Satoshi Nakagawa

Satoshi Nakagawa Hamono - Sakai's New Power House (Est. 2021)

Nakagawa Hamono, established by Satoshi Nakagawa (中川悟志) in April 2021, carries on the legacy of the renowned Shiraki Hamono under the guidance of Nakagawa-san, a dedicated disciple of the legendary craftsman Kenichi Shiraki. With nearly two decades of experience, primarily under Shiraki-san, Nakagawa-san has been instrumental in creating some of the finest honyaki blades in the last five years of Shiraki-san's work.

His expertise is not limited to Shiraki Hamono’s offerings but extends to forging top-tier knives for Sakai’s esteemed brands such as Sakai Takayuki, Kikumori to name a few. Based in Sakai City, Osaka, Nakagawa Hamono specializes in Ginsan and blue steel knives with wide bevels.

Satoshi Nakagawa Hamono was founded in April 2021 by Satoshi Nakagawa, a skilled craftsman from Sakai City, Osaka, who embarked on his journey into the world of knife-making at the tender age of 18. After high school, he was introduced to Kenichi Shiraki, a legendary master craftsman, and subsequently joined Shiraki Hamono. Under Shiraki-san's tutelage, Nakagawa-san honed his skills for nearly two decades, playing a pivotal role in the creation of many of Shiraki-san's renowned works, particularly in the latter years. His expertise extends to forging exclusive knives for prestigious Sakai retailers such as Sakai Kikumori and Sakai Jikko, showcasing his mastery across various top-tier lines.

Upon the retirement of Kenichi Shiraki, Nakagawa-san assumed leadership of Shiraki Hamono, now rebranded as Nakagawa Hamono. This transition marked the continuation of a storied legacy, with Nakagawa-san bringing his innovative vision to the fore. His current offerings are primarily forged from Ginsan steel, known for their distinctive wide bevels, with plans to expand the range to include diverse profiles and steels. Nakagawa-san's approach to knife-making is deeply rooted in tradition yet forward-looking, embracing new materials and trends while preserving the manual, labor-intensive processes that define the craftsmanship of his knives. His work on crest forging with blue steel No. 2 and No. 1 is a testament to his commitment to beauty and excellence, despite the challenges and heartbreaks encountered in the painstaking process of honyaki forging. Nakagawa Hamono stands as a beacon of traditional craftsmanship, blending timeless techniques with contemporary innovation, under the stewardship of one of Sakai's most promising craftsmen.

“Sakai's leading blacksmith of the new generation. ”

Est. 2021 | 令和3年

Known for single bevels, high production and great heat treatment on various hitachi steels.

Website nakagawa-knives.com Instagram @nakagawa_kajiya

People

Founder: Satoshi Nakagawa 中川悟志
Current Head: Satoshi Nakagawa 中川悟志

Craft

Known For: single bevels, high production and great heat treatment on various hitachi steels.
Steel: Ginsan, Blue and White

Location

Address: 2-3 Chikkohama-dera Nishimachi, Nishi Ward, Sakai, Osaka 592-8352, Japan
Region: Sakai, Japan
Coordinates: 34.545575604, 135.409180655

Brand

Logo

Native Name

中川打刃物

Why Satoshi Nakagawa Matters

Nakagawa, with his former master Kenichi Shiraki, is one of the most productive indenpendent blacksmith house in Sakai area. Their single bevels can be found in almost every "brand house" of Sakai.

Does Satoshi Nakagawa Allow Unsolicited Visits?

No. Nakagawa's workshop is not open to public, please refrain from any unsolicited visits.

Knives by Satoshi Nakagawa

Nakagawa vg10 single bevel

Satoshi Nakagawa's VG10 single bevel is a line that offers a series of traditional single bevel knives fused with modern stainless steel. They are treate... Read more

Satoshi Nakagawa's VG10 single bevel is a line that offers a series of traditional single bevel knives fused with modern stainless steel. They are treated with highest standard with the skill that Nakagawa earned from the legendary bladesmith Kenichi Shiraki in over 20+ years of forging, and you can expect high level of finishing, sharpness and edge retention but have no need to worry about these pieces of arts to rust or discolourate.VG10 is a steel that many of us are familiar with, but it is rarely used on single bevel knife as it will be hard to sharpen. Only Sukenari, who is known for trying out new steel produced a small amount of VG10 single bevel knives, but this will change with Nakagawa stepping into this area.Although the stainless steel will be hard to sharpen, many user would just put a secondary bevel on the edge, making it as easy as if not easier to sharpen then typical double bevel knife, and the loss in sharpness is marginal, in exchange, the experience will be much better as there is no neet to keep drying you Yanagiba while cutting, so you can fully enjoy the cutting experience that these marsterpieces can offer.The fit and finish of these blades is at a pretty high level, chamfered spine and choil combines with mirror polish in these location made the handling of these blade very pleasant. A matching mirror polish on the Hira adds another glare to the beautiful yet simplistic finish, makes it a joy to not only use but to see these knives. Considering the skill level of Nakagawa and the labour required to forge these types of single bevel knives, I believe the pricing is justified. These knives will be something that can both be a very easy to use higher end tool or an entry level collector's item that sits between a good Kasumi Yanagiba and a Honyaki. Read less

