Makoto Kurosaki holds the Dento Kogei Shi certification, a recognition for masters of traditional craft, and chose his own first name as a brand since his brother Yu had already claimed the Kurosaki name. This 180mm bunka carries the same tsuchime, or hammered, texture and cherry wood handle found across the Sakura line, sakura being the cherry tree celebrated in Japan each spring.
The core is SG2 powdered stainless steel, hardened to about 62 to 63 HRC, capable of feeling almost carbon like when forged well, very hard while still holding an edge for a long stretch. The core is clad san mai style in a soft stainless steel with a clean hairline polish beneath the hammered finish, and the handle is an octagonal cherry wood with a maple ferrule.
What Customers Are Saying:One reviewer who also owns a same sized Senko bunka from Yu Kurosaki, the brother of Makoto, in the same steel, offers a thoughtful comparison, finding this knife very nice and a good representation of skilled work from Makoto, though they personally find the balance and overall beauty on the Yu Kurosaki version slightly ahead of this one. They still recommend this bunka for anyone drawn specifically to this tsuchime pattern or who appreciates the lower price compared to a Senko.
Care Instructions:SG2 is stainless but hard and can chip at this hardness level, so use only wood or soft plastic cutting boards and avoid bones, frozen foods, or other hard materials. Hand wash and dry the blade after use, and strop the edge regularly between full sharpenings to keep it performing at its best on quality water stones.
The core is SG2 powdered stainless steel, hardened to about 62 to 63 HRC, capable of feeling almost carbon like when forged well, very hard while still holding an edge for a long stretch. The core is clad san mai style in a soft stainless steel with a clean hairline polish beneath the hammered finish, and the handle is an octagonal cherry wood with a maple ferrule.
What Customers Are Saying:One reviewer who also owns a same sized Senko bunka from Yu Kurosaki, the brother of Makoto, in the same steel, offers a thoughtful comparison, finding this knife very nice and a good representation of skilled work from Makoto, though they personally find the balance and overall beauty on the Yu Kurosaki version slightly ahead of this one. They still recommend this bunka for anyone drawn specifically to this tsuchime pattern or who appreciates the lower price compared to a Senko.
Care Instructions:SG2 is stainless but hard and can chip at this hardness level, so use only wood or soft plastic cutting boards and avoid bones, frozen foods, or other hard materials. Hand wash and dry the blade after use, and strop the edge regularly between full sharpenings to keep it performing at its best on quality water stones.
- Brand: Makoto
- Blacksmith: Makoto Kurosaki
- Location: Takefu Village, Echizen, Japan
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Quenching: Water Quenched
- Edge Steel: SG2 Powdered Stainless Steel
- Cladding: Stainless Steel
- HRC: 62-63
- Finish: Tsuchime (Hammered)
- Edge Grind: Even
- Handle: Cherry Octagonal (Sakura means Cherry Tree)
- Ferrule: Maple
- Weight: 4.0 oz (112 g)
- Blade Length: 181 mm
- Total Length: 324 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 43 mm
- Photos credit: Gustavo Bermudez
Reviews
1 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) It's Really Good, March 15, 2023Posted By: Eddy
This particular knife always leaves me feeling conflicted.
Makoto Kurosaki is a very skilled smith and absolutely deserves his Dentōkugei-shi certification. This knife is very nice, definitely a good representative of Makoto's work.
That said, Makoto simply isn't at the level of his brother Yu. My Yu Kurosaki Senko bunka is the same size, uses the same steel, and has its own unique tsuchime pattern just like this knife. I like both of them, but my Senko is simply better than my Sakura bunka. More beautiful overall, better balance, etc.
It pains me to say that since this *is* a very nice knife. But it doesn't exist in a vacuum; for a similar price you can get a Yu Kurosaki instead. Get this one if you really like this particular tsuchime pattern, or if the $50 discount between this and a Senko makes the difference for you. Otherwise, you might be happier with his brother's work.
This particular knife always leaves me feeling conflicted.
Makoto Kurosaki is a very skilled smith and absolutely deserves his Dentōkugei-shi certification. This knife is very nice, definitely a good representative of Makoto's work.
That said, Makoto simply isn't at the level of his brother Yu. My Yu Kurosaki Senko bunka is the same size, uses the same steel, and has its own unique tsuchime pattern just like this knife. I like both of them, but my Senko is simply better than my Sakura bunka. More beautiful overall, better balance, etc.
It pains me to say that since this *is* a very nice knife. But it doesn't exist in a vacuum; for a similar price you can get a Yu Kurosaki instead. Get this one if you really like this particular tsuchime pattern, or if the $50 discount between this and a Senko makes the difference for you. Otherwise, you might be happier with his brother's work.
