- 2023.03.04
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Tosa knives—Kochi’s cutting-edge heritage
Who doesn’t love the excitement of an outdoor market? If you find yourself around Kochi City on a Sunday, you’re in for a treat. Kochi’s Sunday Market has been a local fixture for over 300 years! Hundreds of stalls line the road up to 400-year-old Kochi Castle for an impressive 1.3 kilometers, and there is truly something here to delight everyone. The farmers, chefs, craftspeople and local business owners are proud to share their wares with you
As you would expect, there are plenty of delicious homegrown or homemade items on offer, but the food is just the beginning. The market also showcases local art and crafts, and today we want to spotlight the artisanry of Kochi’s high-quality knives⚔️
These knives are called “Tosa uchihamono” in Japanese, with Tosa being the old name for present-day Kochi Prefecture. The knives are made using the time-honored technique of free-forging, which means that the blades are formed by hand by hammering and flattening hot metal. The background of the technique lies in traditional sword making, but the art of Tosa uchihamono came into its own in the early 17th century, after Tosa began developing the local economy. Since these knives originated from tools used in forestry and agriculture, they are both durable and sharp
These days, the knives are highly sought after by professional chefs and home cooks alike. If you or someone you know loves cooking, you’re sure to find the perfect knife at the Sunday Market!
The Sunday Market takes place each Sunday from 5 AM to 6 PM from April to September and 5:30 AM to 5 PM for the rest of the year. It’s a quick 10-minute walk from Kochi Station. Learn more: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/sundaymarket
As you would expect, there are plenty of delicious homegrown or homemade items on offer, but the food is just the beginning. The market also showcases local art and crafts, and today we want to spotlight the artisanry of Kochi’s high-quality knives⚔️
These knives are called “Tosa uchihamono” in Japanese, with Tosa being the old name for present-day Kochi Prefecture. The knives are made using the time-honored technique of free-forging, which means that the blades are formed by hand by hammering and flattening hot metal. The background of the technique lies in traditional sword making, but the art of Tosa uchihamono came into its own in the early 17th century, after Tosa began developing the local economy. Since these knives originated from tools used in forestry and agriculture, they are both durable and sharp
These days, the knives are highly sought after by professional chefs and home cooks alike. If you or someone you know loves cooking, you’re sure to find the perfect knife at the Sunday Market!
The Sunday Market takes place each Sunday from 5 AM to 6 PM from April to September and 5:30 AM to 5 PM for the rest of the year. It’s a quick 10-minute walk from Kochi Station. Learn more: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/sundaymarket
