Seki, Sword making center in Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Seki is a city in Gifu Prefecture in central Honshu, located south of the Japanese Alps. The hills and forested valleys stretch along several river courses, with the center developing around rail lines and main roads.
The sword-making tradition began in the 13th century when smiths from Kyushu settled here and benefited from the quality of the iron ore and water. The workshops supplied warriors with weapons for centuries before shifting to cutting tools.
The name of this place comes from the Japanese word for "barrier", which refers to checkpoints travelers once passed on their way through the mountains. Today the city remains known throughout Japan for the craft workshops that produce kitchen knives used in restaurants and homes across the country.
The city sits about 30 minutes north of Gifu and is easiest to reach by car, as workshops are scattered across several neighborhoods. Visiting in autumn or spring is more comfortable when temperatures are mild and the surrounding forests change color.
The smiths here developed a technique in which multiple layers of steel are folded repeatedly to create a blade that stays sharp while remaining flexible. This process produces the wavy pattern on the surface that often resembles flowing water.
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