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Yoshikane Hamono

Traditional Sanjo Knife Maker.

Yoshikane is a boutique knife maker based in Sanjo, Niigata. Founded in 1919 (大正8年)，it is one of the most established top quality kitchen knife manufacturers in the region. Many new generation blacksmith in Sanjo took has apprenticeship experience at this knife workshop.

Headmaster Yamamoto-san believes, “while many things change rapidly nowadays, there are ideas and believes that never change. Everyday I make sure the meaning of these words are forged into knife making”. And indeed because of this firm believe, this workshop produces some of the highest quality kitchen knives with superb fit and finish. The workshop is also very famous for its heat treatment of White 2 and the use of semi-stainless SKD steel.

“Top performance Japanese kitchen knives from Sanjo, Niigata, renowned for exceptional grind quality and masterful heat treatment of White #2 and SKD semi-stainless steels.”

Est. 1919

Known for Ultra thin Sanjo grinds, master of Sanjo blacksmith.

Website yoshikanehamono.com

People

Founder: Kaneyoshi Yoshida 吉田金吉
Current Head: Kazuomi Yamamoto 山本和臣

Craft

Known For: Ultra thin Sanjo grinds, master of Sanjo blacksmith.
Steel: White #2 / SKD

Location

Address: 881-1-3 Kaneko Shinden, Sanjo, Niigata 955-0814, Japan
Region: Sanjo, Japan
Coordinates: 37.61048, 138.93251

Brand

Logo

Native Name

吉金刃物

Why Yoshikane Hamono Matters

Often considered as THE master of Sanjo, Yoshikane trained a lot of Sanjo makers, such as the Masashi Yamamoto of Masashi knives, and Takahiro Nihei of Nihei knives, amongest of others.

Knives by Yoshikane Hamono

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

The Yoshikane KU Nashiji line is for those who believe a knife’s only job is to cut flawlessly. This is where legendary Yoshikane geometry meets a darker, mo... Read more

The Yoshikane KU Nashiji line is for those who believe a knife’s only job is to cut flawlessly. This is where legendary Yoshikane geometry meets a darker, more rustic attitude, all while hiding its high-maintenance heart under easy-care stainless cladding.At its core is Hitachi White #2 steel, a pure carbon steel revered for its ability to take on a scary-sharp, refined edge that harder, chromium-heavy steels can’t match. That legendary sharpness is unleashed by Yoshikane’s masterful thin, convex grind and significant blade taper, which slices through ingredients with minimal resistance and virtually no wedging—even in dense potatoes.The difference is in the finish. The nashiji ("pear skin") texture is left darker and more subdued under a rugged Kurouchi (KU) coating, offering a distinctly matte, utilitarian beauty that’s as functional as it is striking.You still get Yoshikane’s obsessive fit and finish: a highly polished spine and choil for comfort, and a stunning contrast between the rough finish and the razor-sharp, polished edge.It’s a no-fuss, high-performance tool. You get the soul of a carbon steel laser with the stainless cladding’s peace of mind. For pure cutting performance, it remains one of the best values you can find. Read less

Pros

Excellent performance
Great for professionals
Thin behind the edge

Cons

High budget
Prone to rust

Sanmai - Stainless Clad Nashiji

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

The Yoshikane SKD Nashji line is probably one of the best cutting offerings from the entire K&S offerings. I often use this knife in the store to demonst... Read more

The Yoshikane SKD Nashji line is probably one of the best cutting offerings from the entire K&S offerings. I often use this knife in the store to demonstrate "how a knife should cut". The primary bevels are done in a convex grind which splits food and reduces sticking, and the low chromium content of the SKD steel provides the ability to get an extremely fine and bitey edge, these two features works together with the tapered Sanjo profile results the ultimate Kireaji-the "Cutting Taste" of this line. Landing the edge on the skin of a potato and use two fingers to pull the handle backwards, these blades won't hesitate much when dropping through the entire potato.For those not familiar with SKD, it is SKD12 also known as A2 tool steel, with about 1% of Carbon content, and only 4.5% of Chromium. Heat treated perfectly by Yoshikane to HRC 63, the SKD very much behaves like carbon steel in terms of taking a very keen edge, the food release and also super easy to sharpen; yet without the need of high maintenance.With a rustic Nashiji finish coupled with a highly praised Sanjo region F&F, this knife has a very nice profile, large sweet spot, and feels very nimble in hand. SKD Semi-stainless core with stainless cladding ensure the highest cutting performance yet the stainless cladding means you will have little worry about the rust. Read less

