Shibata Koutetsu R-2 Sujihiki 270mm

The sujihiki is Japan dedicated slicing knife - long, narrow, double-beveled - built for the long pulling cuts that carve cooked meats, slice terrines and pates, and portion fish cleanly without tearing. The short blade height reduces friction through the cut and the length allows for strokes that a shorter knife cannot accomplish in a single pass. In Takayuki Shibata hands, that already-capable format becomes something exceptional: a laser-thin blade that makes the double-bevel sujihiki as close to a single-bevel yanagiba as a double-bevel knife can get.

Shibata-san builds this in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, using hammer-forged san-mai construction with R2 (SG2) powdered stainless at 62-63 HRC. The laser grind that defines the Koutetsu line is particularly effective in the sujihiki format - thinner behind the edge means less resistance through proteins and fish, which translates directly into cleaner slices and less compression damage to the cut surface. At 270mm this is a full professional slicing length, and the fit and finish - including the handle and tip - are executed to the standard that has made Shibata-san one of the most respected names in the CKTG catalog.

What Customers Are Saying: The only word that comes close to describing the cutting experience, according to one buyer, is unreal. An absolute laser for a sujihiki - not just thin for the format, but thin by any measure. Ridiculously sharp out of the box, with fit and finish described as second to none. The knife has inspired that buyer to immediately want three more knives from the Koutetsu line - about as clear an endorsement as a single review can provide.

Care Instructions: R2/SG2 powdered stainless is highly stain resistant but hard and chip-prone at high HRC. Hand wash and dry after use - avoid the dishwasher. Use wood or rubber cutting boards only - avoid bones, frozen foods, and hard materials. Strop regularly between sharpenings and use consistent angle and light pressure at the stone to maintain the acute edge geometry. Free shipping over $100.

• Blacksmith: Takayuki Shibata
• Location: Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, Japan
• Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
• Edge Steel: R2/SG2 Powdered Stainless
• HRC: 62-63
• Cladding: Stainless
• Edge Grind: Even (50/50)
• Blade Length: 270 mm