From Swordsmiths to Everyday Tools: A 400-Year Journey

The origins of Tosa Uchi-hamono date back more than 400 years to the Sengoku period (Warring States period). Its technical roots are believed to lie with a school of swordsmiths who migrated from Yamato Province during the even earlier Kamakura period.

When the age of warfare ended and the Edo period began, policies enacted by the Tosa Domain to promote industry led to the active development of new rice paddies and a flourishing forestry sector. These policies caused an explosive increase in the demand for farming and forestry tools, leading to a dramatic evolution in Tosa's forging technology.

In this process, a fusion occurred between two traditions: the advanced techniques of the katanakaji (swordsmiths), who pursued ultimate sharpness, and the practical culture of the nokaji (field blacksmiths), who focused on the sturdiness and usability of tools for the common people.

It was this very fusion of two traditions that nurtured the defining characteristic of Tosa Uchi-hamono: the high-level combination of two conflicting elements—a sharp cutting edge and the resilience to withstand daily use. In recognition of its long history and outstanding skill, it was designated a National Traditional Craft of Japan on May 6, 1998.