Sakai has been the center of Japanese blade production for over 600 years, and Sakai Takayuki is one of the city's most established manufacturers - a company with the depth to work with some of Japan's most respected blacksmiths on lines that sit at the very top of the craft. The Homura line is one of those collaborations. Itsuo Doi forges the blades - the son of the legendary Keijiro Doi, and one of the most respected blacksmiths working in Sakai today. Suogo Yamazuka handles the grinding, and his work here is what sets these knives apart visually: a high primary grind on the blade face that gives the knife the visual character of a single-bevel blade while remaining double-bevel in function.
The kengata is the Homura line's interpretation of the bunka format - compact, tall, and precise, with the reverse tanto profile that makes the tip available for detail work without sacrificing the flat heel section for push cuts. At 178mm blade length and 51mm height, the 195mm kengata is the compact option in the kengata range. The Blue #2 (Aogami 2) core is sourced from Hitachi Metals in Shimane Prefecture and is clad san-mai in soft iron - a traditional construction that gives the blade a shock-absorbing outer layer and produces the kasumi (hazy) finish visible on the cladding alongside the polished Blue #2 edge. Three distinct surface treatments on a single blade - the satin iron jigane, the polish line at the cladding boundary, and the mirror-bright hagane (inner core steel) - produce a visual depth that rewards the kind of close attention serious collectors bring. The rosewood octagonal handle with nickel silver spacer and buffalo horn ferrule is fitted to a standard that matches the blade. A matching black saya is included.
What Customers Are Saying: Three owners all arrive at the same conclusion from different directions. A serious collector who spent ten months studying this knife before buying describes it as one of the most beautiful knives they have ever seen - and then reports that performance matches the appearance in every respect, with an edge that glides through anything without resistance or wedging, and food release that exceeded expectations on a highly polished finish. A second owner picked it up on reputation alone and describes it as a display-only piece of exceptional beauty. A third offers a shorter but equally direct verdict. The consistent thread is that this knife delivers on both the visual promise and the functional one.
Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a reactive carbon steel and will develop a patina with use. The soft iron cladding is also reactive and will develop its own patina alongside the core. Wipe and dry the blade thoroughly after every use and avoid leaving acidic foods on the blade. Hand wash only - no dishwasher. Apply camellia oil before extended storage. Sharpen on quality water stones and strop regularly between full sharpenings.
The kengata is the Homura line's interpretation of the bunka format - compact, tall, and precise, with the reverse tanto profile that makes the tip available for detail work without sacrificing the flat heel section for push cuts. At 178mm blade length and 51mm height, the 195mm kengata is the compact option in the kengata range. The Blue #2 (Aogami 2) core is sourced from Hitachi Metals in Shimane Prefecture and is clad san-mai in soft iron - a traditional construction that gives the blade a shock-absorbing outer layer and produces the kasumi (hazy) finish visible on the cladding alongside the polished Blue #2 edge. Three distinct surface treatments on a single blade - the satin iron jigane, the polish line at the cladding boundary, and the mirror-bright hagane (inner core steel) - produce a visual depth that rewards the kind of close attention serious collectors bring. The rosewood octagonal handle with nickel silver spacer and buffalo horn ferrule is fitted to a standard that matches the blade. A matching black saya is included.
What Customers Are Saying: Three owners all arrive at the same conclusion from different directions. A serious collector who spent ten months studying this knife before buying describes it as one of the most beautiful knives they have ever seen - and then reports that performance matches the appearance in every respect, with an edge that glides through anything without resistance or wedging, and food release that exceeded expectations on a highly polished finish. A second owner picked it up on reputation alone and describes it as a display-only piece of exceptional beauty. A third offers a shorter but equally direct verdict. The consistent thread is that this knife delivers on both the visual promise and the functional one.
Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a reactive carbon steel and will develop a patina with use. The soft iron cladding is also reactive and will develop its own patina alongside the core. Wipe and dry the blade thoroughly after every use and avoid leaving acidic foods on the blade. Hand wash only - no dishwasher. Apply camellia oil before extended storage. Sharpen on quality water stones and strop regularly between full sharpenings.
- Brand: Sakai Takayuki
- Line: Homura
- Blacksmith: Itsuo Doi (Forging), Suogo Yamazuka (Grinding)
- Location: Sakai, Japan
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Edge Steel: Blue #2 (Aogami 2)
- Cladding: Soft Iron
- Finish: Kasumi (Hazy) Cladding, Polished Edge
- HRC: 62
- Edge Grind: Even, Double Bevel
- Knife Type: Kengata (Bunka)
- Handle: Rosewood Octagonal
- Spacer: Nickel Silver
- Ferrule: Buffalo Horn
- Saya: Black (Included)
- Weight: 6.6 oz (188g)
- Blade Length: 178mm
- Total Length: 338mm
- Spine Thickness at Base: 2mm
- Blade Height: 51mm
Reviews
3 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) The knife I reach forPosted By: Guy Louis Lassabatere
48 people found this review helpful
I have had this knife for about four months, so please allow me to share some feed back. For a moment, let's put aside how stunningly attractive this knife is. It's unusual look is what caught my eye. I am not a collector, rather what I purchase must perform. This knife out performs any other knife I have. My other knives are Aogami Super which is a great choice for kitchen knives. However, this was my first purchase of a knife made from Blue #2. What an eye opener this was! The edge glides through anything I have tried to cut. I was a bit concerned about possible wedging but rest assured that is not a problem. No resistance, smooth all the way through the stroke. I was also concerned about product sticking to this blade as it is such a highly polished finish. Again, this has never been a problem. If you use a rocking style, you may have to tone it down a bit so as not to catch the tip as this has very little curve to the cutting edge. So for performance, I'd give six stars if I could. Let's circle back to how this knife looks. At this point I would start to sink in to a fan boy zone so let's just say this is one of the most beautiful knives I have ever seen. When you combine form and function as Aoki Hamono Seisakusho Company has done here you have the best of both worlds. I looked at this knife for about ten months before I ordered it and I am very pleased I did. As always, Mark was a great help answering my questions leading up to my purchase. Just jump in, this knife is a joy to use.
48 people found this review helpful
I have had this knife for about four months, so please allow me to share some feed back. For a moment, let's put aside how stunningly attractive this knife is. It's unusual look is what caught my eye. I am not a collector, rather what I purchase must perform. This knife out performs any other knife I have. My other knives are Aogami Super which is a great choice for kitchen knives. However, this was my first purchase of a knife made from Blue #2. What an eye opener this was! The edge glides through anything I have tried to cut. I was a bit concerned about possible wedging but rest assured that is not a problem. No resistance, smooth all the way through the stroke. I was also concerned about product sticking to this blade as it is such a highly polished finish. Again, this has never been a problem. If you use a rocking style, you may have to tone it down a bit so as not to catch the tip as this has very little curve to the cutting edge. So for performance, I'd give six stars if I could. Let's circle back to how this knife looks. At this point I would start to sink in to a fan boy zone so let's just say this is one of the most beautiful knives I have ever seen. When you combine form and function as Aoki Hamono Seisakusho Company has done here you have the best of both worlds. I looked at this knife for about ten months before I ordered it and I am very pleased I did. As always, Mark was a great help answering my questions leading up to my purchase. Just jump in, this knife is a joy to use.
Great knife! Doesn't get much better than this...Posted By: dbt816 - verified customer
52 people found this review helpful
This is possibly the best looking knife on CKTG. It took me weeks and weeks of starting at it, but one day I gave in and purchased one. This is a display-only knife for me! Absolutely love it!
52 people found this review helpful
This is possibly the best looking knife on CKTG. It took me weeks and weeks of starting at it, but one day I gave in and purchased one. This is a display-only knife for me! Absolutely love it!
