Miyazaki Kajiya Wasui Tanji Watetsu (Wrought Iron) Cladding White 1 K-Tip Gyuto 250mm

Haruki Miyazaki works from his forge on the Goto Islands of Nagasaki, producing knives with a distinctly traditional approach. Forging, lamination, heat treatment and much of the finishing are carried out within the same workshop, giving his knives a character that feels closer to old Japanese blacksmithing than modern production cutlery.

This 250mm Kiritsuke Gyuto is built around a Shirogami #1 (White #1) carbon steel core, forged using traditional hon-warigomi construction and finished with a water quench. White #1 is one of the purest carbon steels commonly used in Japanese kitchen knives, capable of taking an exceptionally fine edge with a very crisp response on sharpening stones. In Miyazaki’s hands, the steel is treated in a deliberately traditional way, prioritising edge quality and sharpening feel over convenience.

The core is surrounded by forged watetsu cladding, giving the blade a markedly different appearance from modern laminated steels. Rather than a perfectly uniform surface, the iron shows natural grain, layering and irregularities across the blade face. These features are part of the material itself, not an applied decorative finish, and will become more expressive as the knife develops patina through use.

At approximately 250mm, this knife has considerably more presence than Miyazaki’s smaller multipurpose blades. The longer edge gives it excellent reach for larger vegetables, proteins and longer draw cuts, while the kiritsuke-style tip provides a fine point for detail work, scoring and precise tip cuts.

The geometry remains characteristically practical. There is noticeable substance through the spine and upper blade, giving the knife a solid and authoritative feel in hand, while the grind becomes significantly finer as it approaches the edge. The result is not a delicate laser, but a knife that uses its weight and geometry together to move confidently through food.

The long, relatively flat cutting profile also suits push cutting and chopping particularly well, while the additional blade height provides comfortable knuckle clearance and good board contact. Compared with the 190mm Santoku from the same series, the Kiritsuke Gyuto feels more deliberate, more powerful and better suited to users who prefer a longer working edge.

Visually, the knife remains intentionally rustic. The forged watetsu surface, subtle irregularities and restrained finishing preserve the character of the forging process rather than polishing it away. Each blade also carries Miyazaki’s Tsubaki camellia mark, linking it to his traditional multipurpose knife lineage.

White #1 steel, water quenched, forged watetsu cladding and hon-warigomi construction — a long, powerful Kiritsuke Gyuto that captures the traditional character of Miyazaki Kajiya in a more commanding format.