Echizen Knife Production Area

For hundreds of years, Japan's most famous blades were used by samurai warriors, but the knife industry in the Echizen region of Fukui Prefecture began nearly 700 years ago with a sword smith who made sickles for farming.
He wished his creations to no longer take life, but to sustain life, and offered them to local farmers, which is how it all began.
And the Echizen sickles, in particular, became widely popular, with lacquerware craftsmen selling them on their travels.

In 1979, Echizen blades were officially recognized as a traditional craft.
Over the centuries, the primary products have evolved from sickles to kitchen knives, adapting to changing times.
The global recognition of Japanese cuisine in 2013 further boosted the demand for Echizen blades, both domestically and internationally.

Today, Echizen's blade makers are not only preserving traditional techniques but also creating innovative designs to meet contemporary tastes.

Day Trip [Example schedule]

10:30-11:30 Takefu Knife Village
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:30-14:30 Ryusen Hamono
14:30-15:30 Etoe
16:00-16:30 Chiyotsuru Shrine / Kirin Knife

Application / contact

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