Yu Kurosaki Nakiri Gekko VG-XEOS Migaki 160mm (6.3")

Kurosaki Nakiri from the Gekko line is another special blade from the hands of a talented master blacksmith Yu Kurosaki. The minimalistic, lightweight, perfectly balanced blade is treated to a high polish − hence the name Gekkō (月光) which means moonlight in Japanese. 

Besides the obvious impressive characteristics, this knife also boasts a core from new revolutionary VG-XEOS steel (61-62 HRC), which has excellent resistance to wear and corrosion.

BLADE SHAPE:
Nakiri is a Japanese knife that was made specifically for preparing vegetables and herbs. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used kitchen knives in Japan. The name Nakiri or Nakiri bōchō means "leaf cutter" in Japanese. Due to its flat cutting edge and square tip, the shape of the Nakiri knife enables efficient chopping and slicing, making it the most suitable choice for chefs and home cooks that prepare large amounts of vegetables daily. The straight edge of the blade ensures optimal and stable contact with the cutting surface and enables fluid movement for excellent blade control and precise work.
→ The Gekko series has a lowered and slightly offset blade in relation to the handle. The advantage of this design is that it has a greater knuckle-clearance, even though the blade is of a normal width for an all-round gyuto knife.
→ A wide profile for easy chopping and food transfer.
→ A knife specialized for vegetable preparation. The blade is 160mm (6.3").

STEEL:
VG-XEOS is a brand-new and innovative steel from Takefu Special Steel Co. It is an alloy that combines high corrosion resistance with high hardness and wear resistance. The fine microstructure is achieved through a special melting method that improves wear resistance, strength, and quenching properties.

** The composition of the steel is still somewhat mysterious, so we cannot give all the exact details at this point.

LAMINATION:
The steel is laminated, meaning that the core is made of very strong steel covered with an external layer of softer stainless steel − also known as san-mai clad. 

→ Read more on Blade construction: Lamination.

GEOMETRY:
It has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade (50/50). The blade has a convex V-edge profile - hamaguri, which means that the blade tapers all the way from the spine to the edge on both sides at a common angle. This kind of grind offers a good balance between the ease of cutting and robustness.

BLADE FINISH:
The hand-chiseled kanji signature is the only distinguishing element on this otherwise clean, highly polished (also called migaki) blade.

→ Read more on Blade construction: Blade finish.

HANDLE:
The Kurosaki Gekko line features a traditional Japanese oak wood handle (Wa) with a universal, octagonal shape that comfortably fits in the hands of both right- and left-handed users. The whole handle is made of one piece of wood (without a ferrule). 

ABOUT THE BLACKSMITH:
Yu Kurosaki is a young, talented master blacksmith who lives in Takefu Knife Village, close to the city of Echizen. His knives are well known throughout Japan and also around the world for their beautiful, unique-looking design and superior quality. Hammer's dents on the blade are his signature finish, and just like with snowflakes, not a single dent is alike. Needless to say (but we will say it anyway), his knives don’t only look great but they’re also made of high-quality steel and have a razor sharp, long-lasting edge.

Before opening his own smithy, Kurosaki-san was the apprentice of Hiroshi Kato, a master blacksmith with more than 50 years of knife-making experience. Kato-san is one of the founders of Takefu Knife Village, where now more than 10 master blacksmiths make knives by hand and put them on display for visitors to admire and learn more about their craft. Kurosaki-san is the youngest blacksmith to be granted the title of Master Nokaji by Takefu Knife Village Association and is a senior teacher there.

☝️When you visit Japan, make sure to put the Takefu Knife Village to your itinerary!

Here's a short video of Kurosaki's workshop: