Yanagiba knife, Aogami 2, Kuoruchi Tsuchime finish - Hatsukokoro Shirasagi

Some more premium Sanjo knives with a classic look and excellent blade detailing. This range is made for Hatsukokoro by a selected master Craftsman. This time by Tamura Toora of Myojin Hamono, and boy has he done a good job.

SHAPE: Yanagiba. This knife is used to slice protein in one continuous movement to minimize damage to the ingredient. This shape features the traditional single bevelled edge so is only suitable for right handed users. This edge design allows the blade to take a razor sharp edge helping with the slicing of fish thinly. Traditional Japanese knives, such as this, must be exclusively sharpened on whetstones.

STEEL: Aogami (blue paper) 2 steel. This is very similar to white paper steel but with tungsten and chromium added to it which helps with edge retention and slows down rusting. This steel differs from Blue 1 in its carbon content, Blue 2 being slightly less. Due to the non stainless nature of this steel care must be taken to dry the knives properly after use.

FINISH: Kurouchi. This is a traditional, rustic finish achieved by leaving the furnace scale from the forging process on the blade rather than polishing it off. It has the advantage of reducing the reactivity of the surface of the knife and gives the blade a stylish, matt black finish.

Tsuchime. This is a hand hammered finish that is not only beautiful but also functional. The small depressions stop food sticking to the knife. This finish comes in many different forms from the traditional round hammer marks to more modern patterns.

SIZE: 270mm or 300mm blade length

MAKER: Hatsukokoro

RANGE: Shirasagi