Hitohira Tanaka Kyuzo 240mm Gyuto Stainless Clad Aogami 1 Taihei Makassar Ebony Handle

Stainless clad aogami 1 forged by dentoukougeishi master smith Yoshikazu Tanaka whose treatment of aogami is very highly regarded, he manages to incorporate both toughness, ease of sharpening with excellent edge formation with long edge life. Tanaka-san’s top level forging and heat treatments make for an unusual ease of sharpening and superb edge life and toughness. The grinding and finish sharpening are definitely up to par with forging of this quality. 

Kyuzo’s father Heihachi is one of the busiest sharpeners in Sakai. Heihachi’s workshop room and corridor were always filled with knives waiting to be sharpened. Although Kyuzo initially worked under his father to learn the foundation of rough sharpening, eventually he became a student of Kambei, known as one of the best sharpeners in Sakai because he knew best how to sharpen wide double bevel knives. After a few years of training, he built his style based on both his father and Kambei’s respective styles. Today, Kyuzo is one of only a few people who can sharpen wide double bevel with really good Shinogi-line in Sakai, one of the most challenging techniques in sharpening.