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Hatsukokoro  |  SKU: HATS_W2KU_ST180

Hatsukokoro Kurokaze White 2 Kurouchi Stainless Clad Santoku 180mm

Regular price $259.95

IMPORTANT: Carbon steel knives can rust or patina quickly if not cared for properly. They require regular cleaning, drying, and oiling. If you are unfamiliar with carbon steel maintenance, we recommend choosing a stainless steel option instead.

Add a saya or K&S Knife Roll to receive $20 bundle discount!

Hatsukokoro Kurokaze White 2 Kurouchi
Santoku
Double Bevel
Weight 160 g | 5.6 oz
Edge Length 186 mm | 7 21/64″
Heel Height 44 mm | 1 47/64″
Width @ Heel 4.5 mm | 11/64″
Width @ Mid 2.2 mm | 3/32″
Width @ 1cm from Tip 1.1 mm | 3/64″
Steel White 2 / Shirogami #2 | Carbon
Blade Construction Sanmai - Stainless Clad
Hardness (HRC) 60 - 64
Surface Finish Kurouchi
Handle Octagonal Teak Black Ferrule
Region Hyogo
Best for
  • Pro chefs
  • Enthusiasts
  • Free shipping for knives over AU$200 Australia wide.
  • World-wide shipping via DHL Express, 3 to 5 days.


The new Hatsukokoro White 2 Kurouchi Stainless Clad Gyuto reminds me the old version Mazaki gyuto: both are tall blades, with fat tang, and most importantly, amazing performance. 

Unlike the Mazaki with soft iron cladding that is hard to look after in the kitchen, the Hatsukokoro Kurokaze has stainless clad for easy maintenance, while its White 2 steel core provides excellent edge retention, ultimate sharpness, and ease in sharpening.

Its Kurouchi finish with raw, organic, and distinctive appearance provides the natural characteristics of the steel, showcases the craftsmanship behind the knife, and adds a touch of traditional elegance to the blade. The profile of this line is rather interesting, as most of them have a slightly longer than typical cutting edge. The Gyuto of this line has a tip that drops down like a Santoku, resulting a flat belly and a wider tip, making it slice better but harder to do rock cutting with. And the petty offers a 165mm long slender blade, it can be used as a mini Sujihiki and do most of the work that a guyto can do with better precision and control.

In all, the Hatsukokoro Kurokaze White 2 gyuto offers superior performance and great price. The tall heel and thick spine make it a choice as a sturdy workhorse. 

Pros Cons
  • Budget friendly
  • Excellent performance
  • Workhorse grind
  • Need extra care
Care Instruction
  1. Don't cut hard things! Japanese knives are brittle so bone hacking is a NO NO!
  2. Wash with neutral detergent after use, and wipe dry;
  3. Please don't wash knife with dishwasher, it will damage the wood handle;
  4. Be careful not to leave the knife close to a heat source for a long time;
  5. It is a lot more dangerous to cut with a blunt knife than a sharp knife!
  6. It is best to sharpen a Japanese knife regularly on a waterstone.
  7. Oil the (carbon) knife if storing for an extended period of time to prevent rust.

Hatsukokoro

Rising star of the industry

Hatsukokoro as a brand works extensively with the Japanese kitchen knife industry. Through collaboration with makers and manufacturers across the Japan, they’ve designed and created a huge collection of different knives, covering every possible price range while having a great value in many of their product lines. Their capabilities to incorporate resources have built a strong relation with knife makers, and more and more are happy to send their knives down to Amagasaki and have them delivered across the world.

“The rapidly expanding new brand in the industry based in Amagasaki, offering great varieties by working close with different makers across entire Japan to the entire globe while innovating in product design and metal fabrication.”

Est. 2019 | 令和元年
Known for Unrivalled product availability, exceptional performance at a highly competitive price.
Website handk.co Instagram @handk_official Read more about Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro — Hyogo
Profile: Santoku
Profile

Santoku

The Santoku knife, embodying the meaning "three uses," is a cornerstone in Japanese kitchens, adept at slicing, dicing, and mincing. Esteemed for its versatility, it features a blade length typically between 15cm and 20cm (6 to 8 inches), catering to a wide array of culinary tasks. Distinguished by its less pointy tip compared to the Gyuto, the Santoku boasts a unique profile that contributes to its functionality and popularity. Its design is tailored to provide ease and efficiency in preparation, also because of its less aggressive prrofile, making it a preferred choice for home cooks.
Composition

