Observed arrival · 2026-09-21
Mei Index Reads the Kanji on Japanese Knives
A searchable database identifies Japanese knife makers, blade marks, regions, steels, knife types, prices, and care guidance.
○Open
⊠Login
$Paid
†Ads
✦Pretty
●Pro
◎Niche
◉Human
⚑Risk
ƒJS
- For
- Japanese knife owners decoding blade marks
- Worth noticing
- Entries identify whether the blade was seen in person, alongside steel, region, knife type, and sharpening guidance.
Field notes
The index combines kanji search with a browseable catalog of makers, steels, knife types, and regional price references. Its records label whether a maker or blade was seen in person, and the homepage names Tsubame-Sanjo as the documentation base. The site also maintains a glossary of construction and finish terms such as honyaki, kasumi, warikomi, and kurouchi, alongside sharpening guidance tied to steel type.
Observed signals
Read the marks
Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
○OpenPublic substance visible
$PaidCommerce or pricing visible
✦PrettyNotable craft visible
●ProPolished or operationally mature
◎NicheUnusually specific use
◉HumanPersonal, local, civic, or handmade
One card from the complete issue