Mr. Yoshizawa, a skilled blacksmith in Aomori, northern Japan, crafts these knives under the Nigara brand. The roots of the company trace back to the early Edo period, when the castle town of Hirosaki was home to over a hundred forging shops. Nigara Forging stands as one of the few remaining Tsugaru blacksmith traditions, and for centuries the company has preserved those forging techniques with an unwavering commitment to quality.
This nakiri is built around a VG10 stainless steel core hardened to roughly 61 HRC, delivering excellent edge retention and easy sharpening. The stainless cladding carries a tsuchime, or hammered, finish with real visual texture. The flat profile and squared tip give this nakiri the precision and full board contact that vegetable work demands, and at 51mm blade height it offers good knuckle clearance for extended prep. The ebony octagonal handle completes a knife where history and skill come together in equal measure.
Care Instructions: VG10 is a fully stainless steel - low maintenance and resistant to corrosion. Hand wash and dry after each use. Avoid the dishwasher. Sharpen on quality water stones as needed.
This nakiri is built around a VG10 stainless steel core hardened to roughly 61 HRC, delivering excellent edge retention and easy sharpening. The stainless cladding carries a tsuchime, or hammered, finish with real visual texture. The flat profile and squared tip give this nakiri the precision and full board contact that vegetable work demands, and at 51mm blade height it offers good knuckle clearance for extended prep. The ebony octagonal handle completes a knife where history and skill come together in equal measure.
Care Instructions: VG10 is a fully stainless steel - low maintenance and resistant to corrosion. Hand wash and dry after each use. Avoid the dishwasher. Sharpen on quality water stones as needed.
- Blacksmith: Mr. Yoshizawa
- Brand: Nigara
- Location: Aomori Prefecture, Japan
- Construction: Hammer Forged, San Mai
- Cladding: Stainless Tsuchime
- Edge Steel: VG10 Stainless Steel
- HRC: 61
- Handle: Ebony Octagonal
- Weight: 6.1 oz (172 g)
- Blade Length: 142 mm
- Total Length: 300 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 51 mm
