Blue 2 Kurouchi

Hokiyama Cutlery and Sakai Takayuki have surprisingly a lot in common. Hokiyama Cutlery is the most important manufacturer not only in Kochi Prefecture, but also on the island of Shikoku as a whole. Sakai Takayuki in turn conquered Osaka and Kyoto prefectures. Both companies have strong production potential, but at the same time they cooperate with blacksmiths in their surroundings. Additionally, Shinsuke Hokiyama supplies some roughly machined blades for Sakai Takayuki.

Blue 2 Kurouchi are hand forged blades from blacksmiths working with Sakai Takayuki. As the name suggests, the core is made of the traditional Aogami 2 material, as evidenced by the kanji symbol stamped on the left side of the blade. The outer layers are left in the unpolished Kurouchi form. Their black color goes through dull gray to polished hamon. The edge is symmetrical and, as the tradition of hand-forged Japanese knives dictates, it is of course in the Hamaguri shape.

The half tang blade is very precisely inserted through a ferrule made of stabilized pakka wood into an octagonal handle. It is made of elegant walnut, which creates a desirable contrast to the black ferrule. The knife not only looks high-quality, but it really is. Finally, it bears the quality certificate in the form of Sakai Takayuki kanji characters on the right side of the blade.

In terms of production and materials, these knives are a cultural heritage of Japanese cutlery. 

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