Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata

Have you noticed how Japanese knives are becoming more popular around the world?
One reason is simple: they’re made with incredible skill—and with the person using them in mind.

Today, let’s take a closer look at Tsubame-Sanjo, one of Japan’s most famous areas for knives and metal goods, located in Niigata Prefecture.

Tsubame-Sanjo is the name used for two neighboring cities, Tsubame and Sanjo, right in the center of Niigata.
Niigata is often known for rice, but if you ask people in Japan about metalwork, Tsubame-Sanjo is the first place that comes up.

The story goes back to the Edo period. During the farming off-season, local people began making traditional Japanese nails by hand. These nails were essential for wooden buildings, and the techniques developed back then became the foundation of the region’s craftsmanship.

Over time, those skills evolved. Nails turned into tools, tools turned into kitchenware—and today, Tsubame-Sanjo is known worldwide for its knives, tin products, bowls, and other everyday items made to last.

Personally, I use a nail file made in Tsubame-Sanjo, and the difference is obvious the moment you try it. It just works better.

At SANTAKA, the knife in our CHOPLATE series is also made in Tsubame-Sanjo.
Sharp enough to make prep feel effortless, and sized just right to pair perfectly with CHOPLATE. →Discover CHOPLATE

It’s the kind of knife you grab without thinking—
and before you know it, it’s the one you reach for every day.