Hokiyama Yanagiba Shirogami in 300mm (11.8") blade length is a thin and long traditional Japanese knife. Yanagiba knives were designed to cut thin slices of raw fish (ideal for sushi lovers), and also for cutting large pieces of meat (eg steaks). It's a single bevel knife, which means only right-handed users can wield it. While we usually find yanagibas in sushi and Japanese restaurants, there is a growing trend of home cooks owning these beauties for the weekend sushi or BBQ parties.

The heart of this knife is made of Hitachi's White steel 2, also named Shirogami 2 which was hardened to around 61-62 HRC.

❗ Because Shirogami steel does not contain chromium, such a blade will develop some patina during use. The advantage of this steel, however, is that it has a very fine, gentle sharpness, is easy to sharpen and stays sharp for a very long time. Ballistol oil is recommended for the care of such blades.

🚩 The blade is protected by a thin anti-corrosion oil coating that protects it from rust and scratches before it gets into the hands of its owner. Therefore, wash the knife thoroughly before using it for the first time to remove this thin protection.

Hokiyama blacksmiths fitted a Japanese (Wa) handle with a buffalo horn ferrule. The handle is made of the most commonly used handle wood in traditional Japanese knives - magnolia wood. Magnolia wood is a soft, light-colored wood that needs some extra maintenance as it can stain easily, so we recommend having clean hands before using the knife. It is preferred wood of Japanese sushi chefs due to its antiseptic properties and it is easy and cheap to rehandle as there is an abundance of magnolia handles on the market.

Suitable for first-time buyers of a Japanese kitchen knife. It can also serve as a wonderful gift!

About Hokiyama:

Hokiyama Hamono is a leading smithy in Kochi Prefecture in Japan. They have recently celebrated their 100-year anniversary, founded in 1919. Hokiyama Hamono is known for their quality as they follow the tradition of hand-made blades that has been around for over 800 years. They retain the handiwork and traditional craftsmanship that is passed down from generation to generation while striving for the ever-new knowledge and innovation. Despite the fact that they make knives according to the traditional methods, they follow the modern technological guidelines in the field of metallurgy, material processing and innovations in production processes. Hokiyama, in their own words, is a fusion of tradition (土佐 一), innovation (無限) and practicality (左近).

Each knife in the workshop goes through about 50 different processes that are performed and controlled by experienced craftsmen. Among the various steps required to make a Hokiyama knife is a special process called Rolling-Forging. It enables the efficient and uniform production of knives while maintaining the properties and qualities of Japanese steel.