Good morning!

おはようございます

I traveled all the way from Tokyo

東京からはるばる

to this spot

ここにやってきました

Seki City in Gifu Prefecture for

岐阜県の関市です

the “hamono festival” or the Cutlery Festival

刃物市にやってきました

held on a weekend in October.

１０月の週末に行われます

Japan makes some of the best knives all over the world

日本は世界でも有数の刃物を生産します

and today we're going to get a chance to see some of them

今日はそれのいくつかを見てみましょう

because Seki is the center of knives …

関市が有名なのは刃物、

… and swords …

日本刀、

… and apple peelers ...

果物ピーラー

… and scissors …

ハサミ・・

… and razor blades …

カミソリ・・

… and where exactly is Seki you may ask?

関市はどこにあるかって？

It's down there in Central Japan's Gifu Prefecture

中部日本の岐阜県にあります

a short trip from Nagoya, Japan's fourth largest city.

日本で４番目の都市、名古屋からわずかの距離

It's at the base of many mountains giving it loads of clean, fresh water.

たくさんの山々の麓にあるのでキレイなお水が豊富にあります

Spreading out from the city center

市の中心部から始まって

are a lot of things to see and do.

観光スポットが盛りだくさんです

Welcome to Seki.

関市へようこそ

Let's have a quick look around.

簡単に見て回りましょう

Seki is a charming place.

関市は魅力ある町です

Mino is a town nearby known for paper.

美濃市は和紙で有名な近隣の町です

It has an old well preserved village area.

きちんと保管された旧市街があります

This is Monet's Pond

こちらがモネの池です

because it really does look like a painting,

まるで絵画のようです

carp swimming through water color.

水の色の中を鯉が泳いでいます

The rivers are pristine

川は透き通っています

and famous for Ayu sweet fish.

そして鮎でも有名です

This countryside restaurant

この川岸にあるレストランでは

prepares Ayu fish in so many different ways.

鮎を様々な調理法で提供します

Seki also has fantastic river unagi, chargrilled eel!

関市には素晴らしいウナギの蒲焼きもあります

One of my favorite dishes,

大好物です

don't miss out on unagi,

ウナギをお見逃しなく

with that slightly sweet and salty soy taste that spreads

甘辛の醤油ベースのたれが

deliciousness over the eel and rice

ご飯とウナギのおいしさを引き立てます

– and this smile on my face.

そして笑顔をもたらします

We've come here for the HAMONO MATSURI

刃物祭りにやってきました

Seki's cutlery festival

関市特有のお祭りです

where it's world famous knife makers show off and sell their goods

世界的に有名な刃物メーカーが逸品を紹介し、販売します

often at discounted prices.

大抵は安い値段にて。

This is the Seki Hamono Matsuri or Cutlery Festival.

こちらは関市の刃物祭りになります

There are 43 stands here so

４３の屋台があります

if you're in the market for a knife —

刃物を探しているならば

This is the place to be!

ここがピッタリです

It's a showcase of knives.

刃物の展覧会です

Seki is one of the most famous historical sites

関市は歴史的に見ても日本刀で

for samurai swords

とても有名です

but after World War Two, the industry shifted to cutlery

しかし第二次世界大戦後、産業は刃物へ移行しました

and they take pride in the many different products they produce.

そして作られる様々な商品に誇りをもっています

The Seki name is a brand in itself.

関という名前自体がブランドになっています

At this festival, you'll find rare and unique stock from vendors,

この祭りでは珍しく、ユニークな商品が見らます

the craftsmanship without question some of the best in the world.

職人芸は疑いも無く世界最高級です

The events at the Hamono Festival spill out all over the city.

刃物祭りのイベントは町中で行われます

You'll find knives made from all kinds of strong materials.

様々な強固な素材で刃物が作られているのが見られます

These knives are made from stone

こちらの刃物は石でできています

and cut like a champ.

そして切れ味抜群です

I was looking to buy an all-purpose knife

万能包丁をさがしていました

15 to 18 centimetres long.

１５から１８ｃｍくらいの長さの。

I have one question …

疑問が一つありました

Aren't they expensive?

