Nakagawa Ginsan Kamagata Usuba 180/210mm Mirror Polished with K&S Ebony Handle

The kamagata usuba (鎌型薄刃) is the Kansai type, with a pointed tip; the ordinary square usuba is the Kanto type, and both are single-bevel.

A knife maker's guide says the pointed tip can also do decorative cuts (飾り切り), angled slicing (そぎ切り) and fine work (細工), while in the Kanto style that work goes to a separate mukimono knife (むきもの細工包丁). Check the current range for square and kamagata usuba, including left-handed kamagata options when available.

Ginsan steel, also known as Silver #3 or G3, is a stainless steel made by Proterial in Japan, containing 0.95 to 1.10% carbon and 13.00 to 14.50% chromium, and it is used in Japanese knives because it combines the sharpness and ease of sharpening of carbon steel with the rust resistance of stainless steel. It is a fine-grained steel that takes a very sharp edge, and rated by Proterial at over 59 HRC, it offers a practical balance of edge retention and sharpenability for everyday kitchen use.

The name "Ginsan" (銀三) literally means "silver three," referring to its Silver #3 designation. Its moderate chromium content makes it far less reactive than carbon steels, so it won't discolor or rust as quickly, while its carbon content keeps the edge keen and responsive on the stones. For home cooks and professionals who want a stainless knife that still feels like a traditional Japanese blade, Ginsan is a common middle ground.

Yes. Proterial lists the steel as GIN 3 (銀紙3号) with 13.00 to 14.50% chromium, above the Japan Stainless Steel Association's 10.5% minimum for stainless steel.

Proterial describes it as a stainless steel with hardness and sharpness comparable to carbon steel, used in various kitchen knives and scissors, and the association notes that stainless, strictly, means it rusts less. Wash the knife and dry it after use.

The Hatsukokoro by Nakagawa Ginsan Single Bevel Mirror Polish line consists of Yanagiba and Deba knives forged by Satoshi Nakagawa using Ginsan steel with a flat zone (Hira) finished in a refined mirror polish, designed primarily for professional chefs and serious enthusiasts who prioritize aesthetics alongside function.

These knives are built for those willing to manage a high-budget tool where the mirror finish offers a sharp, uniform look but requires more care to maintain than a standard Kasumi finish. While the entire blade features consistent grinding marks, a rounded choil and spine, and the same construction as the Kasumi line, the mirror polish itself can be difficult to keep pristine, making it a trade-off between visual appeal and ease of maintenance.

Yes, Satoshi Nakagawa forges those lines for the Hatsukokoro brand, and our product titles name them Hatsukokoro by Nakagawa and Hatsukokoro x Nakagawa. He works from his own company in Sakai, Nakagawa Uchihamono.

He trained for sixteen years under Kenichi Shiraki as his only disciple and successor. He forges White 3 to White 1, Blue 2 to Blue 1, stainless Ginsan, VG10 and honyaki, so the steel in each line title is part of your choice.

Pick by how much care you want to give. Ginsan is stainless, while Blue 1 and Blue 2 are carbon steels that need to be dried and oiled after use.

If you will dry and oil the blade after each use, a Blue 1 or Blue 2 line can suit you, and if you want the least fuss in a busy kitchen, Ginsan is the easier choice.