What is Seki City?
Seki, in Gifu Prefecture, is one of Japan’s most famous blade-making towns. For centuries, it has been blessed with all the natural resources needed for swordsmithing: high-quality iron sand, forests for charcoal, and clear rivers for cooling and refining steel.
During the Warring States period, demand for swords skyrocketed as battles were constant in the region. Seki, located in the old province of Mino, sat at a strategic crossroads of trade routes and rivers. Swordsmiths from all over Japan gathered here, and Seki soon became known as the “City of Blades.”
When peace arrived in the Edo period, demand for swords declined, but the skills of the smiths lived on through kitchen knives, scissors, and everyday tools—establishing Seki as a blade-making capital to this day.
Visiting Swordsmith Masaya’s Workshop
Just a 15-minute drive from central Seki, we visited the workshop of swordsmith Masaya. Inside, beautiful Japanese swords lined the walls, and his apprentices were hard at work.
Masaya explained the strict system that swordsmiths must follow in Japan. Unlike blacksmiths who make everyday tools, swordsmiths need official approval from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs. Apprentices must train for over five years, complete a special program, and even then, each smith can produce only up to 24 swords per year. Japanese swords are registered as cultural artworks rather than weapons, making swordsmiths guardians of tradition as much as craftsmen.
Today, only about 200 licensed swordsmiths remain in Japan, and fewer than 50 are actively working. Many of Masaya’s clients are from overseas, proving how sought-after authentic Japanese swords still are.
Watching the Forging Process
We had the rare chance to watch part of the sword-making process: hammering and folding the steel. Heated until glowing golden white, the steel is taken out and struck with a giant hammer to remove impurities and make it both strong and flexible.
Only pure tamahagane steel (refined from iron sand) can be used for a true Japanese sword. Cheaper “samurai-style” swords made abroad often mix in impurities, but they are completely different from the real thing.
Seki’s Annual Cutlery Festival
For those who want a more casual way to enjoy Seki’s blade culture, don’t miss the Seki Cutlery Festival, held every October. The event features live demonstrations of traditional sword forging and iaido (sword drawing and cutting). The streets also host a massive cutlery market where you can buy knives and scissors at great prices.
This year, it takes place on October 11–12, 2025. If you’re in Japan during that time, it’s the perfect chance to experience the spirit of Seki.
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