Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue #2 Nakiri 120mm

Made in Tosa for Hatsukokoro, the Kurogane Blue #2 is a classic and rugged workhorse range using a traditional combination of durable Blue #2 core steel clad in soft iron.

Across the range, you'll find a moderate distal taper and relatively thick profile that feels reassuringly durable but one that offers smooth cutting performance and food release.

A traditional kurouchi finish and vertical hairline grind down to the core and edge are a typical look for many Japanese knives and one that always looks great once your patina begins to form on the blade too.

The Kurogane is available with a selection of pre-fitted wa handles to compliment and contrast the blade finish.

The Kurogane is very much a workhorse profile, it feels tough and durable and one you'd reach for when you don't want to worry about prepping those root veggies or peeling something with a harder skin.

Obviously it's still not an axe and you need to practice good cutting technique but we particularly like how these knives feel and the out of the box edge is good for a knife at this price point so making finer cuts is no problem either.

The Blue #2 core has been hardened to around 62-63HRC and so offers a good level of edge retention between sharpening and with the workhorse profile it's a good choice for a busy kitchen and lots of prep.

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 and both are included in our carbon steel care kit which is perfect for long term maintenance.