Syungo Ogata is a master smith at the Takefu Knife Village cooperative in Echizen, Japan, where he trained for seven years under Shiro Kamo — a recipient of the Dento-Kogei-shi title meaning master of traditional crafts, and one of the most highly regarded blacksmiths we carry. That foundation shows in every knife Ogata-san produces — precise grinds, meticulous heat treatment, and a consistent focus on real-world cutting performance over flash or spectacle.
The gyuto is Japan all-purpose chef knife — the format that handles the widest range of kitchen tasks with the greatest versatility. This one is built around SG2 powdered stainless steel, a premium alloy with an extremely fine grain structure that allows it to take a very sharp edge and hold it through demanding use. The san mai construction surrounds the SG2 core with stainless cladding, finished in a kasumi — meaning hazy — polish that gives the blade a refined, understated look. At 213mm with a 48mm blade height it is well proportioned and comfortable through the full range of kitchen cutting, from fine vegetable work to breaking down proteins. The grind is thin and steep, moving through food effortlessly. The octagonal red sandalwood handle is beautifully fitted and comfortable in hand.
What Customers Are Saying:
Customers who have been on the fence due to the care warnings in the description consistently report being pleasantly surprised — this knife takes considerably more day-to-day kitchen use than it might appear to, with excellent fit and finish and a blade-to-handle fit that is tight and well sealed. After a quick session on the stones it becomes a high performing all-around knife that cooks wish they had bought sooner. The consensus is that this is an excellent value that rewards the cook willing to give it a little attention.
Care Instructions:
The steep edge geometry and high hardness of SG2 make this knife exceptionally sharp but require some care. Avoid cutting bones, frozen foods, or dense stalks as the edge can chip under stress. Use on wood or rubber cutting boards only. Hand wash and dry thoroughly after use. Each knife is made by hand so measurements may vary.
The gyuto is Japan all-purpose chef knife — the format that handles the widest range of kitchen tasks with the greatest versatility. This one is built around SG2 powdered stainless steel, a premium alloy with an extremely fine grain structure that allows it to take a very sharp edge and hold it through demanding use. The san mai construction surrounds the SG2 core with stainless cladding, finished in a kasumi — meaning hazy — polish that gives the blade a refined, understated look. At 213mm with a 48mm blade height it is well proportioned and comfortable through the full range of kitchen cutting, from fine vegetable work to breaking down proteins. The grind is thin and steep, moving through food effortlessly. The octagonal red sandalwood handle is beautifully fitted and comfortable in hand.
What Customers Are Saying:
Customers who have been on the fence due to the care warnings in the description consistently report being pleasantly surprised — this knife takes considerably more day-to-day kitchen use than it might appear to, with excellent fit and finish and a blade-to-handle fit that is tight and well sealed. After a quick session on the stones it becomes a high performing all-around knife that cooks wish they had bought sooner. The consensus is that this is an excellent value that rewards the cook willing to give it a little attention.
Care Instructions:
The steep edge geometry and high hardness of SG2 make this knife exceptionally sharp but require some care. Avoid cutting bones, frozen foods, or dense stalks as the edge can chip under stress. Use on wood or rubber cutting boards only. Hand wash and dry thoroughly after use. Each knife is made by hand so measurements may vary.
- Blacksmith: Ogata-san
- Location: Echizen, Japan
- Workshop: Takefu Knife Village
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Edge Steel: SG2 Powdered Stainless Steel
- Cladding: Stainless Steel
- HRC: 62-63
- Finish: Kasumi (Hazy)
- Edge Grind: Even 50/50
- Handle: Octagonal Red Sandalwood
- Weight: 5.3 oz (152 g)
- Blade Length: 213 mm
- Total Length: 355 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 48 mm
Reviews
2 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Great knifePosted By: peter
30 people found this review helpful
This is an excellent knife and a very good value. It is relatively non-flashy looking which makes it a great every day use knife. It's good knife to use on vegetables and it takes a lot more abuse than description suggests. The fit of the blade into handle is great and is well sealed. Overall I'm very happy with my purchase.
30 people found this review helpful
This is an excellent knife and a very good value. It is relatively non-flashy looking which makes it a great every day use knife. It's good knife to use on vegetables and it takes a lot more abuse than description suggests. The fit of the blade into handle is great and is well sealed. Overall I'm very happy with my purchase.
Excellent knife!Posted By: Sam
33 people found this review helpful
I put off buying this knife for a long time because of the warning in the item description of it being delicate. I will say that I do not find the one I received to be delicate at all, at least compared to lasers I own. The fit and finish is great, nice and comfortable, no sanding or sealing needed. It was not sharp out of the box, but that didn't take long to remedy. I have put this knife through it's paces on a fair amount of produce now and it is turning out to be a very nice high performing all around knife. I wish I bought it sooner!
33 people found this review helpful
I put off buying this knife for a long time because of the warning in the item description of it being delicate. I will say that I do not find the one I received to be delicate at all, at least compared to lasers I own. The fit and finish is great, nice and comfortable, no sanding or sealing needed. It was not sharp out of the box, but that didn't take long to remedy. I have put this knife through it's paces on a fair amount of produce now and it is turning out to be a very nice high performing all around knife. I wish I bought it sooner!
