The showman of Takefu Knife Village — damascus, ironwood and stag horn that make collectors forget themselves.
Takeshi Saji is a third-generation blacksmith working in Takefu Knife Village, the cooperative forge complex at the heart of Echizen's 700-year blade tradition, and holds the Dento Kogeishi certification — the Japanese government's formal recognition of a master traditional craftsman.
Where most Echizen smiths pursue quiet restraint, Saji-san went the other way: colour-layered damascus, hammered textures, desert ironwood and stag horn handles. The result is the most recognisable aesthetic in Japanese knives — and demand that keeps his work sold out across Australia almost continuously.
The Rainbow Damascus — copper and brass layered through nickel damascus — is his signature, but beneath the showmanship the cores are serious: VG10, SRS13 powder steel and Aogami Super, forged and ground for real kitchen work.
The signature: copper, brass and nickel layers over a VG10 core. No two blades alike.
Kurouchi-dark damascus over reactive carbon — the connoisseur's Saji.
Modern powder steel in full dress — retention plus spectacle.
Desert ironwood, deer horn and inlay work that make each piece a one-off.
Saji-san's output is broad and constantly rotating — damascus sets, one-offs and standard profiles, with handle materials that vary piece to piece. Roughly what each tends to cost landed in Australia:
| Series / line | Profiles | Sizes | Typical price | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow DamascusVG10 | Gyuto · Santoku · Petty · Sujihiki | 130–270mm | $550–$1,200 | 6–12 wks |
| Black / Kurouchi DamascusAogami Super | Gyuto · Santoku · Nakiri | 165–240mm | $480–$950 | 6–12 wks |
| SRS13 DamascusStainless powder | Gyuto · Santoku · Petty | 135–240mm | $520–$980 | 6–12 wks |
| One-off & exhibition piecesVarious | Confirmed per piece | — | Register interest | Confirmed per piece |
Saji is ranged locally but sells out almost immediately, because demand for the Rainbow Damascus far outstrips a single workshop's output. His pieces are made to order through Takefu Knife Village, so even when available they carry a real wait — and handle materials and patterns vary from piece to piece.
Saji-san's signature lamination: copper and brass layered with nickel damascus over a VG10 core, so the pattern carries bands of warm colour. Each blade's pattern is unique.
Both. The cores are working steels — VG10, SRS13, Aogami Super — properly heat-treated and ground. They are kitchen knives that happen to be jewellery, not the reverse.
Typically 6–12 weeks depending on configuration; one-offs are confirmed individually. Your slot is confirmed in writing within 2 business days and you can cancel for a full refund before dispatch from Japan.