Pros

Great for professionals
Easy to look after
Excellent performance

Cons

Mirror polish can be hard to maintain

Nimai - Stainless Clad Mirror Polish

Hatsukokoro By Nakagawa Ginsan Wide Bevel Migaki

The Nakagawa Ginsan Wide Bevel is a line commissioned by Hatsukokoro that offers a series of very solid blades that are good for both professional works and ... Read more

The Nakagawa Ginsan Wide Bevel is a line commissioned by Hatsukokoro that offers a series of very solid blades that are good for both professional works and home use. This line combines moderate thickness, decent profile and good detail finish in a completely stainless package, making these knives good all-rounders in most situations, wether at home or in a more professional setting.The wide bevel in the name refers to the grind that these blades takes on. Usually Japanese double bevel knives will have a flat grind, where the secondary bevel starts all the way at the spine, in cases where the secondary bevels start halfway, they tend to blends into the flat zone slightly. This line however, have a very distinct boundary at the begining of its secondary bevel,creating a very sharp and geometrycall look, especially on the Kiritsuke Gyuto, which distinct the entire line from other plain Migaki finish knives.Performance of the kinfe on the chopping board is great, as the bevel takes a concave grind, it is of a good sharpness even the thickness of the spine is not as thin as some "laser" knives, though there is a slight tendency for the food to stick due to this grind. This combination allows the edge to be thin, while having more material behind the bevel to provide toughtness in a professional setting. The Ginsan steel used in this line is what makes these knives truly all-rounders in my opinion. Comparing with VG10, two steels have similar hardness and edge retention, but the higher alloy content in VG10(Mo,V and Co) makes the sharpening harder than a more "pure" composition like Ginsan's. Thus, in a commercial kitchen where the wearing and sharpening of knives happens more often, the Ginsan will often save time and efforts.A drawback comes with Ginsan is that knives made with it tend to have a higher price, which is true on this line. Also, even the rounding and polishing on the spine and choil are all pretty good, the Migaki finish is not the aesthetically pleasing one in this price range. If these minor concerns don't bother you, this Ginsan wide bevel line will offer s me very good user's knives. Read less

Pros

Easy to look after
Ideal for the household
Great for professionals

Cons

High budget

Sanmai - Stainless Clad Migaki

Hatsukokoro by Nakagawa Ginsan Single bevel Mirror Polish

This Ginsan line forged by Satoshi Nakagawa is another commissioned line by Hatsukokoro, having the Hira(平, the flate zone above the bevel) finished with a m... Read more

This Ginsan line forged by Satoshi Nakagawa is another commissioned line by Hatsukokoro, having the Hira(平, the flate zone above the bevel) finished with a mirror polish, this line offers some easy-to-look-after Yanagiba and Deba that comes with a bit of shininess, altenatively, you can checkout the Kasumi finished line with same construction and steel.The entire blade is finished reasonably well, the mirror polishing is very refined and the grinding mark on the bevel and back side are uniform throughout the blade. Rounded choil and spine are there as expected and the only thing I can really say about the finish is the Kissaki of Sakimaru is not sharply defined. Oveall, quite a well done knife at this price.The use of Ginsan steel makes the Knife even more versatile. While having a slightly better performance than VG10, the less alloy content in it will makes sharpening a whole lot easier, which is a huge plus for single bevel knife in professional setting. Meanwhile, being resistant to rust will save a lot of effort as there is no need to constantly wipe the blade while cutting, that's why I would also recommend this line to sushi students and homecook who have a bit more budget.Satoshi Nakagawa, the maker who forged this line was the student under the legend bladesmith Kenichi Shiraki for over 20 years, he is very familiar with the behavior of steels especially the Hitachi Metal Paper Steels. This experience have garantees the great heat treatment on his knives so if you are looking for a stainless single bevel knife, this line will the more premium offering in terms of the quality. Read less

Pros

Easy to look after
Great for professionals
Great artistic

Cons

Mirror polish can be hard to maintain
High budget

Nimai - Stainless Clad Mirror Polish

Hatsukokoro by Nakagawa Ginsan Single Bevel Migaki

This Ginsan line forged by Satoshi Nakagawa is another commissioned line by Hatsukokoro, having the Hira(平, the flate zone above the bevel) finished in a fin... Read more

