These knives illustrates the art of blacksmithing in the Japanese city of Sakai. The knives are made entirely by hand by the highly skilled blacksmith Yoshikazu Tanaka and he uses shirogami#2 carbon steel which is forged and heat treated with great care. The finish on the blade is very beautiful, a black kurouchi finish on top of a rough sanded surface. A simple yet spectacular finish that leaves no one untouched. The knife fits very well in the hand and has a substantial weight. A really nice knife with great personality. The handle is octagonal and made of oak.