Yosegi Coreless Utility 135mm

Traditional 700-year-old technique

Fukui Prefecture

Echizen Uchihamono

Echizen Uchihamono (forged knives) are said to have originated in 1337, when Chiyozuru Kuniyasu, a swordsmith in Kyoto, moved to the Echizen region (present Echizen City) looking for a better place to forge katana or Japanese swords and made sickles for neighboring farmers. It is said that every time Kuniyasu made a katana, he carved a guardian dog from a grindstone and sank it in a well. This contained his wish as an artisan that a sword must not be a tool for killing people and should be only a symbol of a samurai. This spirit has been handed down to artisans of Echizen Uchihamono, who are determined to make tools of the highest quality.

Designated as a traditional craft product in 1979 for the first time in the blade field

In recognition of its history and techniques, in 1979, Echizen Uchihamono became the first designated traditional craft in the blade field.

Echizen Uchihamono-superb craftspersonship shining in distinctive forging techniques and manual finishing

Echizen Uchihamono products are still being made while sticking to traditional Japanese forging techniques and manual polishing steps. Using the forging techniques, which were important for making Japanese swords, we make tough blades that have high strength in bending and breaking.

Echizen Uchihamono artisans’ pursuit

Echizen Uchihamono artisans continue to pursue how to make light, thin, robust and long-wearing blades so that any user can be satisfied regardless of material. Each Echizen Uchihamono product has a quality that can satisfy anyone who actually uses it.

Responding to changing times, we have transformed their excellent techniques into those for household utensils that are closely connected to people’s lives, and now we deal in a wide variety of products, including farming, forestry, gardening and fishery-related tools, in addition to familiar knives and other kitchen utensils, which are our main products. In this way, Echizen Uchihamono has continued to evolve into more user-friendly and beautiful products in people’s everyday lives by pursuing functionality and shape suited for usage.

A knife series that reflects the beauty and functionality of Japanese craftsmanship at the highest level.

The blade is made of a multiple-folded Super VG10 & VG2 laminate, a high-end cutting steel material that allows long-lasting sharpness. To make the most of the characteristics of this super steel that is unsurpassed in the four major properties required of the best knives – hardness, toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, the Master Blacksmiths of the Ryusen forge crafted the blades using the traditional Echizen Uchihamono forging technique and buffed it with the special technique to make its surface more beautiful. There are no other knives that surpass the sharpness and edge retention this our Yosegi Series.

The stunning geometric patterned handles are made using a traditional Japanese art called “Hakone Yosegi-zaiku”. This method combines a wide variety of timbers to create attractive patterns by using the natural fine grains and textures of wood.

Fully Hand Forged by Master Blacksmith Masutani san

Maker: Ryusen

Steel: Coreless VG10 & VG2 Stainless Steel

Blade: 128 Layers (Diamond Finish)

Handle: Combination of Walnut, Mizuki, Mahogany, Katsura-Jindai, Angsana, Movingui, Japanese Magnolia, Katsura

Hardness: 62±

Utility:

The shape is basically a small Sujihiki or slicing knife. As the name suggests it is a multi-function knife used for the preparation of vegetables and precise cutting of meat and fish. The slim profile presents a smaller area to fatty, oily, and starchy foods where a wider blade would create a stronger vacuum and ‘stick’ more to the food.

Function – Multipurpose for preparing all food groups. A favourite knife of many home cooks who are uncomfortable with large blades.

Normal length – 150mm

Tip: This knife is also used for carving petite roasts, filleting and skinning fish as well as careful dissection of poultry without hitting bones. An extremely useful size for any kitchen.