Carbon steel is reactive — it will rust quickly if not properly cared for. Always wash immediately after use, dry thoroughly, and apply a thin coat of food-safe oil (camellia, mineral) before storage. Over time it develops a patina that offers some natural protection and, for many users, becomes part of the knife's character. Rewarding to use, but not recommended if you want a "wash and forget" knife. Hitachi Special Steel, Japan 🇯🇵
Blue 2 / Aogami #2 青二鋼
55–58 HRC — Soft. Easy to sharpen and forgiving of rough use, but dulls faster. Typical of most German knives.
59–61 HRC — Balanced. Good edge retention with manageable sharpening. Common in mid-range Japanese knives.
62–64 HRC — Hard. Excellent edge retention, holds a very fine edge. Requires more care and a fine stone to sharpen.
65+ HRC — Very hard. Exceptional edge longevity but more brittle — more prone to chipping if used roughly.
Higher is not always better — it depends on how you use and maintain your knife.
Widely favored for its versatility, Aogami No.2 is celebrated for its ease of sharpening and robust resistance to chipping, making it an ideal choice for those new to Aogami steel knives. Containing 1.0–1.2% carbon and achieving a typical hardness of 62–63 HRC on the Rockwell scale, it stands as the benchmark in evaluating Aogami steel cutlery.
Blue 2 / Aogami #2 Element Composition
Knives in Blue 2 / Aogami #2
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Myojin Riki
Hatsukokoro x Myojin Shirasagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Yanagiba 270mm
Myojin Riki
Hatsukokoro x Myojin Shirasagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Yanagiba 300mm
Myojin Riki
Hatsukokoro x Myojin Shirasagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Yanagiba 240mm
Yoshihiro Yauji
Hatsukokoro x Yoshihiro Yauji Blue 2 Damascus Yanagiba 270mm
Yoshihiro Yauji
Hatsukokoro x Yoshihiro Yauji Blue 2 Damascus Yanagiba 300mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Aokitae Blue 2 Kurouchi Gyuto 210mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Aokitae Blue 2 Kurouchi Santoku 165mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurokaze Blue 2 Kurouchi K Tip Deba 165mm Double Bevel
Shigeki Tanaka
Tanaka Blue 2 Kurouchi Tsuchime Stainless Clad Petty 120mm
Shigeki Tanaka
Tanaka Blue 2 Kurouchi Tsuchime Stainless Clad Bunka 165mm Howood Handle
Shigeki Tanaka
Tanaka Blue 2 Damascus Santoku 170mm Kurouchi Nashiji
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kaijin Blue 2 K-tip Gyuto 240mm Migaki Curly Maple
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kaijin Blue 2 Gyuto 240mm Migaki Curly Maple
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kaijin Blue 2 K-tip Gyuto 210mm Migaki Curly Maple
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kaijin Blue 2 Gyuto 210mm Migaki Curly Maple
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kaijin Blue 2 Bunka 175mm Migaki Curly Maple
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kaijin Blue 2 Petty 150mm Migaki Curly Maple
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kaijin Blue 2 Santoku 175mm Migaki Curly Maple
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue 2 Kurouchi Honesuki 150mm Double Bevel Black Chacate
Mazaki
Mazaki Blue 2 Migaki Deba 180mm
Matsubara
Matsubara Blue 2 K-tip Cleaver 180mm Nashiji Burnt Kashi
Matsubara
Matsubara Blue 2 K-tip Sujihiki 240mm Nashiji Burnt Kashi
Matsubara
Matsubara Blue 2 Santoku 170mm Nashiji Burnt Kashi
Matsubara
Matsubara Blue 2 Nakiri 165mm Nashiji Burnt Kashi
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Sentan Blue 2 Stainless Clad Large Santoku 190mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Sentan Blue 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 190mm Heavy
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Sentan Blue 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 190mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Sentan Blue 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 170mm
Hatsukokoro
K&S Blue 2 Kurouchi Chinese Cleaver 210mm
Anryu
Katsushige Anryu Blue 2 Tsuchime Nakiri 170mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle
K&S - Sydney
Nigara Irodori Blue 2 Rainbow Damascus Gyuto 240mm by Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurokaze Blue 2 Deba 180mm Double Bevel Kurouchi
Tanaka
Tanaka Blue 2 Gyuto 270mm Kurouchi Black Chacate
Tanaka
Tanaka Blue 2 Gyuto 240mm Kurouchi Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Blue 2 Hakata Style Paring 80mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kuronami Blue 2 Hakata Style Bunka 165mm
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro x Nigara Irodori Blue 2 Rainbow Damascus Santoku 180mm
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro Itadaki Blue2 & White2 Dual Core Damasccus Tsushime Petty 150mm with Saya
Shigeki Tanaka
Tanaka Blue 2 Kurouchi Tsuchime Stainless Clad Bunka 165mm
Hatsukokoro
Nigara x Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2 Damascus Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 210mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Shikkoku Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Santoku 165mm Ebony Handle
Myojin Riki
Myojin Riki x Hatsukokoro Shirasagi Blue 2 Kurouchi K-Tip Deba 180mm
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi K-tip Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Shikkoku Blue 2 Kurouchi Bunka 165mm Ebony Handle
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Shikkoku Blue 2 Kurouchi Santoku 165mm Ebony Handle
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Sumi Blue 2 Kurouchi Santoku 165mm Black Chacate Handle
