Sanjo Industry

Sanjo Kagura "Treasure sword forging dance"

 The blacksmithing history of Sanjo is believed to have started in 1625 when Otani Seibei, whom acted as the local magistrate wished to assist the the local farmers whom were suffering from the Ikarashi river floods. Nail makers from Edo (current Tokyo) were invited by Ootani to instruct the local farmers with the skill of nail making as a second form of employment, giving them another source of income. It is said that this act was the beginning of blacksmiting in Sanjo.

 In 1649, a number people starting to consider blacksmithing as their way of life, and in 1658 according to the Land Registry at the time, a number of blacksmiths and blacksmith communities have been registered.

 In 1661, new techniques of forging saws and hatchets were passed on from the Aizu region and from then on, Sanjo spread its wings to other metal goods; from nails, sickles, saws to kitchen knives. Soon specialized blacksmiths were born. Sickles were one of the first mass produced edged tool, and from there the number of merchants and tradesmen whom deal with metal goods begain to rise and long with wholesale distributers. The market area grew from neighbouring regions, and soon to other prefectures.

(Reference: Sanjo Metal Goods Wholesalers' Cooperative "Metal goods and straw sandals")

 Sanjo blacksmiths have continued to perserve its blacksmithing traditions from its early days of forging hand tools. The blacksmithing tradition remains even to this day, but with new additional creations such as items we use in the kitchen, carpentry tools, measuring instruments, gardening supplies, outdoor equipment, everyday appliances and civil engineering equipment.