180mm Hatsukokoro Kurokaze Wa Gyuto Birch Handle

H & K’s house brand is called Hatsukoro. The brand is supplied by a handful of manufacturers from different notable knifemaking regions such as Seki, Tosa and Sanjo. 

Location: Amagasaki, Japan

Line: Kurokaze

Construction: San mai

Edge Steel: shirogami #2(white #2)

Cladding: Stainless Steel

Finish: Kurouchi

Edge Grind: 50/50 (Double Bevel)

Handle: octagonal stabilized birch with micarta spacer.

Weight: ~172 grams

Blade Length: ~180mm

Overall Length: ~333mm

Thickness at Heel: ~4.2mm

Blade Height: ~44.2mm

The best sharpening tools for Japanese knives are leather strops and fine whetstones.

Japanese chef knives are brittle and are designed for cutting soft tissue foods. High Carbon steel chef knives can rust if not kept dry.