Hatsukokoro Yoake Blue #1 Kiritsuke Gyuto 210mm

About this range

First Impressions

This is an interesting collection, the obvious first impression is you're going to be drawn to that incredibly thick spine above the heel and blade height which is fair. 

Once you've gone beyond that initial first impression, it's clear there's an excellent knife here that boasts a thin and consistent grind behind the edge and one that's actually quite nimble in hand given its significant size.

Beauty

The soft iron kurouchi finished cladding running down to a migaki finish at the shinogi line and an eye catching wave line of the exposed Blue #1 core steel which over time will look great as it develops its patina.

The hand forging and finishing on some blades does vary a little across the knives and you may find some scratches and scrapes on the kurouchi finish so if you're seeking absolute perfection, this perhaps isn't the collection for you. We've paired the subtle blades with a classic octagonal wenge handle with black buffalo horn bolster.

In Hand

Across the range, they're big knives. They're extremely thick on the spine above the heel and relatively tall compared to similarly sized knives. This means they're also fairly heavy on the scales but when it's actually time to use them, that weight feels natural and well balanced and for such large knives - actually quite nimble.

The balance point in a pinch grip rests quite nicely where your thumb would want to be, just above the heel. It's a workhorse of a knife and would be great in a busy kitchen if you keep up with the carbon steel care.

Durability

The blue #1 core is treated to around 62±1HRC so a good mid-point between robustness and hard enough to offer great edge retention. 

Ease of Care

It should be noted that this is a fully reactive knife so both core and cladding react with moisture and your ingredients. As such, the care requirements for this steel combination are a little higher than some knives. Learn more about carbon steel care here.

We would recommend periodically treating it with a little camellia oil and in the event of rust spots forming on the soft iron cladding a quick pass with a rust eraser is all you need. For long term maintenance, we recommend our carbon steel care kit.

Please note: These knives are sold with an initial coating of lacquer applied to the core steel of the blade to protect them before use and we recommend this is removed. You can do this by cleaning them with an acetone solvent and then washing with warm soapy water.

Our Verdict

This is a solid workhorse of a knife, thick, tall and with a bit of weight behind it and so ideally suited to someone looking for those extra milimeters of height and thickness and who prefers a heavier overall knife. It is still nimble in hand (relatively speaking) which we didn't entirely expect when we first opened the box but certainly appreciate. 

Hatsukokoro have partnered with the same blacksmith who makes their stunning Komorebi line but the identity of the maker remains a closely guarded secret between Hatsukokoro and the blacksmith. This is more common these days as blacksmiths and brands collaborate on different products but have to find ways to market their varying product lines. 

If your shopping list has thick, tall and carbon steel on it then this should definitely be a knife to seriously consider.