Takeshi Saji

About

Takeshi Saji Echizen Blacksmith, Takeshi Saji is the leading knife maker in Takefu city, another town of cutlery. Creating unique kitchen knives with ingenious ideas and traditional technology in overwhelming power. Traditional forge-smith & Master craftsman, Takeshi Saji, was born in Takefu (Fukui Prefecture) in 1948; a City that is famous for its 700 year old history of producing Echizen Uchi-Hamono (“Echizen hammer forged knives”). After graduating from junior high school, Takeshi spent three years at the local ‘Blacksmith Training School’ where he learned basic forging process and blacksmithing techniques. At the age of 18, he began making knives under the strict supervision of his master & father, Harukichi Saji, the second-generation smith. At the age of 30, his master informed him that there was nothing more he could teach him and that he would be allowed to make his own knives and acknowledged him as the third-generation smith. In 1992, he was officially certified as Dentoukougeishi, a “Traditional Master Craftsman”, by the Japanese “Ministry of International Trade & Industry” (Renamed the “Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry” in 2001). With over 50 years of knife making experience Takeshi has developed a number of his own techniques, unique ideas and original designs. His distinctive traditionally forged custom knives are well known in the Japanese market and now he is now one of the most popular and best-known forge-smiths from the historic Takefu City. Now the 3rd generation Takeshi Saji, 4th generation Kazuo Nomura, 5th generation Naoya Saji and Kenta Nomura and several of Takeshi Saji’s passionate apprentices are engaged in crafting Takeshi Saji Traditional Forged knives inheriting Takeshi Saji tradition. Master Saji began to set aside more time and energy to enable him to produce a range of custom kitchen knives. With his dedication, originality and ingenuity, Master Saji's range of kitchen knives has gradually expanded and, just like