Pros

Excellent performance
Thin behind the edge
Great OOTB

Cons

Semi-stainless can rust

Sanmai - Stainless Clad Nashiji

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji, previously known as the K&S Amekiri(雨切), just like this name of "Rain-Cutting", it was well known for... Read more

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji, previously known as the K&S Amekiri(雨切), just like this name of "Rain-Cutting", it was well known for extreme sharpness and smoothness when cutting through food, maybe space and time too. Now with its sister line SKD Nashiji, the og White 2 line is under the Hatsukokoro name, what doesn't change is the excellent fit and finish, great handling and the renowned sharpness out of the box.The extreme sharpness of this line comes form two aspects: the steel and edge geometry. The core steel is Hitachi White 2, a pure carbon steel without alloy content. The stainless steel gains rust resistance through chromium, but the chromium carbide formed during the heat treating have larger particle size, meaning it's hard to get a very refined edge liek you could on a carbon steel. This choice of steel ensures the performance of the cutting edge of the knife. The forging and grinding fone by Yoshikane is a tapered blade combined with a convex grind. The tapering allows the blade to be thinner at the front, and the convex bevel can reduces the sticking and rubbing, ensures very little resistance can be felt when cutting through a large protion of food. This convex grind is done so subtly it barly increace the thickness of the bevel, as the result, there are no noticeable wedging when cutting into potatos. There aren't much to say about the fit and finish. The Nashiji finish is shiny yet rustic-looking, choil and spine are not fully rounded but are highly polished to give your finger a gentle feeling, and the bevel, they receive a matt finish with a shiny cutting edge, so refined that there are barely any marks left from the polishing. With the stainles cladding, the carbone steel are mostly covered, making it much easier to look after these knives. Although it seems to be a good amount of money to spend on a White 2 Steel knife at first glance, I still going to say this Yoshikane Nashiji line is overall a great bang for your bucks, especially if you are enthusiastic about the pure cutting performance of your knives. Read less

Pros

Excellent performance
Great for professionals
Thin behind the edge

Cons

High budget
Prone to rust

Sanmai - Stainless Clad Nashiji

Hatsuokokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Sujihiki 240mm

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsuokokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Sujihiki 240mm

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Honesuki 150mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Honesuki 150mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Bocote Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Bocote Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Heart-shaped Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Heart-shaped Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Cosmic Swirl Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Cosmic Swirl Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Argetine Lignum Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Argetine Lignum Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Copper Mesh Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Copper Mesh Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Stablized Burl Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Extra Tall, Stablized Burl Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 240mm Extra Tall, with Magnetic Guard

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 240mm Extra Tall, with Magnetic Guard

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 240mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 240mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 240mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 240mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Bunka 165mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Bunka 165mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Petty 150mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Petty 150mm Ebony Handle

Hatsuokokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Sujihiki 240mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsuokokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Sujihiki 240mm Ebony Handle

Hatsuokokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsuokokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle

Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Nakiri 165mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Nakiri 165mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Santoku 170mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane SKD Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Santoku 170mm Ebony Handle

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Stainless Clad Nakiri 165mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Stainless Clad Nakiri 165mm Ebony Handle

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Santoku 170mm Stainless Clad Ebony

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Santoku 170mm Stainless Clad Ebony

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Gyuto 240mm Stainless Clad

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Gyuto 240mm Stainless Clad

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Petty 150mm

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Petty 150mm

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Stainless Clad Bunka 170mm

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Stainless Clad Bunka 170mm

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Stainless Clad Nakiri 165mm

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Stainless Clad Nakiri 165mm

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm Carbon Fiber Handle

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm Carbon Fiber Handle

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Gyuto 240mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Gyuto 240mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Honesuki 150mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Honesuki 150mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Nakiri 165mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Nakiri 165mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Stainless Clad Bunka 165mm Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Stainless Clad Bunka 165mm Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Santoku 165mm Stainless Clad Ebony

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Santoku 165mm Stainless Clad Ebony

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Hatsukokoro By Yoshikane KU White 2 Nashiji

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Gyuto 210mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

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