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When a new product is associated with a story, it adds another dimension. And that is exactly the case here.
Kibune Shrine, or also Kifune Jinja, is a Shinto shrine in the village of the same name near Kyoto. It is dedicated to the goddess of water and rain, Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto. She is worshipped mainly by those whose livelihood is connected with seafaring or the food industry. One such shrine is also located in the city of Seki. After all, knife production is closely related to food. It is not surprising that this deity became a priority for the family of the founder of Suncraft.
Shinto shrines are known for the huge trees that grow on their grounds. They represent certain virtues and are therefore a very important element of these sacred complexes. In 2019, a strong typhoon hit Seki. A more than 300-year-old oak tree at Kibune Shrine fell victim. Due to the long-standing relationship between the Kawashima family and the priest of this shrine, Suncraft was able to purchase part of the trunk of the uprooted tree. The priest consecrated it before handing it over.
The question arose of how to use the sacred wood. Given its limited quantity, the choice fell on the ferrule of the new limited edition of luxury knives. There was too little usable wood to make entire handles. The ferrule, although it may not seem like it, is a rather demanding element in the construction of the knife. It is quite subtle for its role. A small amount of material is used to hold the blade in place and at the same time strengthen the end of the handle. Therefore, solid and stable materials such as resin, stabilized wood or horn are most often used for their production. However, this is a solid wood with all its quirks. This problem caused a significant slippage in the production of the edition. However, a solution was found and today we can enjoy this masterpiece. The edition was named Senzo Dawn, meaning the beauty of dawn. It consists of only two knives, but they are worth it. Gyuto with a 200 mm blade and Petty with 150 mm. A total of 2000 pieces were produced. Although the knives are not numbered, each importer can receive numbered cassettes.
The blade has 101 layers. Its beautiful Suminagashi damascene pattern stands out perfectly on a special dark base, which the manufacturer called Jet Black. The core is made of high-speed tool steel SPG2 processed by powder metallurgy. The hardness of SPG2 is up to 63HRC. The blade has a convex Hamaguri grind. The sacred oak ferrule is separated from the octagonal handle by a brass ring. The stabilized pakkawood wood used for the handle has a beautiful texture. An interesting detail is the ferrule cap with a damascene pattern.
Such a product cannot be placed anywhere other than in a dignified wooden sarcophagus. The cassette is made of paulownia and the importer's logo and the serial number of the knife are laser engraved on the bottom.
Senzo Dawn, as the flagship of the Suncraft company, was immediately accepted into our Nippon Knives' Top Gun Academy.
©2025 Copyright Roman Ulík, Nippon Knives, www.japonskenoze.sk all rights reserved.
Photos and texts are protected by copyright law and their use without the author's consent is not possible.
About producer
Seki, with a tradition longer than 700 years, belongs together with the Sakai and Tosa regions to the oldest centers of Japanese blacksmithing. The ideal conditions for this craft attracted many blacksmiths already at the end of the 12th century. The legendary Motoshige was among them. He was aware of the presence of high-quality iron ore sand, pine peat and the proximity of water sources. Everything a blacksmith needs for his work. Adding to their craftsmanship, swords were created that quickly gained their reputation. The saying that a Seki blade will never bend or break accompanies local products to this day.
The fact that 40% of the local industry belongs to the knife industry speaks of the specialization of the city of Seki. Many important manufacturers of famous brands such as Masahiro, Kasumi, Mcusta-Zanmai, Hattori and many others are located here. Nippon Knives brings you another one - SUNCRAFT.
Kawashima Industries, the owner of the Suncraft brand, is one of the bigger manufacturers in Seki. Since 1947, it has specialized in knives and various other kitchen tools. The credo of the company is to investigate the needs of customers and respond flexibly to them. Significant investments in development and research help it to do so.
As is common in Japan, Kawashima Industries is a family business in which individual generations take turns. The founders of the company are rightfully proud of their ancestor, Mr. Senzo. He participated with his own resources in the construction of public zones and facilities in the city of Seki. He always had respect for its inhabitants and their needs. The current owners have the same respect for their customers. And in order not to forget the legacy of their ancestor, they call the knives made by company craftsmen Senzo.
©2019 Copyright Roman Ulík, Nippon Knives, www.japonskenoze.sk all rights reserved.
Photos and texts are protected by copyright law and their use without the consent of the author is not possible.
