The Higonokami Folding Knife: History, Craft, and Its Place in Japanese Everyday Sword Culture

What is Higonokami

"Higonokami (肥後守)" is a type of small Japanese folding knife with a blade and handle that fold up for storage, more precisely called a Higonokami-type folding knife. It is a folding blade with a mechanism for sheathing the blade in the handle, traditionally used primarily for everyday craftsmanship, pencil sharpening, and agricultural work.

The origin of the name has various theories, but it is believed to have begun in the Meiji period when folding knives produced in the Miki region of Hyogo Prefecture (Harima Province, present-day Miki City), a center of blade craftsmanship, were stamped with the name "Higonokami." "Higonokami" is an official court title (governor of Higo Province) and became a popular stamp to give authority to blades. Today, "Higonokami" is a registered trademark, and the genuine product is manufactured solely by Nagao Komma Manufacturing in Miki City.

Historical Background of Folding Blades

In Japan, commoners were legally forbidden from wearing daito (long swords) and wakizashi (short swords) from the Edo period onward (prohibition of sword-wearing for non-samurai). However, blades were essential in daily life, and small blades were needed for various activities such as agriculture, carpentry, writing, and cooking.

In response to this demand, small folding blades such as the Higonokami were developed. The blade length is typically 4–10 cm, and if it falls under "blade length exceeding 6 cm" according to the Firearms and Swords Control Law, carrying is permitted with justifiable reasons. However, in modern times, carrying blades exceeding 6 cm in blade length in public spaces requires proper justification.

During the Meiji and Taisho periods, the Higonokami became popular as a children's writing instrument. There was a time when elementary school students routinely carried it as a tool for sharpening pencils, and it became established as one of the school supplies until the early Showa period.

Miki City and Blade Culture

Miki City in Hyogo Prefecture, known as the production center of Higonokami, is famous throughout Japan as the "Town of Metal." The history of blacksmithing in Miki dates back to after the Siege of Miki Castle by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Tenshō 6–8, 1578–1580), when craftspeople were gathered from across the nation for reconstruction.

The blade industry in Miki spans a wide range from carpentry tools to agricultural implements and kitchen items, with small folding knives becoming established as everyday products for the common people. The manufacture of Higonokami is performed almost entirely by hand, from the forging of the blade to assembly, sharpening, and finishing.

Today, Nagao Komma Manufacturing, which produces the genuine "Higonokami," continues to manufacture using traditional methods while protecting Miki City's trademark. Products come in size variations such as "large," "medium," and "small" blade lengths, with prices typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand yen, making affordability a defining characteristic.

Structure and Materials of Higonokami

The defining characteristic of Higonokami is its folding structure without a locking mechanism. While many Western folding knives feature a lock mechanism, Higonokami uses a "friction-fit" method, with the blade held fixed only by friction between the handle.

Handle Structure The handle is typically made of brass (yellow bronze) and consists of two metal plates sandwiching the blade. In cheaper models, iron plates may be used. The handle shape is simple with minimal ornamentation, prioritizing practicality.

Blade Material The blade is typically made of high-carbon steel. High-carbon steel is prone to rusting but can be easily sharpened with a whetstone and maintains a sharp edge for long. Budget versions made of stainless steel exist, but traditionally handcrafted Higonokami are primarily made of high-carbon steel.

Sharpening and Maintenance Higonokami can be sharpened with either natural or synthetic whetstones. Due to its short blade and ease of handling, it is considered ideal for learning blade-sharpening techniques. Regular oiling of the axial parts of the handle and blade root ensures longevity.

Higonokami in the Modern Era

The modern Higonokami has been reevaluated in the context of "EDC (Every Day Carry)" culture. Its simple structure without a locking mechanism and its lightweight, compact body have gained renewed attention as an everyday carry tool.

It also enjoys high support among outdoor enthusiasts, with practical applications in camping and mountaineering activities, such as feather-sticking for kindling, cutting food, and severing rope.

Among writers, authors, and artists, the Higonokami is often cherished as "a small blade for writing." It serves as an appropriate tool for fine tasks accompanying desk work, such as adjusting fountain pen nibs, cutting paper, and leather crafting, creating demand among creator communities.

Overseas, it is recognized under the name "Higonokami" and is exported to Western and Asian markets as a traditional Japanese craft.

Spiritual Continuity with Japanese Swords

Higonokami is an entirely different tool from daito and wakizashi, yet it embodies the continuity of Japan's blacksmithing culture. Forging high-carbon steel to create a blade and sharpening it with a whetstone to maintain its cutting edge—these fundamental processes are essentially identical to Japanese sword-smithing.

When Miki blacksmiths forge Higonokami, they shape the steel through traditional charcoal-fired forging (or modern gas-furnace methods) and perform the "hardening" that is the soul of blademaking. Temperature control during hardening and cooling speed determine the blade's hardness and toughness, following the same principles as Japanese swords.

A small folding blade supporting the daily life of commoners and a daito embodying the spirit of the samurai—though differing entirely in scale and purpose, both stand on the common foundation of blacksmithing technique. When holding a Higonokami, one can perceive a microcosm of Japanese blade culture within that small blade.

Conclusion

Higonokami is an oft-overlooked presence in discussions of Japanese sword culture, yet it has been an important tool integral to the everyday blade culture of the common people. In the connection between traditional blacksmithing methods preserved by craftspeople in Miki City and contemporary EDC and craft culture, Higonokami is gaining presence once again.

Approaching through Higonokami—distinct from the appreciation of famous blades and masterworks—can serve as one gateway to deepening understanding of Japanese blade culture through exploration of Japan's blade craftsmanship.