Metalwork & Blades
Cast-iron kettles, mirror-polished cutlery and the blades professional chefs swear by — Japan's metalworking towns forge some of the world's most respected steel and ironware.
Nambu Ironware
Cast-iron kettles and teapots from the old Nambu domain, pebbled with a signature 'arare' texture. A Nambu tekki kettle is said to make water — and tea — taste softer.
Tsubame-Sanjō Metalwork
Japan's metalworking capital — mirror-polished cutlery, tools and tableware so precise the region now supplies the world's top kitchens and even spacecraft parts.
Sakai Blades
The knives professional chefs reach for. Forged in Sakai since the age of the sword, where blade and handle are still made by separate masters and joined by hand.
Takaoka Copperware
Four centuries of bronze and copper casting — temple bells, Buddhist altars and modern design. Takaoka foundries cast most of Japan's great bronze statues.
Seki Blades
The sword capital of medieval Japan, where 700 years of blade-smithing turned to the world's finest kitchen and pocket knives. Seki steel still arms chefs and pros across the globe.