Home › About
Who runs this
I live in the Tsubame-Sanjo area of Niigata. This site started because the kanji on Japanese knives are constantly misread overseas — and because the makers are a short drive from my house.
Every "Seen in person" entry means I stood in front of the blade or the maker's showcase and photographed it. Everything else is marked "Maker website" or "Documented" until I visit. When I get something wrong (I first read 鋼典 as 鋸典) the correction stays on the page.
Send a photo of your knife
Photograph the mark from 10–15 cm with light from the side, plus the whole blade. I check it against the database and reply — free while the database is growing. If it is a Sanjo knife I can usually confirm with the maker by phone.
How the data is collected
- Showcases and shelf labels at the Tsubame-Sanjo promotion centre and local shops (photographed 2026-09-14).
- Makers' own websites and shops (linked under Sources on each page).
- Overseas retailer listings for price comparison.
- Nothing is generated: if a field is empty it is because we have not confirmed it.
