Seki Knife Forging — Japan's Blade Capital

Seki (関市) has been Japan's blade-forging center for 800 years, originally producing samurai swords and now crafting some of the world's finest kitchen knives, scissors, and tools. The city's knifemaking tradition began in the 1200s when swordsmiths discovered Seki's ideal conditions: pure water from the Tsuge River, iron ore, pine charcoal, and skilled artisans. Today, Seki produces 50% of Japan's knives, blending traditional forging techniques with modern steel metallurgy.

The Seki Hamono Museum (Seki Cutlery Hall) displays blade-forging history, explains steel types (VG-10, Damascus, aogami), and offers knife-sharpening demonstrations. Adjacent shops sell professional-grade knives at 30–50% below Tokyo department store prices. For hands-on experience, several workshops offer blade-forging classes where you forge a small knife from steel under a master smith's guidance — a 2–3 hour process from heating steel to final sharpening.