The combination of the reverse tanto-style tip and short, tall blade lend the
bunka a very purposeful look. These knives are gaining in popularity recently due to their do-it-all abilities. They are adept at cutting, slicing, and chopping, while the tip affords them the ability to take on smaller ingredients and get into tight spaces. Since banno bunkas have fairly flat profiles they are most adept at push cutting and chopping rather than rock chopping.
The Kurosaki Raijin
Bunka 165mm conforms to most of the bunka norms until you look at the construction and finish. There is little normal here!
Raijin knives feature a secret Cobalt stainless steel that is clad in a softer stainless alloy. The san-mai style cladding receives an amazing pattern named after after Raijin, the god of thunder. And with the driving rain look of the face pattern one can appreciate the reason.
We are huge admirers of Yu Kurosaki’s work. For such a young smith he has a long story. He makes knives for several leading brands while building his own named brand into a future powerhouse. His designs and unique finishes have set him apart from many of his contemporaries, while his energetic personality and beaming smile make him a personal favorite among many Japanese knife lovers.
Blacksmith: Yu Kurosaki
Location: Echizen, Japan
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Edge Steel: Cobalt Stainless Steel
Cladding: Stainless
HRC: 63-64
Finish: Raijin
Weight: 4.3 ounces / 122g
Blade Length: 164 mm
Thickness at Heel: 2.5 mm
Blade Height: 45 mm
Handle: Rosewood Octagonal