The collaboration between Kisuke Manaka and Xinguo just got into round 2. This time, with the classic Blue 1 steel warped in soft iron jacket, skilfully done via a Warikomi process and polished with a level of finish you can only find on bespoke custom makers. This characterful design with strong contrast in various dimensions is the result you would get if you brings two sets of highly polished skill together.
If Xinguo's name rings a bell, it might be because he handled the sharpening on another batch of ATS34 and ENN Damascus from Manaka. His sharpening and polishing work is immaculate — on these blades, you won't find a single visible machining line. The edge comes out extremely straight, the choil and spine are polished and rounded to a degree that makes the knife genuinely comfortable to pinch up on, and all of these are done while preserving the deep Tsuchime pattern that Manaka is known for.
The Blue 1 core steel is presented in a bright polish, but with a coat colourful shadow over, it is done by a unique chemical formula that differs from typical acid etch which doesn't darkens the carbon core. The cladding meets the core with a irregular, organic pattern, indicating the manual Warikomi done on these blades. The finish on the cladding is truly astonishing, as this Kasumi finish can appear glossy against strong light source but wouldn't let you see any reflections in it. We can only use "Mirror Kasumi" to describe this grey, ceramic looking that doesn't even look so metallic. Above this cladding, we would be greeted with the familiar rugged tsuchime we've known from Manaka, the gun metal colour matches really well with the otherworldly texture. The contrast between the polished bevel and Tsuchime intertwines across the Shinogi line while the different gradients of black spans across the blade, creating a look you can spend hours to look at and appreciate. It's a high-polish, high-effort finish that you rarely see at any price point.
In the hand, these are hefty, no-nonsense workhorses. They run long, tall, and carry real weight — the kind of knives that feel planted on the board and power through dense roots and heavy prep without flinching. But despite the robust build, the cutting performance is surprisingly refined.
The lineup covers pretty much the full range — gyuto, petty, chuka, santoku and more — so there's something here regardless of your preferred profile. These sit firmly in the high-budget category, but for a hand-forged Manaka with this level of finishing, the proposition is a compelling one. Collectors and enthusiasts who value the intersection of traditional Japanese forging and exceptional hand-finishing will find a lot to love here.
By
Kisuke Manaka