Hatsukokoro | SKU: NIGA_RYUSB2_GY240

Nigara x Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2 Damascus Gyuto 240mm

Name: Nigara x Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2 Damascus Gyuto 240mm
Brand: Hatsukokoro
SKU: NIGA_RYUSB2_GY240
Price: 499.95 AUD
Availability: InStock

$499.95

IMPORTANT: Carbon steel knives can rust or patina quickly if not cared for properly. They require regular cleaning, drying, and oiling. If you are unfamiliar with carbon steel maintenance, we recommend choosing a stainless steel option instead.

Add a saya or K&S Knife Roll to receive $20 bundle discount!

Detailed Specifications

Line	Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2
Profile	Gyuto / Chefs Knife
Bevel Type	Double Bevel
Weight	242 g 8.54 oz
Edge Length	228 mm .8.98 inch
Heel Height	50 mm .1.97 inch
Width @ Spine	4.3 mm 0.17 inch
Width @ Mid	2.5 mm 0.1 inch
Width @ 1cm from Tip	0.7 mm 0.03 inch
Steel	Blue 2 / Aogami #2 \| Carbon
Blade Construction	Sanami - Soft Iron Damascus Clad
Hardness (HRC)	61 - 63
Surface Finish	Nashiji
Handle	Octagonal Birch Burl with Spacer
Region	Aomori
Best for	Enthusiasts Pro chefs

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The Hatsukokoro Ryusui(流水, flowing water) kitchen knife, crafted by renowned maker Nigara in Aomori, Japan, is a masterful blend of artistry and functionality. Featuring a unique nashiji damascus finish that resembles flowing water, this knife is visually stunning and stands out in any kitchen.

Its core is made from Blue 2 steel, known for its exceptional sharpness, edge retention, and ease of sharpening. The knife boasts a super thick spine at the heel with a drastic taper, reminiscent of Sanjo knives, enhancing its strength and precision. Thanks to the weigh given by the thick spine, the keen edge formed out of Blue 2 steel has very little hesitation drop though the food. However a concave grinde of the bevel on this thicker knife means a some food sticking tent to occur when cutting thin slices of vegetables.

The caldding of the Ryusui line is very unique, it has a mineral-like texture with varying darker and lighter spots across the flat zone of the blade, followed by a dense damascus pattern falls down towards the edge. This creat a look of small stream flow alongside an acient rock, which I found fits the name of the line perfectly. Although we classify the finish of this line as a Nashiji finish, complexity of the colour and texture on the cladding of these blades have far surpass the typical Nashiji we often see.

Handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Ryusui offers exceptional cutting performance, making it a prized possession for both professional chefs and home cooks who appreciate fine craftsmanship

Pros	Cons
Great artistic Excellent fit and finish Excellent performance	Relatively hard to sharpen Need extra care

Care Instruction

Don't cut hard things! Japanese knives are brittle so bone hacking is a NO NO!
Wash with neutral detergent after use, and wipe dry;
Please don't wash knife with dishwasher, it will damage the wood handle;
Be careful not to leave the knife close to a heat source for a long time;
It is a lot more dangerous to cut with a blunt knife than a sharp knife!
It is best to sharpen a Japanese knife regularly on a waterstone.
Oil the (carbon) knife if storing for an extended period of time to prevent rust.

Nigara

Based in the small yet beautiful city of Hirosaki in the northern prefecture of Aomori, Nigara hamono has been making samurai swords for 350 yearas, with master Kunitoshi (國俊) being one of the most famous sword smith in his generation. Now headed by the 8th generation mastersmith Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa (吉澤剛) supported by his father Toshiju Yoshizawa (吉澤俊寿), Nigara is becoming very popular thanks of its exquisite forging skills and second to none quality control.