White 2 / Shirogami #2 Element Composition

Compare with
    White 2 / Shirogami #2
    1.05% 0.8% 0.5% 0.3% 0
    C Carbon 1.05%
    Primary hardening element. Raises hardness and wear resistance — but too much increases brittleness and corrosion susceptibility. As a reference: German 1.4112 (~0.5%) sits at the low end; VG-10 (~1.0%) is a common mid-range; SG2 (1.25–1.45%) and ZDP-189 (~3.0%) represent high and extreme ends respectively.
    C
    1.05%
    Mn Manganese 0.2%
    Aids hardenability and strength. Acts as a deoxidiser during smelting. Excess can reduce toughness.
    Mn
    0.2%
    Si Silicon 0.1%
    Strengthens the steel matrix and acts as a deoxidiser. Improves hardness and resistance to oxidation.
    Si
    0.1%
    P Phosphorus 0.025%
    Impurity from the smelting process. Even small amounts cause brittleness — steelmakers keep this as low as possible.
    P
    0.025%
    S Sulfur 0.004%
    Impurity that reduces toughness and promotes brittleness. Intentionally added only in free-machining steels.
    S
    0.004%
    C — Carbon Mn — Manganese Si — Silicon P — Phosphorus S — Sulfur
    Hardness 60–64 HRC
    555759616365+
    Steel
    White 2 / Shirogami #2
    Category
    Carbon
    Manufacturer
    Hitachi Special Steel, Japan 🇯🇵
    Hardness
    60–64 HRC
    Steel

    White 2 / Shirogami #2

    • Manufacturer
      • Hitachi Special Steel, Japan
    • Nature Carbon
    • Hardness60–64 HRC
    White Steel No.2, also known as Shirogami #2 or White Paper #2, is long regarded as the go-to choice for crafting high-grade Japanese kitchen knives. This steel is celebrated for its capacity to be fashioned into knives that exhibit a sharp cutting edge, moderate tenacity, and long-lasting sharpness, alongside being notably easy to sharpen. While it possesses a slightly lower carbon content (C: 1%) compared to White Steel No.1 (C: 1.3%), it still requires a high level of craftsmanship to manipulate effectively. The expertise of a skilled blacksmith is crucial in transforming this material into a premium quality kitchen knife. Despite its excellent qualities, White Steel No.2 is known to be very reactive; hence, knives made from this steel demand meticulous care, including immediate wiping and drying after use, to prevent corrosion.

    Sanjo and Sakai are known to widely utilise Shirogami #2 in their mainstream kitchen knives.
    Construction: Sanmai - Stainless Clad
    Construction

    Sanmai - Stainless Clad

    Sanmai(Three-Piece) is a common construction for double bevel knives where two pieces of softer cladding steel are forgewelded to each side of a harder core steel. The harder but more brittle core steel will form the hard cutting edge after heat treating, and the softer cladding will support the core to increase the overall strength of the blade.

    The soft cladding enables the thinning process to be a lot easier than a honyaki or monosteel construction. And in the case where the cladding steel are stainless in nature, it can offer protection for the carbon or semi-stainless cores against rusting and discoluoring.

    Finish: Kurouchi
    Finish

    Kurouchi

    Kurouchi refers to the rustic, unpolished finish found on the blade of many traditional Japanese kitchen knives. This blacksmith's finish is characterized by its dark, textured appearance, which is the result of leaving the blade forge-scale on the steel during production. Kurouchi finish not only adds a unique aesthetic appeal but also provides certain practical benefits. It acts as a protective layer against rust and corrosion, and helps to reduce food sticking to the blade during cutting. Commonly seen on high-quality, hand-forged knives, the kurouchi finish emphasizes the artisanal nature of the knife and its heritage, making each piece distinctively unique.

    Handle
    Handle

    Handle Specs

    • Profile Octagonal WA
    • Material
      • Teak
      • Black Buffalo Horn

    The teak wood, known for its durability and rich grain patterns, provides a sturdy yet comfortable grip for precise handling during culinary tasks. Complemented by the sleek black horn ferrule, the handle boasts a striking contrast that adds sophistication to the overall design.

    Fashioned in an octagonal shape, the handle offers ergonomic benefits, allowing for a secure and comfortable grip from various angles. Its tapered design from bottom to top ensures a balanced feel and optimal control, promoting effortless maneuverability while slicing, chopping, or dicing ingredients.

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