今、関市が刃物で有名なのは

20,000 to 23,000 yen! (US$200 to $230)

日本刀の歴史があるからです

They're expensive, right?

そしてその品質は現在でも生き残っています

Well, for people who do not cook much

今でも作られている商品の品質は

it may seem expensive

何百年も前に侍がいた時代と同じです

but the materials used are special

それだからこそ関市というのは今でも

professional grade materials.

刃物の町として有名です

Even the handle is polished by hand.

持ち手とバランスが好みです

It's more of a work of art than a knife.

重さも完璧です

Is it like a samurai sword at all?

今までの人生の中でまさか

Not so much as a katana,

１８０ドルもの大金を

but much of the process is close to it.

包丁にかけるとは

The thing that really stands out to me is

品質、職人技、歴史

the pattern of the knife

それがすべてがこの作品を・・

That's right.

価値あるものにします

This is called Damascus Steel,

一生ものですね

abd the material is unique to Japan.

これを絶対に刃物市で買うことに決めました

It is really popular overseas.

関市の高級レストランに買った刃物をもっていきました

It has 67 layers.

地区で最高級の和牛を提供します

What does the pattern mean?

買った包丁に何か美しいモノを味わって欲しかった

There are different types of Damascus Steel.

こちらが飛騨牛

The one here is called pattern-weld steel.

岐阜県のプレミアム和牛です

This is not a print, but each of them is layered.

大きさも相当です

67 layers in total.

そしてこれが

Modifying that gives it a different design.

関市でつくられた私の包丁です

The brand is Mcusta.

飛騨牛は岐阜の日本最高級の牛のブランドで

Yes.

神戸牛や松坂牛に並びます

Why is Mcusta in Seki?

着るのは難しくありません

Seki City has a long history with the katana.

関の包丁にはもってこいの食べ物です

Going back to the Kamakura Era (1185 to 1330).

私のナイフは美しい

It has continued until now.

持ち手は赤木製です

After the World War 2, the knife industry boomed.

３つのリベットも最高です

So for scissors, pocket knives,

持ち手はニンニクをつぶすのに使います

kitchen knives and razors,

ダマスカス鋼のデザイン

we have the biggest share in Japan.

鉄のコンビネーションで軽く、強く、そして鋭い

So from the history of the samurai sword —

楽園の包丁

That's right. Started way back from there.

それでは私がこのステーキにのめり込む番です

So, Seki is known for its knives now

飛騨牛は口の中でとろけます

because of its history with samurai swords.

神戸牛ほど脂っぽくなく、さらに柔らかい

And you see the quality in what they make today

一日の包丁の買い物の後には最高です

it's the same kind of quality that they made

もう言葉はいりません

hundreds of years ago when the samurai were still in existence

日本刀

and that's why Seki thrives as

関市の刃物市のメインステージで行われるパフォーマンスです

a knife making centre today.

侍の礼儀作法と技術を目の当たりにできます

I'm looking for an all-purpose knife

そして日本刀の重要さも。

that can do it all but also beautiful.

関鍛冶伝承館では

What do you recommend?

多くの日本刀の展示がみられます

What you often see in a household is

関は７００年以上日本刀の中心です

the Santoku size. This one is most popular.

そしてその歴史に誇りをもっています

This was made to be able to cut

こちらは本当の日本刀で、１ｋｇから１．３ｋｇ

meat, fish or vegetables

彼らは材料と工程にすべて注ぎます

This is the one I recommend the most.

そしてそれが技術となって現れます

I loved the handle and the balance.

細かい部分にもこだわりながら完璧を目指します

The weight was perfect.

伝統的な日本刀作りが見れます

Never in all my life did I ever think

少なくとも年に四回はみられます

I was going to spend about $180

そして刃物まつりの時も。

on one knife, but —

火の温度を上げるために空気が注ぎ込まれます

The quality, the workmanship, the history

１３５０度まで温度が上がります

eventhing makes this such —

これにより鉄は溶けずに柔らかくなります

a really valuable thing

これを行うには柔らかい必要があります

I'll have for all of my life.