Profile: Gyuto

Chefs Knife
A Japanese chef's knife is known as a gyuto (牛刀ぎゅうとう） gyūtō?), literally meaning 'beef knife'. Its blade resembles a flatter version of a French chef's knife. Japanese cutlery is known for sharpness due to its acute blade geometry, and the hardness of the steel used, sometimes exceeding 60 HRC on the Rockwell Scale A typical western chef's knife may be sharpened to an edge angle of 20-22°, while a Japanese gyuto generally has a sharper edge angle of 15-18° (or even lower), which requires a harder, more brittle grade of steel. In recent years Japanese gyuto have gained in popularity with western chefs.

A modern chef's knife is a multi-purpose knife designed to perform well at many differing kitchen tasks, rather than excelling at any one in particular. It can be used for mincing, slicing, and chopping vegetables, slicing meat, and disjointing large cuts.
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Steel: Blue 2 / Aogami #2
Blue Steel No.2, also recognized as Aogami No.2, is a distinguished high carbon steel produced by Hitachi Metals Ltd, enhanced by the addition of chromium and tungsten to the base of White Steel No.2. This modification brings about an improvement in toughness and the creation of hard carbide molecules, which significantly boost edge retention. Although its sharpness is comparable to that of White Steel No.2, Blue Steel No.2 offers a slight advantage in maintaining its edge.

Widely favored for its versatility, Aogami No.2 is celebrated for its ease of sharpening and robust resistance to chipping, making it an ideal choice for those new to Aogami steel knives. Containing 1.0–1.2% carbon and achieving a typical hardness of 62–63 HRC on the Rockwell scale, it stands as the benchmark in evaluating Aogami steel cutlery.
Manufacturer:
- Hitachi Special Steel, Japan
Nature: Carbon
Hardness: 61- 63
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Construction: Sanami - Soft Iron Damascus Clad

Sanmai(Three-Piece) is a common construction for double bevel knives where two pieces of softer cladding steel are forgewelded to each side of a harder core steel. The harder but more brittle core steel will form the hard cutting edge after heat treating, and the softer cladding will support the core to increase the overall strength of the blade.
Damascus Sanmai utilize damascus steel as the cladding material for the Sanmai construction, which adds aesthetic feature to the blade. However, the damascus cladding found on Japanese kitchen knives with carbon steel core are ususally made of soft iron, which means they too need to be maintained to stay pretty.
The soft cladding enables the thinning process to be a lot easier than a honyaki or monosteel construction. However, when the cladding is made of damascus, whether etched, polished or mirror polished, the thinning process will take a toll on the cladding, meaning the damascus won't look the same as when it was taken out of the box.
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Finish: Nashiji

The "nashiji finish" on Japanese kitchen knives refers to a unique, textured surface finish that resembles the skin of an Asian pear, which is known as "nashi" in Japanese. This finish is achieved through a specific hammering and polishing technique, giving the knife blade a distinct, matte appearance with a slightly uneven, tactile surface. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the nashiji finish also provides practical benefits. It helps to reduce food sticking to the blade by creating tiny air pockets between the food and the steel. This finish is commonly found on traditional Japanese knives, such as santokus and nakiris, and is highly valued for both its functional and visual characteristics, enhancing the overall culinary experience.
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Handle Specs
Profile: Octagonal WA
Material:
- Birch Burl Stabilized
The stabilized birch burl handle adorning the Hatsukokoro chef knife is a testament to both exquisite craftsmanship and natural beauty. Birch burl, prized for its intricate grain patterns and unique textures, undergoes a meticulous stabilization process to enhance its durability and stability, ensuring longevity and resilience against moisture and wear.
The handle's ergonomic design offers a comfortable and secure grip, allowing for extended periods of use without fatigue. Its smooth contours and balanced weight distribution contribute to precise control and effortless maneuverability during culinary tasks.
The natural variations in color and grain of the birch burl create a visually captivating aesthetic, making each handle distinctively unique. This harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetics not only elevates the chef knife's performance but also adds a touch of elegance to the kitchen, reflecting the unparalleled craftsmanship of Hatsukokoro knives.
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