Sakai Takayuki Sanpo: The Future of Sakai Knife Making
In recent decades, Japan's traditional industries have been facing a succession problem. In Japan, skills and techniques have traditionally been passed down through the centuries from parent to child. However, due to the economic and physical hardships they have experienced, many of today's craftsmen do not wish for their children to take over their trade. Being a craftsperson, especially a knifemaker, is often a thankless career full of long days and back-breaking work, year after year, decade after decade. On top of all this, many of today’s youth in Japan have seen a significant increase in career options, so children have not been eager to inherit the skills and techniques of their ancestors.
To add insult to injury, many craftsmen have often worked completely alone in their workshops, which meant they did not have the financial means to hire someone. Over the years, successor-less blacksmiths across Japan have been forced to close their businesses for good, one after another. This tragedy is evident even in regions known the world over for producing knives, but folks in these areas are putting in serious work to preserve their skills and sustain the industry that they’ve spent their life on. In Takefu, Echizen City, a cooperative workshop called Takefu Knife Village was established to ensure the future of their industry by successfully training a new generation of craftsmen. This initiative in Takefu has really challenged the traditional reliance on blood relations for the transmission of skills and produced some spectacular craftspeople who are driving the industry forward.
The lack of successors has also been a problem in Sakai. In response, Sakai Takayuki, a renowned manufacturer in Sakai, established its own workshop and created a system to address the successor problem from an early stage. Sakai Takayuki understood that the traditional apprenticeship system had made it difficult to pass on skills due to its narrow scope and economic challenges. To address this, Sakai Takayuki established their own workshop, the Sanpo Factory, and actively recruited and employed young individuals aspiring to become craftsmen, allowing them to learn skills under master artisans. Young craftsmen can learn skills without worrying about the financial side of the business thanks to guaranteed employment and wages from Sakai Takayuki. At the same time, the masters are relieved of the financial burden and responsibilities of hiring, feeding, and housing an apprentice. This is a groundbreaking approach, and the Sakai Takayuki Sanpo knife series represents the culmination of these efforts.
The Sanpo series was released as Sakai Takayuki's flagship series, inheriting the 600-year history of Sakai's knife-making. It is a testament that the young craftsmen have acquired the skills worthy of bearing the banner of Sakai Takayuki and will become their primary knife makers in years to come. These knives represent just the first step in the unfolding Sanpo story, and I have high hopes that the young craftsmen's eager approach to new materials and techniques will open doors to new possibilities. They want you to experience the true value of Sakai knives, crafted without compromise to achieve the quality they’re renowned for.
First impression of the Sanpo knives: these babies are sharp! They’re pretty thick and weighty, but the sharpeners at Sanpo have ground the steel down to the edge with a really nice smooth taper, so they cut very well but don’t feel thin or delicate. I know I could really put this knife to work in a professional kitchen. The blades are fully made from high-carbon steel, so they require some care to prevent rust, but that also means the entire blade will develop a gorgeous patina as you use it. Speaking of the blade, they’ve given it a really pretty misty ‘kasumi’ finish. Simple and understated, with a nice hit of bling from the striped octagonal wenge wood handle. If you like an elegant blade with some heft, this knife is for you.
I’m very excited to see where the Sanpo workshop goes in the coming years. It fills me with joy to see all these young artisans passionately pursuing traditional crafts and really nailing it. Stay tuned because this won’t be the last you hear about them!
