The Legend
Tsukuyomi, or Tsukuyomi no Mikoto (月読尊) is the moon God in Shinto and Japanese mythology. Unlike similar deities from mythologies around the world, the Japanese deity of the moon is in fact male rather than female, and was the second of the "three noble children" (三貴子 Mihashira-no-uzunomiko) born when Izanagi no Mikoto (the god responsibile for the creation of Onogoroshima, the first land) was purifying himself of his sins. Tsukuyomi came into being after being washed out of Izanagi's right eye during this ritual cleansing.
As the God of the Moon, Tsukuyomi represents the themes of balance, sensitivity, intuition, and graceful elegance.
The Knife
As a being of sacred importance, our Smith pays homage to Tsukuyomi with a beautifully crafted piece of metallurgy: a knife with a blue wood handle reminiscent of the night sky, hand-carved moon bolsters, and a rhodium-plated Tanto blade. The blade itself is inscribed with the kanji for Tsukuyomi no Mikoto and is approximately 4-5 inches in length.
Care
The blade of the TSUKUYOMI is crafted from a non-stainless high carbon steel that must be kept away from water to prevent oxidization. A layer of lacquer is applied initially upon creation in order to protect it, but this layer will eventually wear off (please do not remove this by force). The blade can be cared for using oil or a carbon steel eraser should a patina start to build up. If you wish to have receive the blade without the lacquer coating, please reach out to us at info@hatanosen.com with your order number and request.
Safety
In accordance with Shopify's regulations regarding the sale of weapons, it is important to note that the TSUKUYOMI is NOT a weapon, but a kitchen utility knife. It can and should only be used for general purpose activities such as cutting fruits, opening packages, skinning fish, and other miscellaneous tasks.