This Ginsan line forged by Satoshi Nakagawa is another commissioned line by Hatsukokoro, having the Hira(平, the flate zone above the bevel) finished in a fine Migaki finish. It is slightly cheaper than its twin sister line with a mirror polish, but they are equally easy to look after with the stainless core and cladding.The entire blade is finished reasonably well, weather it's the Hira, the bevel or the backside of the blade, the polishing remains cosistent and refined. Rounded choil and spine are there as expected and the only thing I can really say about the finish is the Kissaki of Sakimaru is not sharply defined. Oveall, quite a well done knife at this price.The use of Ginsan steel makes the Knife even more versatile. While having a slightly better performance than VG10, the less alloy content in it will makes sharpening a whole lot easier, which is a huge plus for single bevel knife in professional setting. Meanwhile, being resistant to rust will save a lot of effort as there is no need to constantly wipe the blade while cutting, that's why I would also recommend this line to sushi students and homecook who have a bit more budget.Satoshi Nakagawa, the maker who forged this line was the student under the legend bladesmith Kenichi Shiraki for over 20 years, he is very familiar with the behavior of steels especially the Hitachi Metal Paper Steels. This experience have garantees the great heat treatment on his knives so if you are looking for a stainless single bevel knife, this line will the more premium offering in terms of the quality. Read less

Pros

Great for professionals
Easy to look after

Cons

High budget

Nimai - Stainless Clad Kasumi

Hatsukokoro By Nakagawa Blue 1 Wide Bevel Kasumi

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Wide Bevel is a line commissioned by Hatsukokoro that offers a series of very solid blades that are good for professional works. This lin... Read more

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Wide Bevel is a line commissioned by Hatsukokoro that offers a series of very solid blades that are good for professional works. This line combines moderate thickness, decent profile and good detail finish, with a defined look that separate it from the typicall guyto. And as an upgrade from the Blue 2 line, the Blue 1 steel offer more carbon, more hardness and more edge retention, provide that extra performance for a very similar price.The wide bevel in the name refers to the grind that these blades takes on. Usually Japanese double bevel knives will have a flat grind, where the secondary bevel starts all the way at the spine, in cases where the secondary bevels start halfway, they tend to blends into the flat zone slightly. This line however, have a very distinct boundary at the begining of its secondary bevel,creating a very sharp and geometrycall look, especially on the Kiritsuke Gyuto, which distinct the entire line from other plain Migaki finish knives.Performance of the kinfe on the chopping board is great, as the bevel takes a concave grind, it is of a good sharpness even the thickness of the spine is not as thin as some "laser" knives, though there is a slight tendency for the food to stick due to this grind. This combination allows the edge to be thin, while having more material behind the bevel to provide toughtness in a professional setting. Unlike its Ginsan sibling, this line is constructed with carbon core steel with soft iron cladding, so the entire blade is prone to rust and discolouration, which is why I would only recommend this line to who are willing to take care a carbon steel. In exchange, the ease of sharpening, absolute sharpness and edge retention of Blue 1 wouldn't let you down, especially when considering that the heat treating is done by Nakagawa-san, who have more than 20 years of experience under the legendary bladesmith Kenichi Shiraki.I believe this line make perfect sense for who what a more refined carbon steel knife made by a renowned maker, althought the pricing is on the higher end, the experience of the maker behind these blades are there to back it up. And for those who want this knife in a stainless package, there is the Ginsan option, made with same level of craftmanship by Nakagawa too. Read less

Pros

Excellent performance
Thin behind the edge
Exceptional profile

Cons

Prone to rust
High budget

Sanmai - Soft Iron Clad Kasumi

Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Traditional Double Bevel

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus line contains a series of traditionally finished Sakai style knives that is known for their solid performance, but the added Da... Read more

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus line contains a series of traditionally finished Sakai style knives that is known for their solid performance, but the added Damascus cladding added a artistic twist to it, making them enjoyable to use just as how they are enjoyable to look. Compare to the wide bevel finish, there are no distinct shinogi lines between the Hira and the primary bevel. The geometry transitions smoothly from the spine to the edge. In my opinion, this is a better way to enjoy the Damascus pattern, as they can flow along the blade without the interruption by the change in finishing pattern that is used to create the wide bevel look.Performance of the knife on the chopping board is great, as the bevel takes a concave grind, it is of a good sharpness even the thickness of the spine is not as thin as some "laser" knives, though there is a slight tendency for the food to stick due to this grind. This combination allows the edge to be thin, while having more material behind the bevel to provide weight and rigidity for a solid feel. The level of finish is phenomenal, which is a characteristic of high end Sakai knives. The spine and choil are both chamfered, making it hard to find a sharp corner on these knives, the higher level of polish on the spine brings out the shine of it, contrasting with the hazy blade surface, making the overall texture of the knife more complicated. Overall I say the arts and crafts level of these knives are superb, especially at their price range.This is another masterpiece created by Satoshi Nakagawa, who got more than 20 years of experiences in forging under the training of the legendary bladesmith Kenichi Shiraki. For that reason, I would expect the Blue 1 steel he heat treats to hold edge very well. One concern that remains is, the damascus cladding is made of soft iron, thus making the entire blade prone to rust, there will be some attention and care required to maintain the beauty of these knives, and if you want the similar performance and shape without the hassle of the carbon steel, you can look at the Nakagawa Ginsan Wide Bevel line. Read less

