Makoto Kurosaki is the talented blacksmith behind these exceptional knives. He chose "Makoto" for his brand name since his brother already uses "Kurosaki." "Sakura" means cherry tree, a symbol of beauty and renewal in Japan. If you ever visit Japan in the spring, you’ll be amazed by the breathtaking cherry blossoms everywhere. This inspiration extends to the knife’s cherry wood handle, a tribute to the revered tree. "Tsuchime" means "hammered" and refers to the stunning hammered cladding on the blade. And finally, "Nakiri" is the shape of this knife, designed for precision vegetable cutting.
For this Nakiri, Makoto Kurosaki has chosen SG2 steel—an excellent choice for both durability and ease of maintenance. When forged by a skilled blacksmith, SG2 has a feel reminiscent of carbon steel. It’s incredibly hard yet maintains a long-lasting edge. Despite its high wear resistance compared to other knife steels, it’s surprisingly easy to sharpen—more so than most stainless steels. The blade features a san-mai construction, with a soft stainless steel cladding that enhances durability and gives it a beautiful hairline finish.
Makoto is renowned for his sharpening expertise, and it’s evident in this Nakiri. The grind is outstanding, and the thinness of this laser-cut blade is exceptional—delicate yet sturdy. In this Nakiri iteration, it offers effortless control while gliding through vegetables with remarkable ease.
Brand: Makoto
Blacksmith: Makoto Kurosaki
Location: Takefu, Japan
Construction: San Mai
Method: Hammer Forged
Quenching: Water Quenched
HRC: 62-63
Finish: Tsuchime
Edge Steel: SG2 Powdered Stainless Steel
Cladding: Stainless Steel
Handle: Cherry Octagonal (Sakura means Cherry Tree)
Ferrule: Maple
Weight: 5 ounces / 142g
Blade Length: 165 mm
Total Length: 317 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
Blade Height: 50 mm
Edge Grind: Even (See Choil Photo)
For this Nakiri, Makoto Kurosaki has chosen SG2 steel—an excellent choice for both durability and ease of maintenance. When forged by a skilled blacksmith, SG2 has a feel reminiscent of carbon steel. It’s incredibly hard yet maintains a long-lasting edge. Despite its high wear resistance compared to other knife steels, it’s surprisingly easy to sharpen—more so than most stainless steels. The blade features a san-mai construction, with a soft stainless steel cladding that enhances durability and gives it a beautiful hairline finish.
Makoto is renowned for his sharpening expertise, and it’s evident in this Nakiri. The grind is outstanding, and the thinness of this laser-cut blade is exceptional—delicate yet sturdy. In this Nakiri iteration, it offers effortless control while gliding through vegetables with remarkable ease.
