The two quiet cities meet more than just the eye
Accessed within two hours by bullet train from Tokyo station, Niigata Prefecture's Tsubame and Sanjo cities are famous for their metalworking, commanded by the region's dedicated artisans.
The industry's beginnings can be traced back to a time of the Edo period (1603-1867), when Wakugi (a Japanese-style nail) was first produced by its pioneering craftsmen. Fast forward to today, Tsubame-Sanjo continues to manufacture metal crafts of sorts, infusing traditional techinques such as using cutting tools under hot fires in hopes of keeping its origins of metalworking alive.
We witnessed some of the labour-intensive processes behind crafted items, tour through factories and revel in Japan's natural bounty during our stay.
Toy with knives at Tojiro Knife Gallery
If you possessed a fatal attraction to sharp, pointy objects, stepping into the Tojiro Knife Gallery’s display of over 800 knives will definitely let you feel like a kid in a candy shop. Aside from their sleek designs, the stainless steel beauties are crafted with a patented decarburisation prevention method that is backed up by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry. You may flirt with danger by fiddling…or wielding these knives, or even participate in a cooking class at the gallery’s in-house kitchen studio.
As with its quality knifes, Tojiro Gallery offers stellar knife sharpening services. Sharpening culture is a treasure of Japan born from the Japanese “spirit of valuing things”. In the hands of experienced craftsmen, blunt knives will have its sharpness restored. Other services include getting your initials, messages and even little graphics engraved on a purchased knife via laser and sculpture method, or a cut-off method.
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