Forge Your Own Paper Knife with an Authentic Swordsmith in the Seki Region, the Heartland of Japanese Blade Culture

Where Japan’s Blade Heritage Still Lives

Located in Gifu Prefecture, Tomika sits right next to Seki, which has long been associated with blade production and remains one of Japan’s most important centers for edged tools. The region inherits the traditions of the Mino swordmaking school, whose history stretches back to the Kamakura Period (1185 – 1333). Over the centuries, generations of Seki craftsmen have refined techniques that continue to influence the local culture today.

This experience takes place within that living tradition. Rather than observing finished objects from a distance, guests experience the craft of swordsmithing firsthand. By handling swords, studying their structure, and working steel themselves, visitors gain insight into Japan’s blade heritage that cannot be gained from museum visits and book studies.

Transforming Steel Through Fire and Hammer

The day begins with an introduction to Japanese katanas and the processes used to create them. Participants have the rare opportunity to hold and closely examine actual blades while learning about their construction like the surface patterns created through repeated forging as well as the hamon, the distinctive ripple formed during heat treatment. Participants move from observation to action as steel is heated in the forge and brought to the anvil. Under Mr. Miyata’s guidance, the material is stretched, shaped, and refined into a paper knife.

Few people ever get to experience the feeling of striking red-hot steel, making the forging stage one of the most memorable moments of the day. The forge environment itself becomes a memorable part of the experience. Surrounded by the glow of the furnace and the sounds of metalworking, participants encounter a side of Japanese craftsmanship only available to a select few.

From Raw Material to a Personal Keepsake

After forging, the paper knife undergoes heat treatment and polishing. Mr. Miyata explains that the blade changes visibly during tempering, with its shape subtly shifting as it cools. What initially appears to be a simple piece of steel gradually becomes more visually complex through the multi-step finishing process.

After the blade has been polished and prepared, participants practice engraving characters before marking the finished paper knife. You may carve the inscription yourself or request that the swordsmith does it for you. Whether you choose a name or a phrase, the engraving adds a personal element that transforms the finished piece into a unique memento of your time in the Seki region.

Testing and Packing Your 20-Centimeter Paper Knife　

Following the forging, heat treatment, polishing, and engraving stages, participants put their finished paper knife to the test during a cutting demonstration using fruit and other items. This final step offers an immediate opportunity to experience the results of the day’s work. Having shaped, tempered, and finished the blade themselves, guests can appreciate how each stage contributed to the completed knife.

The completed paper knife is placed in a wooden box, allowing you to safely bring a physical piece of Seki culture back home. The knife is sure to become a cherished memento that can be passed down through the generations within your own family, much like the samurai traditions of swordsmithing have been passed down in this corner of Gifu Prefecture.

A Rare Encounter with Living Swordsmith Culture

Many introductions to Japanese sword culture focus on finished masterpieces displayed behind glass. This experience approaches the subject from a different angle. Guests engage directly with the processes, tools, and materials that shape a blade, guided throughout the experience by an active swordsmith working within Seki’s long-established traditions.

According to Mr. Miyata, participants often marvel at the contrast between the elegance of a finished blade and the demanding labor required to create it. The result is more than a handcrafted paper knife. It is a closer understanding of the heritage that continues to define Japanese sword-making today.