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Home | Japanese Kitchen Knives | Sakai Kikumori Yugiri 180mm Kiritsuke Santoku Stainless Clad Aogami 1

Sakai Kikumori Yugiri 180mm Kiritsuke Santoku Stainless Clad Aogami 1 Ebony with Saya

£343.33
£343.33
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READ IMPORTANT DELIVERY OPTION INFORMATION

Sakai Kikumori 180mm Kritsuke Santoku knife. Aogami 1 carbon steel core with stainless cladding. Ebony octagon handle with buffalo horn ferrule.

Yugiri blacksmiths are from Tanaka Hamono. Tanaka-san’s top level forging and heat treatments make for an unusual ease of sharpening and superb edge life and toughness.

The aogami core is not stainless (for a non-stainless steel it does rust slowly), so keep dry when not in use to avoid rust.

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 materials and styles to more modern, western influenced styles and materials.

 

Everyday Prep

Good for veggies and boneless protein

Avoid Bones & Dense Foods

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

Stainless Clad Carbon

Reactive core steel between two non-reactive layers.

Thin Grind

Particularly thin grind. Use with intention.

Ambidextrous

Suitable for all users.

Bunka

A bunka is a Japanese multipurpose kitchen knife known for its angular kiritsuke-style tip. Its flat edge profile excels at push-cutting and chopping, while the sharp, pointed tip provides precision for detail work and piercing tasks. Versatile and agile, the bunka covers everyday prep from vegetables to proteins with a bit more tip control than a standard santoku.

Listed Length: 180mm
Total Length: 319mm
Edge Length: 169mm
Heel Height: 52mm
Spine Thickness: 2.71mm
Weight:
Orientation: Ambidextrous

Blade Type: Stainless Clad Carbon Steel
Steel Type: Aogami 1 (Blue Paper #1)
Steel Hardness (HRC):
Maintenance: More Attention
Handle Type: Japanese (wa)
Handle Material: Ebony octagon handle with buffalo horn ferrule

  • This is a stainless clad carbon steel knife made from thin, hard steel
  • Hand wash and towel dry after use. Do not air dry or place in the dishwasher.
  • Expect oxidation (color change, staining, spotting) with use.
  • Prolonged exposure to moisture or food debris will cause rust; remove any rust with a light abrasive.
  • The carbon steel edge will oxidize with use and may rust if left wet. The stainless clad outer layers resist corrosion but can still stain with prolonged moisture exposure.
  • 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, plastic, stone or metal cutting surfaces.

Dive Deeper

Medium-Fine finish - Japanese

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

£25.66
£25.66
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Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 1200 Grit Blue Marble Semi-Soft Ceramic Japanese Whetstone

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

£55.84
£55.84
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Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 4000 Grit Yellow Semi-Hard Resinoid Japanese Whetstone

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

£61.88
£61.88
Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone Stone NO Wooden Base

Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone Stone NO Wooden Base

£43.77
£43.77
Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone With Nagura Stone and Wooden Base

Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone With Nagura Stone and Wooden Base

£46.78
£46.78
Bernal Cutlery Monodiachrome™ Precharged Deburring Strop

Bernal Cutlery Monodiachrome™ Precharged Deburring Strop

£30.18
£30.18

Aogami 1 (Blue Paper #1)

Carbon (C): 1.3–1.4%| Tungsten (W): 1.5–2.0%| Chromium (Cr): 0.3–0.5%

Aogami 1 is a high|carbon tool steel (~1.3–1.4% C) with tungsten and chromium additions that enhance hardness and wear resistance. It’s capable of ~65 HRC and maintains excellent edge retention with moderate toughness. The steel sharpens cleanly, forms an exceptionally fine edge, and is common in top|end Japanese kitchen knives. Like other Aogami steels, it rusts easily and requires attentive care.

About Sakai Kikumori

Sakai, Osaka, Japan

Sakai Kikumori is a distinguished Japanese knife brand established in 1926 by Kawamura Hamono Co., Ltd., located in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture—a region renowned for its 600-year-old blade-making tradition. Rather than manufacturing knives in-house, Sakai Kikumori collaborates with some of Sakai’s most skilled blacksmiths and sharpeners to produce high-quality kitchen knives. This collaborative approach ensures a diverse and refined selection of knives that honor Sakai’s legacy of craftsmanship.

See All Sakai Kikumori