Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和薄刃・柳刃包丁 堺登録武正作/堺秀岳

● IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CERTAIN EU COUNTRIES - IOSS SHIPMENTS UNDER EUR 150

Due to recent changes in EU import procedures, temporary shipping restrictions may apply to IOSS shipments under EUR 150 to the following countries:

- Austria
- Germany
- Finland
- France
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Portugal
- Poland

Shipping availability may change depending on Japan Post and the destination country's postal procedures.

Please consider this possibility before placing a bid.

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Vintage Japanese Usuba & Yanagiba Kitchen Knife Set – Sakai Takemasa / Sakai Shūgaku – Traditional Japanese Knives – Set of 2

A distinctive set of two vintage Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a traditional Usuba vegetable knife and a long Yanagiba slicing knife.

Both knives are signed and retain interesting period details, including original labels on their wooden handles. The combination of two specialized Japanese blade forms makes this an appealing set for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, enthusiasts of traditional Japanese culinary tools, and experienced users interested in restoring older Japanese knives.

1. Usuba Knife – 堺登録 武正作 / Sakai Registered Takemasa-saku

The broad, rectangular blade is engraved:

「堺登録 武正作」
Sakai Tōroku Takemasa-saku
(Sakai Registered – Made by Takemasa)

Near the lower portion of the blade is the same distinctive emblem accompanied by the number “30” seen on other Takemasa knives.

The exact historical meaning of this emblem and number has not been confirmed, so the “30” is not presented as part of the maker's name, but simply as an additional mark appearing on the blade.

The wooden handle retains an attractive gold-colored period label reading:

「料理庖刀製作販売　最高名誉賞　総理大臣賞受領　堺武正」

The label refers to the manufacture and sale of cooking knives and bears the wording “Prime Minister's Award” (総理大臣賞) together with the name Sakai Takemasa.

The Usuba is one of the classic specialized forms of Japanese kitchen knife, traditionally associated with precise vegetable preparation.

Approximate dimensions from the photograph:

Overall length: approx. 33 cm
Blade length: approx. 20 cm
Handle length: approx. 13 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5.0–5.5 cm
2. Yanagiba Knife – 堺秀岳 / Sakai Shūgaku

The second knife is a long and elegant traditional Yanagiba, engraved:

「堺秀岳」
Sakai Shūgaku

The wooden handle also retains a matching 「堺秀岳」 label.

Its long, narrow blade profile is characteristic of the Yanagiba, the traditional Japanese slicing knife designed for long, controlled cuts and particularly associated with sashimi and fish preparation.

Approximate dimensions from the photograph:

Overall length: approx. 38 cm
Blade length: approx. 24–25 cm
Handle length: approx. 13–14 cm
Two Classic Japanese Knife Forms

This lot brings together two highly characteristic forms of traditional Japanese cutlery.

The Usuba, with its tall rectangular blade, represents the specialized Japanese vegetable knife, while the Yanagiba, with its long and slender profile, represents the traditional slicing knife used for delicate fish preparation.

The Usuba is particularly interesting for its 「堺登録 武正作」 inscription, surviving Takemasa award label, and additional emblem bearing the number “30.” The Yanagiba complements it with its clearly visible 「堺秀岳」 inscription and matching handle label.

Rather than modern reproductions, these are genuine vintage working knives that display the patina and traces of previous use accumulated over many years.

Condition – Important, Please Read Before Bidding

These are vintage used Japanese knives offered in their present, unrestored condition.

They show various signs of age and previous use, including:

Dirt and discoloration
Rust and oxidation
Scratches and surface wear
Edge chips
Damage/chipping to the blade tips
Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
Chips/damage around the ferrule or handle areas
Dirt, scratches and wear on the wooden handles
Handwritten markings
Other age-related wear and deterioration

They have not been professionally restored, polished or sharpened for this sale.

Please carefully examine all photographs before bidding, as the photographs form an important part of the condition description.

This lot is recommended only for buyers who understand the condition of vintage Japanese knives and who have the knowledge and ability to perform cleaning, sharpening and any necessary repairs/restoration themselves.

Please bid only if you accept the knives in their present vintage condition.

A characterful pair combining two classic Japanese knife forms, with identifiable Sakai Takemasa and Sakai Shūgaku markings and surviving period labels — an appealing restoration project as well as an interesting addition to a collection of traditional Japanese culinary tools.
■ IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING

● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK,UNITED KINGDOM,UNITED STATES (USA)

● bidding and payment
please do not place a bid if you do not intend to complete the purchase and make payment. by placing a bid, you confirm full intention to complete payment if you win. non-paying bidders cause serious delays. if payment is not completed after reminders from catawiki, the order may be cancelled under catawiki policy.

● condition of the item
all items are vintage, antique, or pre-owned unless stated otherwise. signs of age, wear, scratches, stains, rust, oxidation, patina, repairs, sharpening marks, and other imperfections should be expected.
please carefully examine all photos before bidding. photos form an important part of the description.
please also understand that some defects or imperfections may not be visible in photographs. hidden or non-visible flaws may exist.
in addition, the condition of the item may change during transport due to vibration, impact, temperature, humidity, or handling.
therefore, items are sold strictly for buyers who have knowledge and ability to perform cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair if necessary. this lot is not suitable for buyers expecting fully restored or ready-to-use items without maintenance.
all measurements are approximate.

● important notice regarding traditional japanese knife handles
traditional japanese kitchen knives (wa-bocho) use replaceable wooden handles. handles are consumable parts and may require repair or replacement due to age, drying, shrinkage, cracking, looseness, or transport stress. replacement parts are not included.

● shipping restrictions - knives
due to uk law, we do not ship knives to the united kingdom. due to strict regulations, we also do not ship knives to denmark. shipments to other countries may also be restricted depending on local laws. bids from restricted countries will be cancelled.

● international shipping - customs
import rules for knives vary by country. buyer confirms legality of import. seller ships from japan with accurate customs declarations. customs delays, inspections, confiscations, taxes, or import issues are outside seller control.

● countries we do not ship to
We do not ship to the United States at this time due to ongoing international shipping restrictions.
Shipping service to the United States remains temporarily suspended and we are currently unable to accept orders with US delivery addresses.
We also temporarily do not ship to Portugal due to logistics instability.
Bids from these countries will be cancelled.

● international situation - shipping limitations
due to global conditions, sanctions, transport restrictions, or postal issues, shipping may become impossible to certain countries. in such cases, orders may be cancelled.

● important notice for italy
delivery to italy may take one month or longer due to customs and postal delays. please bid only if you accept this.

● no combined shipping
each item will be shipped separately even if multiple items are purchased.

● shipping method and delivery time
all items are shipped from japan via japan post. estimated delivery time is 3?4 weeks. delivery time is not guaranteed.

● import duties and taxes (EU buyers)
import duties, VAT, and other taxes are not included. buyer is responsible for all charges.

● customs contact and buyer responsibility
buyer must respond to customs requests promptly. failure may result in delay, return, confiscation, or destruction of parcel.

● returned parcels
if returned due to customs refusal or non-response, reshipping requires double shipping cost.

● force majeure
seller is not responsible for delays or failures caused by war, sanctions, disasters, postal suspension, or other force majeure events.

● agreement
by placing a bid, you confirm you have read and accepted all conditions and understand the item may contain non-visible defects and may require cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair.