A yokote kogatana is a small Japanese knife with an angled, chisel-style tip, and this 90mm version from Mikisyo is made for carving. The angled edge lets you pare, push and slice into wood with fine control, which makes it a natural fit for shaping handmade wooden spoons, forks and chopsticks, as well as whittling, scoring and general utility cutting. It comes with a fitted ho wood saya (sheath) so you can carry it safely.
Mikisyo is the family workshop of Hiroyuki Nagaike, born in 1939 and one of the last two traditional kogatana blacksmiths still working in Miki City. He hammer forges the blade from Blue #2 carbon steel, a hard Yasuki steel that holds an edge well and resists chipping, laminated to soft iron in a two layer (ni-mai) construction with a single bevel. Each knife is sharpened by hand rather than by machine, the back of the blade has a gentle curve instead of being ground dead flat, and the spine and blade face are thinned at different rates so the edge moves through wood with less drag.
Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a reactive carbon steel. Wipe and dry the blade after each use, avoid leaving it damp or against acidic materials, and apply a light coat of camellia oil before storing it. Keep the saya dry as well, since trapped moisture will rust the blade.
Mikisyo is the family workshop of Hiroyuki Nagaike, born in 1939 and one of the last two traditional kogatana blacksmiths still working in Miki City. He hammer forges the blade from Blue #2 carbon steel, a hard Yasuki steel that holds an edge well and resists chipping, laminated to soft iron in a two layer (ni-mai) construction with a single bevel. Each knife is sharpened by hand rather than by machine, the back of the blade has a gentle curve instead of being ground dead flat, and the spine and blade face are thinned at different rates so the edge moves through wood with less drag.
Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a reactive carbon steel. Wipe and dry the blade after each use, avoid leaving it damp or against acidic materials, and apply a light coat of camellia oil before storing it. Keep the saya dry as well, since trapped moisture will rust the blade.
- Business Name: Mikisyo
- Location: Miki City, Japan
- Blacksmith: Hiroyuki Nagaike
- Construction: Hammer Forged, Ni Mai
- Edge Steel: Blue #2 Carbon Steel
- Cladding: Soft Iron
- Edge: Single Bevel, Right Sided
- Tip: Yokote (Angled)
- Includes: Ho Wood Saya
- Weight: 2.5 oz (70 g)
- Blade Length: 53 mm
- Exposed Blade Length: 85 mm
- Total Length: 220 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 3.5 mm
- Blade Height: 22 mm
