Higo no Kami

The "Nagao" is a surname for people who have Samurai Shogun ancestors from the islands of Shikoku and Okinawa. The descendants carry on a long tradition making the Higo no Kami folding knife. The Higo Province existed before the Emperor Meiji Ishin Renovation in 1868. Commodore Perry demanded industrialization or else colonization in 1877.

Matthew Perry

The sword makers went to Miki where they could use ore from the river
there.
 Nagao Komataro was a knifemaker who originally designed the first folding version of the Japanese swords of the Tokugawa Shogunate because long swords were prohibited by then. He passed this knowledge his son Nagao Shigeji who then further developed the knife with help from other craftsmen.
Trade secrets passed to his son Nagao Motosuke who then made newer variations of the Higo Province knife. The tradition continued to his son Nagao Mitsuo.

Virtually all Japan was controled by the first Shogun ever Tokugawa Lyeyasu (1603-1616) son of Matsudaria Hirotada which the region of Wakasa and Echizen Provinces consisted of until 1871.

Tokugawa Lyeyaso

Here in the currently named "Fukui Prefecture" you find Takefu City where the 700 year cutlery tradition continues. Traditional Japanese Bladesmiths thrive here that have all the qualifications necessary to merit a title of being a Master of Traditional Crafts.

 They also belong to the Japan Knife Guild and are members to other Custom Japanese Knifemaking organizations.

 The use of a "cypher" marking on their works prooves their skill and represents their identities.

The Hitachi Metal Works Company supplied the specialty metals needed for craft production. A local copper mine is in the Hitachi area so the handles are made primarily made this. Hitachi specialty metals are laminated "Blued Paper Steel" referred to as "Aogami" and the "White Paper Steel" referred to as "Hakushi". Forged carbon steel called " Tanzou" is used to make a blade of 512 layer Damascus. A "Sirogami" blade is made of modern D2 steel. A Prices vary greatly with blade variations being as high as $500 each.

These are some of the Masters of Higo no Kami type knives made today in Takefu City:

 *Takeshi Saji
*Hattori
*Koji Hara
*Hiroshi Sasaki

A storage box made from Paulownia wood (Emperor Tree) is available for the Higo no Kami.

 Many quality modifications to the "cut out" scale (haft) are handcrafted. There are no big factory assembly lines but only craft production.

Some have a Chrysanthemum shaped pivot pin that symbolizes the Imperial Seal of Japan.

Urushi (lacquered) "Haiku" poems on the mark side.

 Some have an image on the file side of the scale of the Shogun "Miyamoto Musashi" who survived over sixty duels in the Osaka Castle and Harima Province (1584-1645).

Miyamoto Musashi

Brass Bonji (Sanskrit) onlay applied to copper with "gimped" finish. Burnt brass and "Urushi" coated crocus, ground and polished.



Each knife varies slightly because they really are handmade:

Grind and Tip of Blades

Lever Thickness

Lever Shape & Half Scale Clearance

Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil

 The "Three Wise Monkeys" that adorn the Sacred Horse Stable at the Shinto shrine "Nikkō Tōshō-gū",

where Tokugawa Lyeyasu is entombed really is mocking the many knife forums on the internet that get the story of the "Higo no Kami" all wrong.


To this I say also:

"Meet only once in a lifetime"

"Ichigo-Ichie"

Last Shogun
Matsudaria Katamori