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Yoshikane  |  SKU: YOSH_W2NA_SU24

Hatsuokokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Sujihiki 240mm

Regular price $11,169.00

IMPORTANT: Carbon steel knives can rust or patina quickly if not cared for properly. They require regular cleaning, drying, and oiling. If you are unfamiliar with carbon steel maintenance, we recommend choosing a stainless steel option instead.

Add a saya or K&S Knife Roll to receive $20 bundle discount!

Detailed Specifications
Line Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji
Profile Sujihiki / Slicer
Bevel Type Double Bevel
Weight 185 g | 6.5 oz
Edge Length 241 mm | 9 31/64″
Heel Height 41 mm | 1 39/64″
Width @ Heel 4.0 mm | 5/32″
Width @ Mid 2.0 mm | 5/64″
Width @ 1cm from Tip 0.9 mm | 1/32″
Steel White 2 / Shirogami #2 | Carbon
Blade Construction Sanmai - Stainless Clad
Hardness (HRC) 60 - 64
Surface Finish Nashiji
Handle Octagonal Ebony
Region Sanjo
Best for
  • Pro chefs
  • Students
  • Enthusiasts
  • Free shipping for knives over AU$200 Australia wide.
  • World-wide shipping via DHL Express, 3 to 5 days.


The Yoshikane SKD Nashji line is probably one of the best cutting offerings from the entire K&S offerings. I often use this knife in the store to demonstrate "how a knife should cut". The primary bevels are done in a convex grind which splits food and reduces sticking, and the low chromium content of the SKD steel provides the ability to get an extremely fine and bitey edge, these two features works together with the tapered Sanjo profile results the ultimate Kireaji-the "Cutting Taste" of this line. Landing the edge on the skin of a potato and use two fingers to pull the handle backwards, these blades won't hesitate much when dropping through the entire potato.

For those not familiar with SKD, it is SKD12 also known as A2 tool steel, with about 1% of Carbon content, and only 4.5% of Chromium. Heat treated perfectly by Yoshikane to HRC 63, the SKD very much behaves like carbon steel in terms of taking a very keen edge, the food release and also super easy to sharpen; yet without the need of high maintenance.

With a rustic Nashiji finish coupled with a highly praised Sanjo region F&F, this knife has a very nice profile, large sweet spot, and feels very nimble in hand. SKD Semi-stainless core with stainless cladding ensure the highest cutting performance yet the stainless cladding means you will have little worry about the rust.

Pros Cons
  • Excellent performance
  • Thin behind the edge
  • Great OOTB
  • Semi-stainless can rust
Care Instruction
  1. Don't cut hard things! Japanese knives are brittle so bone hacking is a NO NO!
  2. Wash with neutral detergent after use, and wipe dry;
  3. Please don't wash knife with dishwasher, it will damage the wood handle;
  4. Be careful not to leave the knife close to a heat source for a long time;
  5. It is a lot more dangerous to cut with a blunt knife than a sharp knife!
  6. It is best to sharpen a Japanese knife regularly on a waterstone.
  7. Oil the (carbon) knife if storing for an extended period of time to prevent rust.

Yoshikane Hamono

Traditional Sanjo Knife Maker.

Yoshikane is a boutique knife maker based in Sanjo, Niigata. Founded in 1919 (大正8年),it is one of the most established top quality kitchen knife manufacturers in the region. Many new generation blacksmith in Sanjo took has apprenticeship experience at this knife workshop. 

Headmaster Yamamoto-san believes, “while many things change rapidly nowadays, there are ideas and believes that never change. Everyday I make sure the meaning of these words are forged into knife making”. And indeed because of this firm believe, this workshop produces some of the highest quality kitchen knives with superb fit and finish. The workshop is also very famous for its heat treatment of White 2 and the use of semi-stainless SKD steel. 

“Top performance Japanese kitchen knives from Sanjo, Niigata, renowned for exceptional grind quality and masterful heat treatment of White #2 and SKD semi-stainless steels.”

Est. 1919 | 大正8年
Known for Ultra thin Sanjo grinds, master of Sanjo blacksmith.
Website yoshikanehamono.com Read more about Yoshikane Hamono
Yoshikane Hamono — Sanjo
Profile: Sujihiki
Profile

Sujihiki

Slicer

The Sujihiki, also known as Sujibiki, stands out as a Japanese slicing knife, characterized by a thinner and sharper edge than those found in Western kitchens. Its long blade is ideally crafted for the artful, thin carving of proteins and for slicing terrines and patés with finesse. Blade lengths span from 210mm to 300mm (8.3 to 12 inches), with 240mm and 270mm being particularly favored for their balanced cutting length and agility. When used for their intended purpose Sujihiki has a significant advantage: the slimmer blade will have less surface contact with the soft protein, and lead to reduced frictions during the cut compare to Gyuto as this type of food would "grip" the blade from pushing forward. In addition, the generally flat profile of Sujihiki is a perfect match for slicing tasks, when paired with a carbon steel core, they are some of the best tools for portioning large piece of meat, they can also act as the perfect melon cutter occationaly.
Composition

