Blades Forged by Masters of Traditional Japanese Crafts
A Master of Traditional Crafts is a title bestowed under the certification system designated by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
It is reserved for artisans who embody the pinnacle of skill, knowledge, and technique in the creation of traditional crafts recognized as the very custodians of cultural heritage.
In the world of Japanese knives, these asters bring their artistry to the forging of blades.
Yoshikazu Ikeda
Sakai Forged Knife Master of Traditional Crafts
In 1983, he established his independence as Ikeda Forging Studio.
Since then, he has devoted himself to the craft of knife-making as a successor of the Sakai Uchihamono tradition.
Specializing in professional-grade Japanese knives, he produces masterpieces such as mizuhonyaki (water-quenched blades) and suminagashi (ink-patterned steel).
In 1988, he was officially certified by the Japanese government as a Master of Traditional Crafts, and he currently serves as the President of the Sakai Uchihamono Traditional Craftsmen’s Association.
Shinpei Ino
Sakai Forged Knife Master of Traditional Crafts
For nearly 140 years since the Meiji era, Ino Chū Cutlery Workshop has carried on the proud tradition of Sakai Uchihamono.
He began his career there in 1968, and the knives forged with the skills he inherited are renowned for retaining their sharpness over time, trusted by professional chefs.
He specializes in techniques such as full mirror polishing, honyaki sharpening, and super silver polishing.
In 1989, he was awarded the Director-General’s Prize of the Science and Technology Agency, and in 1999, he was officially certified by the Japanese government as a Master of Traditional Crafts.
Through forging, hardening, and polishing, they read the very character of the steel, drawing forth not only peerless sharpness and strength, but also a beauty that transcends function.
The flowing hamon and the luster of the jigane are more than metallurgical features—they are expressions of spirit, shaped by centuries of tradition.
At MIKURIYA, it is in the high-grade models that these Masters of Traditional Crafts take part in the creation of blades.
Their rare involvement transforms each piece into more than a culinary tool: it becomes a cultural treasure for the future, an heirloom of unparalleled dignity and prestige.