Name: Yoshimi Kato AS Kurouchi Nakiri
Brand: Yoshimi Kato
SKU: KATO-001
Price: 200.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

Yoshimi Kato AS Kurouchi Nakiri Purchase options

First Impressions

Excellent sharpness out of the box and an impressively even thin and even grind along the length of the blade as you'd expect from a blacksmith of Yoshimi Kato's skill and experience. This is a high performance knife by any measure.

Beauty

Available in either nashiji or kurouchi finishes and with a variety of handles these are some of our favourites - subtle and classy knives made to an excellent standard.

In Hand

Nice and light with a traditional wa handle and a good balance point, fit and finish around the heel of the knife it's easy to use, nimble and comfortable in hand.

Perhaps a little unusually, the wa handled versions of this blade are of a thicker profile than the full tang yo handle so if you prefer a thinner and lighter knife, the full tang pakka wood handle is the one to choose.

Durability

The aogami super blue core has been hardened to around 63-64HRC and is comparable to many carbon steels for sharpness and edge retention and will keep an impressive edge sharpness.

Ease of Care

Normal carbon steel care instructions apply as always - rinse and dry after use and no dishwashers but other than that you've got a nice low maintenance stainless knife thanks to the AS core and stainless cladding.

We recommend a carbon steel care kit for long term maintenance and keeping it in the best condition!

Our Verdict

The AS is a super daily knife and one we'd absolutely be reaching for to do a wide range of jobs. The grind and edge consistency are excellent.

It combines great out of the box performance, looks and durability so it's definitely one we're happy to recommend and we're big fans of Kato san.

Product Quick View

Want to see a little more of the knife? Check out what the knife looks like in hand and up close.

Product details

Blade Length: 162mm (Measurement of the cutting edge)
Total Length: 295mm (Blade + Handle)
Blade Thickness: 1.95mm (Measured level with heel)
Blade Height: 52.7mm (Heel to spine)
Total Weight: 183 grams
Core Steel: Super Blue Steel
This knife is made from a reactive carbon steel which is not stainless and therefore has some special care instructions and properties.

Read the carbon steel care guide
Order a carbon steel care kit
Cladding Steel: Stainless
Hardness: 63-64 (HRC)
Handle Style: Japanese
Handle Material: Various
Left or Right handed: Either (Double Bevel)

Product SKU: KATO-001

Our aim is to measure and photograph all our products as accurately as possible but due to the handmade nature of many items, please be aware that there may be some variance in the measurements and that things such as blade and knife handle patterns can vary and presentation boxes may differ from those shown but we will always endeavour to provide the most accurate measurements, photos and descriptions of our products.

Some measurements such as HRC are provided by the manufacturer and should therefore be used as a guide.

Protection & care for this knife

A photo of various protective guards for Japanese chef knives

Due to the height of the knife, we recommend a handmade leather nakiri saya or gyuto size (27x5.5cm) blade guard.

Saya & Guards Knife Racks & Storage Sharpening & Blade Care

Blacksmith Profile

Yoshimi Kato

Yoshimi Kato San is the son-in-law of Hiroshi Kato San and is a highly skilled and renowned blacksmith working at the Takefu knife village where he creates his own ranges of knives as well as knives for other brands such as Masakage.

View all knives from Yoshimi Kato

Yoshimi Kato AS Kurouchi Nakiri