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Hatsukokoro  |  SKU: HT-YOSHIKUW2-HS150-EB

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Honesuki 150mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

$10,859.00

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 KU White 2 Nashiji
Profile Honesuki / Boning, Garasuki
Bevel Type Double Bevel
Weight 135 g        4.76 oz
Edge Length 157 mm   .6.18 inch
Heel Height 45 mm     .1.77 inch
Width @ Spine 4.0 mm     0.16 inch
Width @ Mid 2.6 mm     0.1 inch
Width @ 1cm from Tip 1.9 mm     0.07 inch
Steel White 2 / Shirogami #2 | Carbon
Blade Construction Sanmai - Stainless Clad
Hardness (HRC) 60 - 64
Surface Finish Nashiji
Handle Octagonal Ebony with Black Horn Ferrule
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 KU Nashiji line is for those who believe a knife’s only job is to cut flawlessly. This is where legendary Yoshikane geometry meets a darker, more rustic attitude, all while hiding its high-maintenance heart under easy-care stainless cladding.

    At its core is Hitachi White #2 steel, a pure carbon steel revered for its ability to take on a scary-sharp, refined edge that harder, chromium-heavy steels can’t match. That legendary sharpness is unleashed by Yoshikane’s masterful thin, convex grind and significant blade taper, which slices through ingredients with minimal resistance and virtually no wedging—even in dense potatoes.

    The difference is in the finish. The nashiji ("pear skin") texture is left darker and more subdued under a rugged Kurouchi (KU) coating, offering a distinctly matte, utilitarian beauty that’s as functional as it is striking.

    You still get Yoshikane’s obsessive fit and finish: a highly polished spine and choil for comfort, and a stunning contrast between the rough finish and the razor-sharp, polished edge.

    It’s a no-fuss, high-performance tool. You get the soul of a carbon steel laser with the stainless cladding’s peace of mind. For pure cutting performance, it remains one of the best values you can find.

    Pros Cons
  • Excellent performance
  • Great for professionals
  • Thin behind the edge
  • High budget
  • Prone to 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

    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 alsp very famous for its heat treatment of White 2 and the use of semi-stainless SKD steel. 

    • Profile: Honesuki

      Boning, Garasuki

      The Honesuki is a specialized Japanese kitchen knife, designed primarily for boning and preparing poultry. Its unique profile features a triangular shape with a pointed tip, ideal for maneuvering around bones and making precise cuts. Unlike Western boning knives, the Honesuki's stiff and narrow blade excels in precision work rather than cutting through bones. Crafted for durability and ease of use, it often comes with a single bevel edge, although double-bevel variants are also available for more versatility. Preferred for its agility and precision, the Honesuki is a favorite among chefs for deboning and preparing meat with minimal waste.

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    • Steel: White 2 / Shirogami #2

      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.

      Manufacturer:

      • Hitachi Special Steel, Japan

      Nature: Carbon

      Hardness: 60- 64

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    • 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.

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    • 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.

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    • Handle Specs

      Profile: Octagonal WA

      Material:

      • Ebony
      • Black Buffalo Horn

      Standard octagonal section and profile handle made with black ebony, with a black buffalo horn ferrule.

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    Hatsukokoro

    Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Honesuki 150mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

    $10,859.00
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