Yu Kurosaki Shizuku 15cm SG2 steel artisanal hammered japanese Utility knife

Get to know the blacksmith:

Yu Kurosaki works in Echizen, Japan. His workshop is located in the famous Takefu Knife Village , home to a large number of expert blacksmiths who can share their knowledge with one another. In fact, this is a highly sought-after area for apprentices, who can be looked after by a master who will teach them everything they need to know!

Let's get back to Kurosaki san: he began his training in the early 2000s, and worked with master Kanehiro for 12 years. Master Kanehiro taught him everything: how to forge a knife, how to sharpen it with precision... It was after receiving orders from customers who were very satisfied with his blades that he decided to set up his own workshop, encouraged by his master. He also trained with the famous Hiroshi Kato San, a renowned master blacksmith and one of the founding members of Takefu Village. Now it's Yu Kurosaki San's turn to train his apprentice, so that one day, he himself can open his own workshop!

Kurosaki is renowned for the original work he does on his blades, as you can see from the models we offer on our site, among the different ranges.

Model:

This 15cmUniversal knife is a versatile knife that's still very handy, for cutting medium-sized fruit and vegetables, for example. You can also use it to mince small pieces of boneless meat. It will quickly find its place in your kitchen.

Blade details :

The Kurosaki Shizuku knife has a forged blade, i.e. it is formed from a solid piece of steel. The blade is heated, then gripped by the blacksmith with a pair of pliers and passed under the mechanical press, turning regularly. This precision work results in a sturdier knife, as the blade will not have a weld point to join the pieces together!

The blade is made fromSG2 powdered steel (also known as R2), an expensive high-end alloy found only on certain cutlery series. With a hardness of around 63 HRC on the Rockwell scale, it retains its sharpness over the long term, so you save on sharpening sessions.

What's more, SG2 steel remains easy to sharpen if the need arises, despite its rigidity. This is a real advantage for such a rigid alloy. You can also maintain it with a Sharpening stone. Its razor-sharp edge will surprise you from the very first use.

Another advantage of SG2 steel is its purity. At the microscopic level, its structure is very homogeneous, which makes it more resistant (there is less risk of chipping, for example).

Finishes :

The cutting edge is hand-finished on a grinding wheel to guarantee excellent cutting quality, right from the very first use! Watch your fingers!

The upper part of the blade has been hammered with a highly original pattern. This is what makes Kurosaki san knives so special. It's as if the steel is wet, and you can make out tiny drops of water intertwining. This is where the range gets its name, Shizuku meaning "drop" in Japanese.

Last but not least, kanji have been engraved on the cutting surface, for even greater authenticity. All this is enhanced by an elegant mirror polish.

Handle:

Made from Sandalwood (a grit wood that's pleasant and light in the hand), its octagonal shape hugs your palm, for marked control of the knife during use. A dark Pakkawood bolster links the blade to the handle. The whole contrasts with efficiency.

Good to know:

The knife should be washed by hand, then wiped dry with a soft cloth, before storing away from moisture. It comes in a Japanese-style cardboard box.

Please note that quantities are limited, due to the origin of the knives and the production capacity of the blacksmith, who carries out all operations by hand.

Find the complete range of Kurosaki Shizuku knives here!