been a pioneer of technology and culture, so much so that it is often referred to as "Sakai, where everything begins." During the Middle Ages, Sakai flourished as a trade and commercial city, becoming Japan's leading cultural and advanced center. It was also in Sakai during the Middle Ages that the first incense sticks in Japan were produced. Many products originated in Sakai, including the shamisen, umbrellas, Noh plays, the Ginza silver coin mint, dyeing dyeing, and even bicycles and wooden lighthouses. Sakai knives, such as kitchen knives, remain highly esteemed even today. Sakai knives are overwhelmingly popular among professional chefs, accounting for an estimated 90% of the market share for commercial kitchen knives. Their history dates back to the Kofun period. The tomb of Emperor Nintoku, one of the world's three largest tombs alongside the Pyramid of Khufu and the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, is estimated to have been constructed in the mid-5th century in the eastern part of Sakai over a period of more than 20 years. The construction of the world's largest ancient tomb, with a total area of approximately 470,000 square meters, required a large number of construction tools such as spades and hoes, so blacksmiths were gathered from all over Japan and are said to have settled in Sakai, where they established a settlement.

Later, in 1543, when the Portuguese introduced firearms and tobacco to Sakai, the skills of Sakai blacksmiths were put to good use, and Sakai became a producer of firearms and tobacco knives. During the Edo period, the shogunate monopolized the sale of Sakai knives under the Sakai Kiwame (Extreme Sakai) mark, and the sharpness and reputation of Sakai knives spread throughout the country. Sakai knives were also used to process kelp from Hokkaido, which was brought by the Kitamae ships. Oboro konbu and tororo konbu are Osaka specialties that would not have been possible without the sharpness of Sakai knives. In Sakai, the techniques of "blacksmithing" and "sharpening" have been passed down from master to apprentice for 600 years under a division of labor system. Sakai's unique traditional manufacturing method of hammering steel and metal together is a registered trademark under the name "Sakaiuchi." The exquisite sharpness created by fire, iron, water, and artisanal skill is unmatched. It can be said that the 600 years of dedication of Sakai knife craftsmen is behind washoku, which has been designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.