Pros

Excellent performance
Great artistic
Excellent fit and finish

Cons

Prone to rust
High budget

Sanmai - Soft Iron Damascus Clad Migaki

Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Etched black Wide Bevel

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Etched/Kurozome Wide bevel is Satoshi Nakagawa's classic wide bevel knife with a twist in finish. When talking about Sakai, ... Read more

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Etched/Kurozome Wide bevel is Satoshi Nakagawa's classic wide bevel knife with a twist in finish. When talking about Sakai, most of the knife enthusiasts will think about well polished blades with prestige Migaki or Kasumi finish that comes in all kinds of metallic silver colour. This Kurozome is an interesting attempt to utilize the contrast created with etching to highlight the geometry created by the wide bevel finish. As the result, we see a very polished Sakai knife that look like Kurouchi from afar, but very tame if inspected closely.One thing with Nakagawa-san's knife is that his Damascus gyuto seems to be a bit thicker than the Sanmai ones, but thanks to the well-done concave grind, these blades stays very thin behind edge and still cuts beautifully. Additional material above the primary bevel adds some weight and rigidity to the blades, if you are in favor of knives with solid handling, this line will easily fall into that category.The level of finish is still Sakai standard, chamfered choil and spine are all polished with a good shine. But the etching is really the highlight of these knives: the two different steel in the damascus cladding react differently with the acid, leading to a well aged look composed of intertwining brown and blue colour. This vintage finish contrast strongly with the Migaki finished bevel and buffed spine at the clearly defined boundary, rounding these knives up with a sharp geometrical look.I say this a is an interesting finish, and it's always nice to see Sakai makers to be innovative with their finishing technic and pushing boundaries. The main drawback of these knives might be the level of care required for them, as both the soft i on Damascus cladding and the core steel are prone to rust. But if you are interested in a beautifully finished knife with a lots of hand crafting goes into it, please do consider this blue 1 Damascus line. Read less

Pros

Excellent performance
Great artistic
Excellent fit and finish

Cons

Prone to rust
High budget

Sanmai - Soft Iron Damascus Clad Etched

Frequently Asked Questions about Satoshi Nakagawa

Who is Satoshi Nakagawa?

Satoshi Nakagawa is a Japanese knife maker based in Sakai, Japan , established in 2021. They are known for single bevels, high production and great heat treatment on various hitachi steels.. Their signature steels include Ginsan, Blue and White. Available at Knives and Stones Australia.

What knives does Satoshi Nakagawa make?

Satoshi Nakagawa produces the following knife lines: Nakagawa vg10 single bevel, Hatsukokoro By Nakagawa Ginsan Wide Bevel Migaki, Hatsukokoro by Nakagawa Ginsan Single bevel Mirror Polish, Hatsukokoro by Nakagawa Ginsan Single Bevel Migaki, Hatsukokoro by Nakagawa Blue 2 Wide Bevel Kasumi, Hatsukokoro By Nakagawa Blue 1 Wide Bevel Kasumi, Hatsukokoro By Nakagawa Blue 1 Wide Bevel Damascus, Nakagawa Honyaki, Hatsukokoro x Nakagawa Blue 1 Kasumi, Hatsukokoro x Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Single Bevel, Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Traditional Double Bevel, Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Etched black Wide Bevel. We currently carry 53 products from Satoshi Nakagawa at Knives and Stones. They specialise in single bevels, high production and great heat treatment on various hitachi steels..

Where is Satoshi Nakagawa located?

Satoshi Nakagawa is located in Sakai, Japan. Japanese knife-making regions each have distinct traditions. Sakai in Osaka has been a blade-making centre for over 600 years, particularly renowned for single bevel knives.

Where can I buy Satoshi Nakagawa knives in Australia?

Knives and Stones is an authorised Australian stockist of Satoshi Nakagawa. You can shop online at knivesandstones.com.au with free shipping on orders over $99, or visit our stores in St Peters (Sydney), Crows Nest (Sydney) and Braddon (Canberra) to handle the knives before buying.