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Sumi Blue 2 Kurouchi Petty 120mm Black Chacate Handle
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Sumi Blue 2 Kurouchi Petty 80mm Black Chacate Handle
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro x Nigara Irodori Blue 2 Rainbow Damascus Gyuto 210mm
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro x Nigara Irodori Blue 2 Rainbow Damascus K-tip Gyuto 240mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Gyuto 240mm Black Chacate Handle
Myojin Riki
Hatsukokoro x Myojin Shirasagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Honesuki Boning Knife 150mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Petty 150mm
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro Itadaki Blue2 & White2 Dual Core Damasccus Tsushime Santoku 180 mm with Saya
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro Itadaki Blue2 & White2 Dual Core Damasccus Tcushime K-tip Gyuto 240mm Birch Handle
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Blue 2 Damascus Migaki Santoku 180mm Ebony Handle
Anryu
Katsushige Anryu Blue 2 Tsuchime Stainless Clad Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro x Nigara Irodori Blue 2 Rainbow Damascus K-tip Gyuto 210mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue 2 Kurouchi Santoku 165mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue 2 Kurouchi Gyuto 210mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue 2 Kurouchi K-tip Gyuto 210mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue 2 Kurouchi Bunka 165mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue 2 Kurouchi Ko-Bunka 120mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue 2 Kurouchi Ko-Bunka 80mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Aosagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Aosagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Santoku 180mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Aosagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Gyuto 210mm Black Chacate
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro Itadaki Blue2 & White2 Dual Core Damasccus Tcushime K-tip Gyuto 210mm
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro Itadaki Blue2 & White2 Dual Core Damasccus Tsushime Santoku 170 mm
K&S - Sydney
Hatsukokoro Itadaki Blue2 & White2 Dual Core Damasccus Tsushime Gyuto 240mm
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Gyuto 240mm Ebony
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Aosagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Gyuto 240mm Black Chacate
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Tanryusen Blue 2 River Flow Gyuto 180mm Ebony
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Aosagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Petty 150mm Black Chacate
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Nakiri 180mm Ebony Handle
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Santoku 180mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Pairing 80mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Bunka 180mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus K-tip Sujihiki 255mm Black Chacate Handle
Tetsujin
Tetsujin Tanryusen (Metal Flow) Blue 2 Sujihiki 240mm
Hatsukokoro
Nigara x Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2 Damascus Nashiji Gyuto 210mm
Hatsukokoro
Nigara x Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2 Damascus Nashiji K-tip Gyuto 240mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kuronami Blue 2 Kurouchi Santoku 165mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurokuma Blue 2 Kurouchi Santoku 165mm
Nigara
Nigara Blue 2 Honyaki Yanagiba 330mm Tobiyaki Sword Hamon
Nigara
Nigara Blue 2 Honyaki Dual Hamon Kiritsuke Yanagiba 300mm
Nigara
Nigara Blue 2 Honyaki Mt Fuji Hamon Sakimaru 300mm
Hatsukokoro
Nigara x Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2 Damascus Santoku 170mm
Hatsukokoro
Nigara x Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2 Damascus Gyuto 240mm
Hatsukokoro
Nigara x Hatsukokoro Ryusui Blue 2 Damascus Bunka 170mm
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurokaze Blue 2 Kurouchi Deba 165mm Double Bevel
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kurokaze Blue 2 Kurouchi Deba 150mm Double Bevel
Nigara
Nigara Anmon Kurozome Blue 2 Damascus Kiritsuke Yanagiba 270mm
Nigara
Nigara Anmon Kurozome Blue 2 Damascus Kiritsuke Yanagiba 300mm
Nigara
Nigara Anmon Kurozome Blue 2 Damascus Sakimaru Takobiki Yanagiba 300
Nigara
Nigara Anmon Kurozome Blue 2 Damascus Sakimaru Takobiki Yanagiba 330mm
Nigara
Nigara Anmon Kurozome Blue 2 Damascus Yanagiba 270mm
Nigara
Nigara Anmon Kurozome Blue 2 Damascus Yanagiba 330mm
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi K-tip Sujihiki 240mm Ebony Handle
Anryu
Katsushige Anryu Blue 2 Tsuchime Santoku 170mm Stainless Clad Ebony
Anryu
Katsushige Anryu Blue 2 Tsuchime Bunka 175mm Stainless Clad Ebony
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Sujihiki 240mm Ebony Handle
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Sujihiki 210mm Ebony Handle
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle
Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Gyuto 210mm Black Chacate Handle
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Santoku 180mm
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi K-tip Petty 165mm
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Sujihiki 210mm
Hatsukokoro
Muneishi Kumokage Blue2 Kurouchi Damascus Honesuki 150mm
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi K-tip Sujihiki 270mm
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Nakiri 180mm
Myojin Riki
Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Petty 165mm Ebony Handle
Nigara