Yoshimi Kato is a very busy and highly sought-after blacksmith. He makes knives for some very popular brands, including Masakage and Kanehiro. He works at the Takefu Knife Village Cooperative, one of the centers of the knife world. This new line of kitchen knives is the first to bear his name. We are very impressed with the grinds, fit, and finish of these blades. The overall look of the knives in this new range is also quite splendid.
Kato-san makes these blades from very special steel called SG2. SG2 is a modern, high-tech stainless steel made with a powdered metallurgical process that is often found in surgical instruments, metal cutting tools, and, of course, kitchen knives. It has very high edge retention while being fairly wear-resistant and easy to sharpen. The core alloy is clad with softer stainless steel to protect the inner core from shock and add strength to the blade. The cladding is a multi-layer Damascus construct that is beautiful in its execution and finish.
Nakiri knives are a fairly new look in the west but a staple in most Japanese kitchens. Their primary job is to process vegetables (“
nakiri” means “greens” in Japanese), but they are also a very good option for other cutting tasks in the kitchen.
Brand: Yoshimi SG2
Blacksmith: Yoshimi Kato
Location: Echizen, Japan
Construction: San Mai
Method: Hammer Forged
Core Edge Steel: SG2 Powdered Stainless Steel
Cladding: Damascus Stainless
HRC: 61-62
Edge Grind: Even (See Choil Shot)
Handle: Cherry Octagonal
Ferrule: Red Paduuk Wood
Weight: 6.1 Ounces / 172g
Blade Length: 160mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 1.6mm
Blade Height: 50mm