Sakai as a city of merchants
お役立ち情報・ネタTea ceremony
The development of "wabi-sabi"culture. During 1500s, Senno Rikyu transformed the practice of drinking tea into the art of tea ceremony. Its essential spirit is that tea must be appreciated in a "wabi-sabi"(quiet, subdued, and refined)atmosphere.
Merchants invested a large amount of money on tea utensils and valued them highly.
Three cornerstones of community, hospitality and association.
Incense sticks
Sakai is a birthplace of the Japanese incense stick. In the 1500s, its production techniques were introduced to Japan from China. As a hub of commerce and trade, Sakai had easy access to the raw materials such as aromatic woods imported from overseas.
Sakai's incense sticks are used as an aromatic for indoors or as a treatment for medical purposes.
Knives
Iron industries, especially swordsmithing, developed rapidly after the import of iron that started in the 500s.
Sakai's knives are admired by people across the world due to their quality and durability.