OSAKA, Japan — Located in Osaka’s historic kitchenware district, Tojiro Knife Gallery Osaka reinterprets Japanese cutlery culture through a contemporary spatial language. The space combines a knife retail area with an open maintenance room, allowing visitors to observe sharpening and repair processes carried out by skilled craftsmen. 

The project earned Katata Yoshito Design a Dezeen Award 2025. The Tojiro Knife Gallery project was selected from over 4,300 entries submitted from more than 80 countries, and was recognized for its clarity of concept, craftsmanship-driven approach, and cultural depth.

The project places particular emphasis on integrating production and retail. The maintenance room is equipped with the same machines and tools used at Tojiro’s main factory in Tsubame-Sanjo, enabling everything from daily maintenance to complex repairs. 

A key architectural feature is the reinterpretation of yoroi-bari, a traditional Japanese construction technique, as a knife display system. Knives appear to float on wooden panels, secured by concealed magnets and precise structural detailing that balances safety, functionality, and visual tension. The warm wooden interior contrasts with an armor-like stainless-steel facade, creating a continuous design language that clearly articulates the different functions of the space.

Technical sheet

• Area: 40 square meters
• Design: Katata Yoshito Design
• Design cooperation and construction: C.E. Management Company
• Lighting design: Katata Yoshito Design / Sunwork Company
• Furniture production: Sunwork Company