Yoshimi Kato has spent years forging knives at Takefu Knife Village in Echizen, and this 210mm gyuto from his Kiri line is a strong showcase of that experience. As the son in law of fellow Takefu smith Hiroshi Kato, Yoshimi works under several names at the cooperative, including Kanehiro and Masakage, and the Kiri line in particular is known for its misty stainless Damascus cladding, named for the Japanese word kiri, meaning mist.
The core of this gyuto is VG-10, a steel purpose built for cutlery and hardened here to 61 to 62 HRC. Because both the VG-10 core and the Damascus cladding are stainless, maintenance stays minimal. The blade is ground with a symmetrical 50/50 edge, finished with hand engraved kanji, and paired with an oval magnolia wood handle and a striking red dyed pakka wood ferrule.
What Customers Are Saying:One reviewer called the knife more art piece than tool, pointing to the subtle Damascus pattern and the bright red ferrule as standout details, while still using it as a daily driver thanks to a sharp out of the box edge and light, well balanced feel. The balance point sitting just behind the pinch grip was singled out as making detailed tip work and long cutting sessions easier on the hand.
Care Instructions:A fully stainless build keeps upkeep simple on this gyuto. Hand wash and dry after use instead of running it through a dishwasher, and keep the edge away from bones and frozen foods. Regular honing and the occasional pass on quality water stones will keep the gyuto cutting the way it did when it first arrived.
The core of this gyuto is VG-10, a steel purpose built for cutlery and hardened here to 61 to 62 HRC. Because both the VG-10 core and the Damascus cladding are stainless, maintenance stays minimal. The blade is ground with a symmetrical 50/50 edge, finished with hand engraved kanji, and paired with an oval magnolia wood handle and a striking red dyed pakka wood ferrule.
What Customers Are Saying:One reviewer called the knife more art piece than tool, pointing to the subtle Damascus pattern and the bright red ferrule as standout details, while still using it as a daily driver thanks to a sharp out of the box edge and light, well balanced feel. The balance point sitting just behind the pinch grip was singled out as making detailed tip work and long cutting sessions easier on the hand.
Care Instructions:A fully stainless build keeps upkeep simple on this gyuto. Hand wash and dry after use instead of running it through a dishwasher, and keep the edge away from bones and frozen foods. Regular honing and the occasional pass on quality water stones will keep the gyuto cutting the way it did when it first arrived.
- Brand: Masakage
- Blacksmith: Yoshimi Kato
- Location: Echizen, Japan
- Workshop: Takefu Knife Village
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Core Steel: VG-10
- Cladding: 49-layer Stainless Damascus
- HRC: 61-62
- Edge Grind: 50/50
- Handle: Magnolia Wood Oval
- Ferrule: Red Dyed Pakka Wood
- Engraving: Hand Engraved
- Weight: 5.0 oz (142 g)
- Blade Length: 218 mm
- Total Length: 362 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 3 mm
- Blade Height: 48 mm
Reviews
1 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Gorgeous high performerPosted By: Andrew Whitworth - verified customer
18 people found this review helpful
Let me say it up front: This knife is gorgeous. It's almost more of an art piece than a functional tool. The subtle damascus pattern and the striking red ferrule really make it stand out from most other knives. The reason why you'll use it every day and not just keep it on a shelf are because it is a joy to use. It's very sharp out of the box. The knife is light, and the balance point is right behind the pinch grip. Because it's so light and well-balanced, it's easy to do detailed cutting work with the tip, or to do lots of cutting without getting tired. This knife is an absolute pleasure to look at and to work with.
18 people found this review helpful
Let me say it up front: This knife is gorgeous. It's almost more of an art piece than a functional tool. The subtle damascus pattern and the striking red ferrule really make it stand out from most other knives. The reason why you'll use it every day and not just keep it on a shelf are because it is a joy to use. It's very sharp out of the box. The knife is light, and the balance point is right behind the pinch grip. Because it's so light and well-balanced, it's easy to do detailed cutting work with the tip, or to do lots of cutting without getting tired. This knife is an absolute pleasure to look at and to work with.
