Makoto san has come up with a very nice knife line here with the Sakura Tsuchime. Let's break down what each word means since it's a mouthful. Makoto Kurosaki is his name. He chose the name for his brand as Makoto because his brother uses Kurosaki. Sakura means Cherry Tree which is revered for its beauty in Japan. If you ever travel to Japan in the spring you'll be amazed at the massive amount of blossoming cherry trees everywhere. Makoto san uses cherry wood handles on his knives which inspired the name. Tsuchime means "hammered" and refers to the hammered cladding on the blade. Santoku is the shape of the knife. Phew!
Makoto Kurosaki has used SG2 to make this excellent santoku knife. His choice is a good one from the standpoint of ease of maintenance and durability. SG2 steel has the ability to feel rather carbon-like when forged by a good blacksmith. It has a very hard feel but is able to hold an edge over the long haul. It also has a high wear resistance as compared to other knife steels. However, it is quite easy to sharpen, more so than any other stainless steel. The inner core is clad san-mai style with soft stainless steel. It is given a very nice hairline finish.
Makoto is an expert sharpener and it is very apparent with this knife. The grind is exceptional, as is the overall thinness of this laser. It is thin but not wispy. In the santoku itineration, it exhibits easy controllability while truly falling through food with an ease that is quite remarkable.
That this finely made package should come in at this price is the true icing on the cake. We highly recommend these knives.Brand: Makoto
Blacksmith: Makoto Kurosaki
Location: Takefu, Japan
Construction: San Mai
Method: Hammer Forged
Quenching: Water Quenched
HRC: 62+-
Finish: Tsuchime
Edge Steel: SG2 Powdered Stainless Steel
Cladding: Stainless Steel
Handle: Cherry Octagonal (Sakura means Cherry Tree)
Ferrule: Maple
Weight: 4.4 ounces / 126g
Blade Length: 165 mm
Total Length: 305 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
Blade Height: 45 mm
Edge Grind: Even (See Choil Photo)
Makoto Kurosaki has used SG2 to make this excellent santoku knife. His choice is a good one from the standpoint of ease of maintenance and durability. SG2 steel has the ability to feel rather carbon-like when forged by a good blacksmith. It has a very hard feel but is able to hold an edge over the long haul. It also has a high wear resistance as compared to other knife steels. However, it is quite easy to sharpen, more so than any other stainless steel. The inner core is clad san-mai style with soft stainless steel. It is given a very nice hairline finish.
Makoto is an expert sharpener and it is very apparent with this knife. The grind is exceptional, as is the overall thinness of this laser. It is thin but not wispy. In the santoku itineration, it exhibits easy controllability while truly falling through food with an ease that is quite remarkable.
That this finely made package should come in at this price is the true icing on the cake. We highly recommend these knives.
Reviews
1 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Good but not up to expectations, June 5, 2022Posted By: Wesley Montoya
My previous santoku was a brick, 11.7oz. As a daily driver it was a lot. I only spent as much I did on this one because it was advertised at 3.8oz. When it arrived I immediately noticed it was thicker, and heavier than advertised. I understand there is some margin of error in handcrafted items. But it was 4.45oz. I was not happy. I could have saved 70$+ to find a knife with the same steel and lower weight.
Weight aside, it takes on an extremely sharp edge, but takes quiet a bit more work on the stones than my softer stones. Overall, the quality is there, but the value is not.
My previous santoku was a brick, 11.7oz. As a daily driver it was a lot. I only spent as much I did on this one because it was advertised at 3.8oz. When it arrived I immediately noticed it was thicker, and heavier than advertised. I understand there is some margin of error in handcrafted items. But it was 4.45oz. I was not happy. I could have saved 70$+ to find a knife with the same steel and lower weight.
Weight aside, it takes on an extremely sharp edge, but takes quiet a bit more work on the stones than my softer stones. Overall, the quality is there, but the value is not.
