Chef's knife, gyuto, with 200 mm long blade.

Steel: Shirogami #2
Cladding: Iron.
Weight: 176 gr.
Blade length tip to heel: 199 mm.
Blade height Heel: 45 mm.

These knives illustrates the art of blacksmithing in the Japanese city of Sakai. The knives are made entirely by hand by the highly skilled blacksmith Yoshikazu Tanaka and he uses shirogami#2 carbon steel which is forged and heat treated with great care. The finish on the blade is very beautiful, a black kurouchi finish on top of a rough sanded surface. A simple yet spectacular finish that leaves no one untouched. The knife fits very well in the hand and has a substantial weight. A really nice knife with great personality.

The handle is octagonal and made of oak.

Yoshikazu Tanaka is a blacksmith operating in the Japanese city of Sakai. Sakai makes many of Japan's most prestigious knives and Yoshikazu Tanaka has built a reputation as one of the best blacksmiths in the region. He works with his own techniques and is very meticulous with details. Traditional methods are usually preferred although sometimes, for example with tempering, the right result is easier to achive by using modern technology. What is clear is that his knives are in a class of their own. His delivery times are getting longer and we predict his creations will be in high demand in a few years.