Sharpening Japanese Knives: Masterclass with Sakai City’s Yamatsuka Mitsuo

Knives forged in the city of Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, are favoured by many chefs due to their exceptionally sharp edge which is crucial to ensuring high standards of food taste and presentation.

During this online event, guests received a masterclass in caring for Japanese kitchen knives by master craftsman Yamatsuka Mistuo, a specialist togishi or sharpener, and chairman of the Sakai Forged Knives Traditional Craftsmen Association. He was then joined by kajiya (blacksmith) Ikeda Yoshikazu, who gave a brief demonstration of cutting techniques using a variety of ingredients of Japanese cuisine.