Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2

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 grind of the bevel on this thicker knife means a some food sticking tent to occur when cutting thin slices of vegetables.

The cladding 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 create a look of small stream flow alongside an ancient 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