SAKAI TAKAYUKI

Aoki Hamono Seisakusho's roots trace back to "Aoki Ichiro Shoten," a Sakai forged-blade wholesaler founded in Tondabayashi City, Osaka, in 1947, just after the war. It later set up a sales office in Sakai City, renamed itself Aoki Hamono Seisakusho, and began full-scale blade-making in Sakai, known as a home of Japanese knives.

In the 1960s, it trademarked brands such as Sakai Takayuki and Sakai Kikutaka and developed its own factory and the Sanbo factory. By creating an environment where forging and sharpening artisans gather, it built a system that gives each knife a consistent quality standard. Since then, it has advanced product development that answers the needs of the times — developing antibacterial handles mindful of hygiene, adopting all-resin handles and more.

Today, Aoki Hamono Seisakusho leads the professional knife market at home and abroad with brands such as Sakai Takayuki, TAKAYUKI and Grand Chef. Combining the skills of Traditional Craftspeople with the latest equipment, it also focuses on events and information sharing based at its knife gallery, bridging Sakai-born blade culture to the next generation and to food settings worldwide.

Blade-making in which 600 years of Sakai forged-blade history lives on

Sakai Takayuki knives are born on the foundation of the Sakai forged-blade tradition, in which forging and sharpening artisans perfect their skills through division of labor. Against the backdrop of techniques cultivated as a blacksmith town continuing since the Kofun period, each artisan handles a stage in the series of processes — hammering, hardening and sharpening the steel. In 1982, "Sakai forged blades" were designated a traditional craft, and their quality is highly regarded not only within Japan but worldwide.

A rich lineup covering Japanese, Western, Chinese, confectionery and soba

Its product guide offers diverse categories — in addition to Japanese, Western, Chinese, confectionery and soba-cutting knives, also specialty knives, ice-carving knives, whetstones and cooking accessories. It stocks even highly specialized items such as sashimi, deba, gyuto, petty, soba-cutting and ice-carving knives, so you can choose the optimal knife to suit your cuisine genre and style.

A brand loved by chefs in over 30 countries

Aoki Hamono Seisakusho wholesales under brands such as Sakai Takayuki, TAKAYUKI and Grand Chef — in addition to domestic kitchenware stores, department stores and cutlery specialists — to knife shops and trading companies in countries around the world, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Knives born in Sakai support daily cooking in the hands of professionals worldwide.

Experience blade culture at the knife gallery & events

At the "Sakai Takayuki Knife Gallery & Lounge," set in a quiet residential area, in addition to displaying and selling knives, it regularly holds small-group events and dinner gatherings inviting chefs and artisans. As a membership gallery, it also puts effort into creating a place to experience blade culture with all five senses — buying original works, taking part in social gatherings and more.