Yoshito Saku Blue #2 Gyuto 210mm

This Yoshito Saku Gyuto comes from a small, family-run blacksmith shop in Kumamoto that has been forging farming and gardening tools for over 90 years. Although new to kitchen knife production, the workshop brings decades of forging, heat-treatment, and tool-making experience to these blades. We are their first international customer selling kitchen knives, and this gyuto reflects a natural transition from agricultural tools to kitchen cutlery—a path shared by many traditional Japanese blacksmiths as the farm tool market has declined over the past 40 years.

The blade is forged with an Aogami #2 (Blue #2) carbon steel core clad in reactive soft iron, finished with a smooth kurouchi surface and hand-engraved kanji on the blade face. The 210mm gyuto profile offers excellent versatility, providing a long, efficient cutting edge for vegetables, proteins, and general prep while maintaining good knuckle clearance and balance. The geometry reflects the shop’s tool-making roots, favoring stability, edge life, and confident cutting over flash.

The octagonal oak handle is finished with a burnt urushi lacquer that penetrates the wood fibers rather than forming a surface coating. This traditional finish improves resistance to moisture while preserving a natural, secure grip. Fukushima-san and his family are among the few workshops in Japan that both forge blades and make their own handles in-house, resulting in a knife with a cohesive, purpose-driven fit and finish from blade to handle.

Care Instructions: This knife has a carbon steel core with reactive soft iron cladding and will develop a natural patina with use. Dry the blade thoroughly after each use, avoid prolonged contact with acidic foods, and never leave the knife wet. A light coat of camellia oil is recommended for storage. Hand wash only—do not use a dishwasher.

Each knife is made by hand, so measurements may vary.

Brand: Yoshito Saku

Blacksmith: Fukushima-san

Location: Kumamoto, Japan

Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged

Edge Steel: Aogami #2 (Blue #2)

Cladding: Reactive Soft Iron

HRC: 61–62

Edge Grind: Even

Handle: Burnt Urushi Oak Octagonal (video is out of date)

Weight: 7.0 oz (200 g)

Edge Length: 214 mm

Total Length: 370 mm

Spine Thickness at Heel: 4 mm

Blade Height: 48 mm