Nao Yamamoto, a highly respected blacksmith hailing from Echizen, stands out with his extraordinary craftsmanship. He is a master at executing the unique "Nimai-Hiroge" technique, which results in an exquisite balance of sharpness, effortless cutting performance, and sustained edge retention. The remarkable thinness of his blades, a testament to his skill, has made his knives our top pick in kitchen cutlery.
The knives you see here are made with Ginsan steel and have stainless tsuchime (hammered) cladding. They're excellent hand-made knives from a traditional craftsman from the hotbed of Japanese knife-making in Echizen, Japan.
Blacksmith: Nao Yamamoto
Location: Echizen, Japan
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Edge Steel: Ginsan Stainless Steel
HRC: 61
Cladding: Stainless
Finish: Tsuchime
Edge Grind: Even
Handle: Rosewood Octagonal
Ferrule: Pakka Wood
Weight: 2.7 oz (78 g)
Edge Length: 141 mm
Total Length: 270 mm
Spine Thickness at Heel: 3 mm
Blade Height at Heel: 32.3 mm
Engraving: Hand Engraved