White 2 / Shirogami #2 Element Composition

Compare with
    White 2 / Shirogami #2
    1.05% 0.8% 0.5% 0.3% 0
    C Carbon 1.05%
    Primary hardening element. Raises hardness and wear resistance — but too much increases brittleness and corrosion susceptibility. As a reference: German 1.4112 (~0.5%) sits at the low end; VG-10 (~1.0%) is a common mid-range; SG2 (1.25–1.45%) and ZDP-189 (~3.0%) represent high and extreme ends respectively.
    C
    1.05%
    Mn Manganese 0.2%
    Aids hardenability and strength. Acts as a deoxidiser during smelting. Excess can reduce toughness.
    Mn
    0.2%
    Si Silicon 0.1%
    Strengthens the steel matrix and acts as a deoxidiser. Improves hardness and resistance to oxidation.
    Si
    0.1%
    P Phosphorus 0.025%
    Impurity from the smelting process. Even small amounts cause brittleness — steelmakers keep this as low as possible.
    P
    0.025%
    S Sulfur 0.004%
    Impurity that reduces toughness and promotes brittleness. Intentionally added only in free-machining steels.
    S
    0.004%
    C — Carbon Mn — Manganese Si — Silicon P — Phosphorus S — Sulfur
    Hardness 60–64 HRC
    555759616365+
    Steel
    White 2 / Shirogami #2
    Category
    Carbon
    Manufacturer
    Hitachi Special Steel, Japan 🇯🇵
    Hardness
    60–64 HRC
    Steel

    White 2 / Shirogami #2

    • Manufacturer
      • Hitachi Special Steel, Japan
    • Nature Carbon
    • Hardness60–64 HRC
    White Steel No.2, also known as Shirogami #2 or White Paper #2, is long regarded as the go-to choice for crafting high-grade Japanese kitchen knives. This steel is celebrated for its capacity to be fashioned into knives that exhibit a sharp cutting edge, moderate tenacity, and long-lasting sharpness, alongside being notably easy to sharpen. While it possesses a slightly lower carbon content (C: 1%) compared to White Steel No.1 (C: 1.3%), it still requires a high level of craftsmanship to manipulate effectively. The expertise of a skilled blacksmith is crucial in transforming this material into a premium quality kitchen knife. Despite its excellent qualities, White Steel No.2 is known to be very reactive; hence, knives made from this steel demand meticulous care, including immediate wiping and drying after use, to prevent corrosion.

    Sanjo and Sakai are known to widely utilise Shirogami #2 in their mainstream kitchen knives.
    Construction: Sanmai - Stainless Clad
    Construction

    Sanmai - Stainless Clad

    Sanmai(Three-Piece) is a common construction for double bevel knives where two pieces of softer cladding steel are forgewelded to each side of a harder core steel. The harder but more brittle core steel will form the hard cutting edge after heat treating, and the softer cladding will support the core to increase the overall strength of the blade.

    The soft cladding enables the thinning process to be a lot easier than a honyaki or monosteel construction. And in the case where the cladding steel are stainless in nature, it can offer protection for the carbon or semi-stainless cores against rusting and discoluoring.

    Finish: Nashiji
    Finish

    Nashiji

    The "nashiji finish" on Japanese kitchen knives refers to a unique, textured surface finish that resembles the skin of an Asian pear, which is known as "nashi" in Japanese. This finish is achieved through a specific hammering and polishing technique, giving the knife blade a distinct, matte appearance with a slightly uneven, tactile surface. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the nashiji finish also provides practical benefits. It helps to reduce food sticking to the blade by creating tiny air pockets between the food and the steel. This finish is commonly found on traditional Japanese knives, such as santokus and nakiris, and is highly valued for both its functional and visual characteristics, enhancing the overall culinary experience.

    Handle
    Handle

    Octagonal Ebony

    • Profile Octagonal WA
    • Material
      • Ebony

    This handle, crafted from a single piece of ebony, exemplifies minimalist elegance and functional design. Its unique octagonal shape, featuring a subtle taper, offers a comfortable grip and a visually appealing geometric profile. The ebony wood, known for its deep, rich color and durability, has been meticulously milled from a single block, ensuring a seamless construction that highlights the wood's natural beauty and grain. The handle's surface has been highly polished, achieving a glossy finish that not only enhances the ebony's luxurious dark hue but also provides a smooth, tactile experience for the user. This design choice reflects a minimalist approach, focusing on simplicity, quality, and usability. The combination of the octagonal shape with the taper adds a modern twist to the classic material, making it a standout piece that blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.

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