A type of dagger used by traditional hunters of the Tohoku region, who are known as matagi, is selling well amid a string of bear sightings and reports of bear-related damage across Japan.
Individually handcrafted by master blacksmith Noboru Nishine in Kita-Akita, Akita Prefecture, the popularity of the daggers, called nagasa, has been boosted by attention on the internet, which has led to yearly growth in sales. The dagger can be used as a kitchen knife or to cut branches, and is popular among those who enjoy outdoor activities.
"One of these is all you need to survive in the mountains," says Nishine, 69, as he points to a piece of iron yet to be crafted into a blade. Nishine is a veteran blacksmith with over 50 years of experience. Once the iron is heated red-hot, he forges the metal by striking it with a hammer.