About Echigo Yoita Forged Cutlery
Echigo Yoita forged cutlery are forged bladed tools produced in the Yoita district of Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. Blacksmithing was practiced as a side business during the agricultural off-season from the early Edo period, developing into a production center for carpenter tools—particularly chisels (nomi) and planes (kanna). Known as a producer of high-quality carpenter tools favored by carpenters and woodworkers nationwide, especially sets of combined chisels (kuminomi) which are popular as gifts for craftspeople. Characterized by forge welding of steel and soft iron and precise hardening.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
鍛接（鋼と軟鉄の接合）火造り焼き入れ・焼き戻し研磨仕上げ
Materials
鋼（白鋼・青鋼）軟鉄