Saji knives, made by Takeshi Saji, are representative works of Echizen Forged Cutlery. Echizen (Takefu-city, Fukui Pref. today) is well known as a region of cutlery manufacturing, having about 700 years of history in Japan. Takeshi Saji is a third generation blacksmith and is a leading maker of outdoor custom knives in Japanese style, who also works on kitchen knives today. The photo is of Takeshi Saji at work.