Blue #2 carbon steel, also known as Aogami #2, is prized in Japanese cutlery for how readily it takes an edge and how well it holds one, and this 165mm santoku from the Yoru line puts that steel to work under a deep kurouchi finish. Yoru means night in Japanese, and the dark, rustic surface is exactly where the name comes from.
The core is hardened to about HRC 61 and built with a san mai construction, leaving the edge exposed beneath a softer outer layer for a bit of added strength. The santoku carries a tall blade and an even 50/50 grind, well suited to general slicing and dicing tasks. The handle is an octagonal walnut with a black pakka wood ferrule, made by Shiro Kamo at Takefu Knife Village in Echizen.
Care Instructions:Blue #2 carbon steel is reactive, so wipe and dry the blade immediately after each use rather than letting it sit. Avoid leaving acidic foods against the blade for long stretches, and apply a light coat of camellia oil for longer-term storage. Hand wash only, and sharpen on quality water stones when the edge needs attention.Blacksmith: Shiro Kamo
Location: Echizen, Japan
Workshop: Takefu Knife Village
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Finish: Kurouchi
Edge Steel: Blue #2 Carbon Steel (Aogami #2)
HRC: 61
Edge Grind: Even (See Choil Photo)
Handle: Walnut Octagonal
Ferrule: Black Pakka Wood
Weight: 4.2 oz (118 g)
Blade Length: 171 mm
Total Length: 311 mm
Spine Thickness at Heel: 3 mm
Blade Height: 48 mm
Photos credit: Gustavo Bermudez
The core is hardened to about HRC 61 and built with a san mai construction, leaving the edge exposed beneath a softer outer layer for a bit of added strength. The santoku carries a tall blade and an even 50/50 grind, well suited to general slicing and dicing tasks. The handle is an octagonal walnut with a black pakka wood ferrule, made by Shiro Kamo at Takefu Knife Village in Echizen.
Care Instructions:Blue #2 carbon steel is reactive, so wipe and dry the blade immediately after each use rather than letting it sit. Avoid leaving acidic foods against the blade for long stretches, and apply a light coat of camellia oil for longer-term storage. Hand wash only, and sharpen on quality water stones when the edge needs attention.
