Blue #1, or Aogami #1, is the highest grade of Hitachi blue steel carbon alloy, used widely among Japanese professional cooks who want the finest edge possible and are willing to maintain it. Karaku puts it to work in this 170mm bunka, a shape that has gained serious traction in kitchens that previously relied on santoku, offering more precision at the tip and a similar overall cutting range.
Michikuni Tokaji forges this bunka in Tosa, Japan, in a san mai construction with an Aogami #1 core at 61 HRC wrapped in soft iron cladding and finished in a kurouchi, or black as-forged, surface. Stamped engraving on both sides is a signature touch of the Karaku line, and the overall impression is a well-made, unfussy working knife. At 171mm blade length and 48mm tall it has good proportions for most kitchen tasks.
What Customers Are Saying: One experienced reviewer with a large collection calls this a phenomenal bargain. They praise the weight and edge as making the knife do the work for them, describing it gliding through an onion with ease without wedging despite a thicker blade. The fit and finish is noted as not the best they have had, but an acceptable tradeoff given the performance at the price. Their original plan was to use it as a cheap home knife; it ended up as their first knife of choice at work.
Care Instructions: Blue #1 is a reactive carbon steel, so wipe and dry the blade immediately after use rather than letting it sit. Avoid leaving acidic foods against the blade for any length of time, and apply a light coat of camellia oil for longer term storage. Hand wash only.
Michikuni Tokaji forges this bunka in Tosa, Japan, in a san mai construction with an Aogami #1 core at 61 HRC wrapped in soft iron cladding and finished in a kurouchi, or black as-forged, surface. Stamped engraving on both sides is a signature touch of the Karaku line, and the overall impression is a well-made, unfussy working knife. At 171mm blade length and 48mm tall it has good proportions for most kitchen tasks.
What Customers Are Saying: One experienced reviewer with a large collection calls this a phenomenal bargain. They praise the weight and edge as making the knife do the work for them, describing it gliding through an onion with ease without wedging despite a thicker blade. The fit and finish is noted as not the best they have had, but an acceptable tradeoff given the performance at the price. Their original plan was to use it as a cheap home knife; it ended up as their first knife of choice at work.
Care Instructions: Blue #1 is a reactive carbon steel, so wipe and dry the blade immediately after use rather than letting it sit. Avoid leaving acidic foods against the blade for any length of time, and apply a light coat of camellia oil for longer term storage. Hand wash only.
- Brand: Karaku
- Blacksmith: Michikuni Tokaji
- Location: Tosa, Japan
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Edge Steel: Aogami #1 (Blue #1) Carbon Steel
- Cladding: Soft Iron
- HRC: 61
- Finish: Kurouchi
- Edge Grind: Even (See Choil Photo)
- Engraving: Stamped on Both Sides
- Weight: 4.7 oz (134 g)
- Blade Length: 171 mm
- Total Length: 310 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 3 mm
- Blade Height: 48 mm
Reviews
1 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Phenomenal bargain!Posted By: Joseph Lee
36 people found this review helpful
Fantastic performance to price ratio. The weight and edge make for a knife that does the work for you. Guide it over an onion and it glides through with ease. No wedging, despite the thicker blade. Fit and finish isn’t the best I’ve had. Considering the price, an acceptable weak point, given how well this knife handles prep tasks. Originally intended to be my “cheap” home knife, it might end up being my main work knife!
36 people found this review helpful
Fantastic performance to price ratio. The weight and edge make for a knife that does the work for you. Guide it over an onion and it glides through with ease. No wedging, despite the thicker blade. Fit and finish isn’t the best I’ve had. Considering the price, an acceptable weak point, given how well this knife handles prep tasks. Originally intended to be my “cheap” home knife, it might end up being my main work knife!