叩くことで平らにし、切って折りたたむことができます

I'm definitely going to buy it at this Hamono Festival.

そして鉄を強くしていきます

I brought my knife to a high end restaurant in Seki

再度火にくべられ、この工程が繰り返されます

that served the area's top wagyu beef.

やる度に鉄が強くなっていきます

I wanted my knife to sink its teeth into something beautiful right away.

切られ、曲げられ、そして折られます

This is Hida Gyu.

前と後ろが折られ、そして端も折られます

Gifu Prefecture's premium wagyu beef.

この交互の動作が強さを生みます

This is a generous cut.

そしてこれが鉄の中にある空洞を消していきます

And this —

一般的な日本刀は１０～１５回折られます

Seki-made knife.

これは強くするだけでは、鉄を折り重ねることで不純物を取り除きます

Hida Beef is a top Japanese beef brand

この技術は師匠から弟子へと受け継がれています

from Gifu that rivals Kobe and Matsuzaka beef.

１３世紀から。

Although not a challenge to cut,

刀工になるには

it seems the perfect compliment to my Seki knife.

ライセンスを得る為だけでも５年間の修行をしなくてはいけません

My new knife is beautiful.

そして刀工になっても月に日本刀は日本しか作れません

The handle is red wood,

作ったすべての日本刀は政府に登録しなければなりません

the three rivets look great.

鉄は年度、水、そして藁炭でコーティングされます

The handle made for crushing garlic.

折り曲げ工程の間に保護する為です

The Damascus steel pattern

このように伝統的に日本刀をつくる工程は

a combination of steel that makes it light, strong and razor sharp.

２か月ほどかかります

Knife in paradise.

組み立て、装飾、磨き、そして鞘を入れる工程を含みます

Now it's my turn to sink my teeth into that steak.

刀自体は現代的なやり方では熟練工によっては３、４週間でつくれます

Hida gyu just melts in your mouth,

本物の日本刀の値段は４０万から６０万かかります

not as oily as Kobe beef, even more tender —

４０００ドルから６０００ドルです

and more than satisfying after a day of knife shopping.

最高級が欲しい場合には１３０００ドルから２００００ドルまで用意する必要があります

No need to say another word.

または熟練工によって値段はそれ以上も。

SAMURAI SWORDS!

このように特別に作られていきます

A performance at center stage during Seki's hamono festival

この塊が細長くされ、切られ、折りたたまれ、そして鍛接されていきます

showed the discipline and skill of the samurai –

折りたたまれる度に鉄が強くなっていくので

and the importance of their sword.

三人掛かりで金槌で叩きます

In the Seki Sword Tradition Museum,

ご覧の通り、これにはリズムが伴います

you can see many of their swords on display.

玉鋼という種類の鉄が利用されます

Seki has been a center for swords for over 700 years

伝統的な日本の方法で作られます

and they are very proud of that history.

粘土釜で燃やされます

This is a real samurai sword. Weight: 1.0 -1.3 kilograms.

炭素の量は１％程度

They are dedicated to the materials and the craft,

そして玉鋼は輸出が禁止されています

and it shows in their skill

これは最高級の日本刀は日本で作られるようにする為です

a focus on perfection with acute attention to every detail.

このデモンストレーションでは鋼は叩かれ、折りたたまれるのは五回です

You can see a Traditional Japanese Sword Forging Demonstration

鋳造のデモではそれで十分なのです

at least 4 times a year here –

日本刀を伸ばし、作り、磨き、そして尖らせる工程はさらにスキルを要します

and during the Hamono Festival.

台の上には日本刀作りの各工程が見られます

Air is pumped into the fire to make it very hot.

関市の刀工への尊敬の現れです

Temperatures reach about 1350 Celsius

こちらの演目を見たら日本刀を買いたくなりました

which makes the steel soft without melting.

自分用には本物で無くていいかもしれません

It's needs to be soft for this:

もっと安いものをお求めなら

Hammering it flattens it out so that it can be cut and folded over

展示用の刀で１００ドル以下のものがあります

which strengthens the steel.

