Synopsis

In this installment of Japanology Plus, host Peter Barakan journeys to Sakai, a city nestled within Osaka Prefecture in Western Japan. Renowned for its bladesmithing since the Muromachi period (1333–1568), Sakai’s craft adapted to changing times. The rise of sushi as a popular street food demanded a variety of knives for vendors. Simultaneously, the bonsai tradition fostered the creation of delicate shears and squeeze-scissors, tools later employed in shaping wagashi confections for the tea cere