Hatsukokoro Kumokage 255 mm K-Tip Sujihiki Blue-2

Hatsukokoro is a brand from Amagasaki near Osaka City. They collaborate with various blacksmiths and sharpeners throughout Japan and develop new series in an attempt to create some of the best knives in the world, but also really good knives in a lower price range to cater to all different needs.

The Kumokage series is made with Aogami #2 at the core and soft iron around it, so it requires a bit of care when using it, but it makes up for it in cutting ability and how easy it is to sharpen. Kumokage means "Cloud Shadow" and reflects a bit about the knife's appearance and expression. The very raw kurouchi finish on the top of the blade, along with the really beautiful damascus finish down towards the edge, gives the knife a super nice balance between "unfinished" and incredibly well-made.

The handle is a classic Japanese octagonal WA handle made of walnut with a buffalo horn ferrule.

The knife should never be washed in a dishwasher, should not cut into hard items such as bones, cartilage, frozen items, and hard cheeses. Remember that it is a characteristic of thin, hard metal that it can break.