刃は鈍く作られていますが、見た目は十分

It's put back in the fire then the process is repeated,

こちらは展示用の小太刀です

each time making the steel stronger.

カッコいい

It's cut and bent back then folded.

本物の刀を持っているようなプロと違って

It's folded front to back and then side to side

自分は危険の無い武器で我慢しましょう

to create a cross pattern for strength

展示用の日本刀はどう使うかって？

and this also eliminate any voids in the metal.

世界で最も危険な鏡として使えます

A typical samurai sword is folded 10-15 times.

髪の毛バッチリ

This not only makes it stronger, folding the steel removes impurities

関市と刃物まつりはとても楽しかったです

The technique has been passed down from master to apprentice

街のマスコットは耳が刃物になっています

since the 13th century.

刃物まつりは関市を訪れる良いきっかけになります

To become a swordsmith,

刃物や日本刀マニアだけのものではありません

you must go through a 5-year apprenticeship to become licensed

ここでは日本の魂が長く生きながらえています

and sword-smiths can only make 2 long swords per month,

あまりにも上手に作られていて完璧に近いもの

each sword made must be registered with the Japanese government.

日本の刃物は世界でも有数の作品です

The steel is coated in a mixture of clay, water and straw-ash

最高といっても過言ではない

to protect it between foldings.

刃物に興味があれば関市こそいるべき場所です

The total process to make a samurai sword in this traditional way

ここには何世紀にも渡る日本刀の歴史がありあｍす

takes about 2 months

その歴史が今作られている刃物に注ぎ込まれています

including the assembly, decoration, polishing and mounting with scabbard.

関の刃物は他を引き離します

Swords can be made in more modern ways in 3 to 4 weeks by master craftsmen

次回は鹿児島の桜島に向かいます

The average price of a real nihonto sword is 400,000 to 600,000 yen

火山体験です

or $4,000 to $6,000.

ＯＮＬＹinJAPANをご覧になりありがとうございます

If you want the best, be prepared to pay $13,000 to $20,000

最新のエピソード、プレイリスト、そして登録お願いいたします

– or even more depending on the craftsman.

Each one is forged special in this way.

The block is then elongated, cut, folded, and forge welded again.

As the steel gets stronger from being folded,

it requires a trio to hammer.

As you can see, there's a rhythm to the process.

Tamahagane or jewel steel is the type of steel used,

made in the traditional Japanese way,

in a clay tub furnace.

It contains around 1

Oh, and it's illegal to export Tamahagane steel!

That ensures that the best swords are only made in Japan.

In this demostration, the metal is hammered and folded only 5 times.

For the forging demo, that's enough.

The work to lengthen, craft, polish and sharpen will katana will take a lot of skill as well.

On the table you can see the steps of sword construction.

Respect to the master swordsmiths of Seki.

This chambara performance made me want to buy a sword!

But for me, maybe not a real one.

If you want to buy something cheaper,

there are display swords which you can take home with you for less than US$100.

The edges are dull but they look the part.

This doesn't have a blade.

It really doesn't!

You can tell right away.

This also can't cut anything.

Right, but the weight is the same as a real one.

The same?

Well, this is only for display.

That's right.

How much is it?

This is —

10,000 Yen ($100)

It's really is beautiful.

Thank you.

This is a display kodachi or short sword.

Pretty cool!

Unlike the these professionals who wield real katana,

I'd best stick to non-lethal weapons for now.

WHAT'S A DISPLAY SWORD GOOD FOR?

It can become the most dangerous looking mirror in the world.

Good hair day.

Seki and the cutlery festival was a lot of fun.

The city mascot even has knives as ears.

The Homono Matsuri or Cutlery Festival is the perfect time to visit Seki.

TIt's not just for knife and sword enthusiasts.

It's a place where we can say the soul of japan still exists strong,

in manufacturing something so well, it's perfect.

Japanese knives are some of the best in the world

if not THE best

and Seki city is the place to be if you're interested in knives

because it's back with centuries of making Samurai swords

and that kind of history is put into the knives they make today.

Seki knives are a cut above the rest.

Next time I head to Kagoshima's SAKURAJIMA