In Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture—an area known for blade production—there is only one company that continues to make Higonokami: “Nagao Kanekoma Factory.” Its fifth-generation head, Mitsuo Nagao, originally worked as a salaried employee before inheriting the craft of Higonokami from his father. Since then, he has devoted himself to creating both traditional and original new styles of knives. Once on the verge of disappearing, the Higonokami has recently been rediscovered by collectors and knife enthusiasts overseas, sparking a quiet boom on a global scale.

The region has long been known for “Miki Hardware,” with numerous factories producing tools such as saws and other metal implements. Higonokami knives, forged in the same way, were no exception, and historical records show that many blacksmiths once lived and worked here. The Higonokami was used everywhere: children sharpened pencils, carved wood and bamboo toys, or peeled fruit with it—it was truly a “national knife.” It was sold at stationery stores and many other shops, inexpensive enough for children to buy with their pocket money. Later, the utility knife (cutter knife) became widespread, but Higonokami knives had already circulated in great numbers. One theory about the name says that, since many of the company’s trade partners were in southern Kyushu, it was named after “Higo,” the old provincial name of Kumamoto.

Structurally, Higonokami knives are made with the “warikomi” method, where hard steel is sandwiched between layers of soft iron—an approach also used for kitchen knives. Some models even use premium steel known as “Aogami” (blue paper steel). The handle is made by bending brass, and the blade is riveted in place. While the production process is somewhat standardized, the blades themselves are still forged traditionally: repeatedly heated, hammered, and quenched to create a tough, resilient edge. Though originally intended for children, the knife is a genuine cutting tool with sharpness and strength.

Nagao has expanded the product line beyond the simple traditional model, developing many variations to open new markets. There are large and small sizes, grips with distinctive designs, and even blades shaped like butterflies. Each is full of creativity and ingenuity.

Although the Higonokami once declined, Nagao’s efforts have brought it renewed popularity among enthusiasts. In particular, overseas outdoor culture has embraced it, where people place importance on the knives they carry. A French knife magazine once devoted several pages to the Higonokami, showing how beloved it has become worldwide. Japanese television has also featured it several times—when actor Hiroshi Fujioka visited the factory, he fondly peeled an apple with a Higonokami.

In Ikeda Town, Nagano Prefecture, Aizome Elementary School has kept a tradition for over 40 years in which every student owns a Higonokami as part of their education. Each year, the PTA purchases them as gifts for new students. The children use them just as in the past—for sharpening pencils, craft projects, and more. One day, Nagao himself was invited by the students to the school, where he taught them how to handle the knives. He recalled: “The children held the knives with such steady hands—it was truly moving. It gave me new motivation to continue making them.”

Nagao admits he sometimes feels a pang of sadness when people ask, “What is this knife used for?” during sales events. Yet, in the French knife magazine mentioned earlier, one line described the Higonokami as “the origin of imagination.” Nagao resonated strongly with that sentiment. He says, “With a single knife, you can make things or prepare food. I hope people use it with the mindset of imagining how to put it to use.”

In today’s world, where tools are increasingly specialized and material goods overflow, the simple yet sharp Higonokami becomes a versatile tool limited only by the user’s creativity. The old custom of exercising imagination through tools in daily life—that habit is fading, but thanks to Nagao and devoted users, the Higonokami has been miraculously preserved. This continuity may carry profound meaning for our times.