Craftsperson · Miki, Hyogo‑prefekturet

Shigeki Tanaka

Shigeki Tanaka is a Japanese knife maker from Miki in Hyogo Prefecture who makes hand-forged kitchen knives in the traditional way. Tanaka trained at Takefu Knife Village before starting his own forge, and today he makes knives with core steels such as R2/SG2 and Damascus patterns for sharpness, durability and precision. His knives are known for their balance, looks and performance, and are sought after by chefs and food enthusiasts who want handmade Japanese blades.

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The story

Shigeki Tanaka is a fourth-generation Japanese smith and knife maker based in Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture, a region with a long tradition of metalworking.

Shigeki Tanaka trained at Takefu Knife Village in Fukui and forges handmade kitchen knives under his own name (often called Shigeki-Saku).
His knives are made of steels such as R2/SG2, Silver Steel No.3 and Blue Steel No.2, and are known among enthusiasts for their balance, sharpness and traditional craft combined with modern performance.

The region

Miki, Hyogo

Miki, in Hyōgo Prefecture, is one of Japan's historically important regions for tool and blade making. The city is known as 'Hardware Town' and has roots in forging going back to the 15th century, when the area first became known for making swords and farm tools. The craftspeople in Miki put weight on function, balance...