Yoshimi Kato is one of the most respected smiths at Takefu Village, the famous knife cooperative in Echizen. He is the son-in-law of Hiroshi Kato, one of the founders of the cooperative, and now runs Kanehiro Hamono while also producing the Masakage line. The Yuki series is the White #2 entry in the Masakage lineup, and it represents everything Kato-san does well: a beautifully thin grind, careful heat treatment, and a finish that looks handmade because it is.
This 180mm gyuto is hammer forged in a san mai construction with a Shirogami, or White #2, carbon steel core hardened to 62-63 HRC. Unlike the Mizu line, the Yuki uses a stainless nashiji, or pear skin, cladding on the outer layer, which means only the exposed White #2 edge is reactive rather than the full blade face. The oval magnolia handle with red dyed pakka wood ferrule is the traditional Masakage Yuki presentation, light and well-balanced in hand.
Care Instructions: The White #2 core is reactive carbon steel and will develop a natural patina with use. The stainless cladding protects the blade faces, so daily care is straightforward: wipe and dry the blade after use, avoid leaving acidic foods against the edge, and hand wash only.
This 180mm gyuto is hammer forged in a san mai construction with a Shirogami, or White #2, carbon steel core hardened to 62-63 HRC. Unlike the Mizu line, the Yuki uses a stainless nashiji, or pear skin, cladding on the outer layer, which means only the exposed White #2 edge is reactive rather than the full blade face. The oval magnolia handle with red dyed pakka wood ferrule is the traditional Masakage Yuki presentation, light and well-balanced in hand.
Care Instructions: The White #2 core is reactive carbon steel and will develop a natural patina with use. The stainless cladding protects the blade faces, so daily care is straightforward: wipe and dry the blade after use, avoid leaving acidic foods against the edge, and hand wash only.
- Brand: Masakage
- Line: Yuki
- Blacksmith: Yoshimi Kato
- Workshop: Takefu Knife Village
- Location: Echizen, Japan
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Edge Steel: White #2 (Shirogami #2)
- Cladding: Nashiji Stainless
- HRC: 62-63
- Edge Grind: Even (See Choil Shot)
- Handle: Oval Magnolia
- Ferrule: Red Dyed Pakka Wood
- Weight: 4.5 oz (128 g)
- Blade Length: 180 mm
- Total Length: 312 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 2.5 mm
- Blade Height: 43 mm
