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Home | Japanese Kitchen Knives | Sakai Kikumori Nakagawa Seiun 210mm Gyuto VG10 Ebony with Saya

Sakai Kikumori Nakagawa Seiun 210mm Gyuto VG10 Ebony with Saya

$1,049.00
$1,049.00
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Hand forged by Nakagawa Hamono for Sakai Kikumori. Seiun translates to 'nebula', stars and clouds in Kanji, speaking to their shimmering finish. It's not difficult to appreciate both beauty and functionality in these knives, as they represent the best version of VG10 available. While not the thinnest-spined knifes in our stock, they are impressively thin behind the edge due to an expertly convex hamaguri grind and will prove so in a smooth, effortless cutting feel.

Nakagawa-san's knives are characterized by excellent heat control during forging and a very thorough heat treatment. This creates knives that have superb edge formation and edge retention, with good toughness. Nakagawa-san's reputation is well earned as one of a few blacksmiths in Sakai to expertly forge Ginsanko, VG10, and STRIX stainless steels. Likewise, his carbon steels are easy to sharpen across most steel types.

Sakai Kikumori was started in 1926 and draws on Sakai's 600 year history as the major center of traditional Japanese cutlery manufacturing. They work with a large variety of Sakai's best smiths, sharpeners and small factories to offer a wide variety of knives ranging from traditional to modern.



About This Knife

General Purpose

Good for veggies and boneless protein

Avoid Bones & Dense Foods

If you can't bite it, don't cut it.

Stainless Steel

Non-reactive blade.

Convex Grind

Super smooth cutting feel.

Ambidextrous

Suitable for all users.

Gyuto

A Japanese chef’s knife inspired by Western profiles, the gyuto is versatile and balanced. It excels on vegetables, boneless meat, and fish. Its pointed tip allows for precision, while the gentle curve supports rocking cuts.

Listed Length: 210mm
Total Length: 349mm
Edge Length: 201mm
Heel Height: 48mm
Spine Thickness: 3.5mm
Weight:
Orientation: Ambidextrous

Blade Type: Stainless Steel
Steel Type: VG10
Steel Hardness (HRC): 61-62
Reactive: No
Handle Type: Japanese (wa)
Handle Material: Ebony & Horn Ferrule

  • This is a stainless steel knife made from thin, hard steel.
  • Hand wash and towel dry after use. Do not air dry or use the dishwasher. Regular neglect can lead to oxidation.
  • Avoid twisting, scraping, or use on dense or hard foods and surfaces to avoid early dulling and edge damage. If you wouldn't bite into it, don't cut it with this knife.
  • Use on wooden cutting boards only. Do not use bamboo, cheap plastics or metal cutting boards.

Dive Deeper

Medium-fine finish

We recommend sharpening by hand using whetstones starting around 1000 grit progressing to at least 4000 for this steel type and edge geometry. Finish with a monodiachrome strop for a smooth cut with a substantial bite. Finer finishes are possible, but the knife may slide on smooth foods and overall edge retention may suffer. During repair, use a super coarse stone to pass chips quickly to help keep flat bevels.

  • Avoid pull-through sharpeners and non-water-cooled mechanized systems.
  • Strops and ceramic honing rods are preferred for as-needed edge maintenance. If you have to use a honing rod to be able to use the knife comfortably, it's time to sharpen the knife.

Sharpening Supplies

Stones & Accessories selected specifically for this knife.

Arato-kun #220 Extra Coarse Grit Whetstone

Arato-kun #220 Extra Coarse Grit Whetstone

$34.00
$34.00
Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 1200 Grit Blue Marble Semi-Soft Ceramic Japanese Whetstone

Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 1200 Grit Blue Marble Semi-Soft Ceramic Japanese Whetstone

$74.00
$74.00
Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 4000 Grit Yellow Semi-Hard Resinoid Japanese Whetstone

Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 4000 Grit Yellow Semi-Hard Resinoid Japanese Whetstone

$82.00
$82.00
Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone Stone NO Wooden Base

Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone Stone NO Wooden Base

$58.00
$58.00
Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone With Nagura Stone and Wooden Base

Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone With Nagura Stone and Wooden Base

$62.00
$62.00
Bernal Cutlery Monodiachrome™ Precharged Deburring Strop

Bernal Cutlery Monodiachrome™ Precharged Deburring Strop

$40.00
$40.00



VG10

Carbon (C): 0.95–1.05% | Chromium (Cr): 14.5–15.5% | Molybdenum (Mo): 0.9–1.2% | Vanadium (V): 0.1–0.3% | Cobalt (Co): 1.3–1.5%

VG‑10 is a cobalt‑bearing stainless famed for combining hardness (~60–62 HRC), corrosion resistance, and fine sharpening response. It takes a very refined edge and holds it well; micro‑chipping can occur on thin edges but is manageable with sound geometry.



About Satoshi Nakagawa


Satoshi Nakagawa is a rising blacksmith from Sakai, Osaka. He trained for 16 years under legendary bladesmith Kenichi Shiraki, becoming Shiraki’s sole apprentice and successor. In 2021, Nakagawa founded Nakagawa Hamono after his mentor’s retirement. Renowned for his versatility, he forges everything from traditional carbon steels but has made a name for himself in working with high alloy stainless steels. Nakagawa’s honyaki knives carry forward Sakai’s legacy with exceptional hardness, beautiful hamon patterns, and superb cutting performance, earning him acclaim among collectors and chefs worldwide.

See All Satoshi Nakagawa