Make A Samurai Knife
Make your own samurai knife in a day course led by Fusataro Asano, a certified Japanese sword maker, in Gifu-hashima, close to Nagoya.
Make your own Samurai Knife at Asano Kajiya 浅野鍛冶屋
A wonderful way to spend a day in Japan is to make a traditional Japanese craft that will help you remember your stay in the country for the rest of your life.
Just 10 minutes from Nagoya or 30 minutes from Kyoto is Asano Kajiya, the studio of Fusataro Asano, a certified Japanese sword maker, where you can spend a satisfying, productive day making a samurai knife.
Knife making at Asano Kajiya
The full day class is led by the charismatic Fusataro Asano himself and his diligent assistants. Asano spent six years as an apprentice in nearby Seki, learning the traditional art of Japanese sword-making from his sensei (teacher/master) before setting up his own workshop/atelier not far from Gifu-Hashima Station in western Gifu Prefecture.
Asano spent a year in Australia as a high school exchange student and conducts the whole day in his idiosyncratic English.
Tools of the trade at Asano Kajiya
Schedule
The workshop starts at around 8.30 am-9 am when you will be picked up from Gifu-Hashima Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line between Nagoya and Kyoto.
The morning is spent forging your very own knife which, when finished, can be used for peeling fruit or as a practical camping knife.
This process takes about two hours before a generous lunch is provided on site.
After lunch you will shape your knife with a file and the blade will be hardened for you and your initials stamped on to the blade.
After that you will put the finishing touches to the knife and attach the wooden handle. Then it will be time to head home after your hard day's work as a trainee samurai knife maker, taking with you the fruit of your labor - your very own samurai knife.
Fusataro Asano with his guests making a samurai knife at Asano Kajiya
Access - Getting to Gifu-Hashima Station
Gifu-Hashima Station is 36 minutes from Kyoto Station or just 10 minutes from Nagoya Station on the Tokaido shinkansen. You will need to ride a Hikari or Kodama Shinkansen as the fastest shinkansen the Nozomi does not stop at Gifu-Hashima Station. This journey will be covered with a Japan Rail Pass.
Asano Kajiya
454-1 Egira-cho
Hashima-city
Gifu
Tel: 058 374 3818
Asano Kajiya Atelier
