Reverse Clove Mizu-Honyaki by Nakagawa: 2025 Orders Closed

This special Mizu-Honyaki knife incorporates a "reverse clove" pattern, similarly seen in swords from Bizen Yoshioka Ichimonji.

The technique for this pattern was invented in the current era by Nakagawa Satoshi, a master blacksmith at the forefront of Sakai knifemaking.

Sakai Ichimonji Mitsuhide is the exclusive supplier of this special knife in Western Japan, and we are honored to be able to carry it and pass them onto you.

Mizu-honyaki knives are sharp and extremely high quality, yet these knives are famous for more than just that - it's the ripple pattern or hamon that truly stands out. Look at the photo above where the hamon clearly shines on the flat or hira of the blade.

While many honyaki knives are known for their patterning on the blade, this knife is unique and attractive due to it's inverted clove pattern (Saka-chouji) invented by Nakagawa Satoshi-san.

Japanese swords have many different types of pattern or hamon that can be found on them. The clove or choji pattern is a type named after the appearance of a line of cloves. Can you see the cloves above?

"Reverse clove" is characterized by a line of cloves that are inclined toward the knife's ridge and tip. It is commonly seen on swords from the end of the Kamakura period to the Nanboku-cho period. A great example of this is swords from the Bizen Yoshioka Ichimonji school.

This blade is finished in the image of those beautiful, flowing ripples.

A traditional Japanese knife with patterns resembling historical Japanese swords

Nakagawa Satoshi studied in Sakai under famous blacksmith Shiraki Kenichi-san for 16 years as his only apprentice. In 2021, he went independent and opened his own services as Nakagawa Knives.

Inheriting the rare Mizu-honyaki forging methods from his master, Nakagawa-san boldly incorporates new materials and manufacturing methods into his traditional techniques and teachings to release knives that combine both elegance and performance. He is one of just a handful of active blacksmiths in the world with the expertise to create knives using the Mizu-honyaki method.

Despite his young age, he carries Sakai knifemaking on his shoulders and is seen as a link to the future of Sakai knifemaking.

EDIT 7th January, 2025 11AM JST - Orders have reached capacity and are now closed. Thank you for ordering! The original text is left below for those curious.

Orders for the 2025 batch of Kirameki Reverse Clove knives made by Nakagawa Satoshi opened on January 6th, 2025. This is a limited run, with only 30 slots available. These knives are popular every year, so if you are interested please contact us immediately via the link below with the following information.

1. Knife Type (Yanagiba, Kiritsuke-Yanagiba, Sakimaru-Yanagiba, Sakimaru-Takobiki, and Gyuto are available)
2. Blade Length (Tell us the size you want)
3. Steel Type (White Steel #2, White Steel #1, and Blue Steel #2 are available)
4. Handle Type (Ebony is the default, please let us know if you want something different)