Nigara Hamono has been doing this for generations, and this one leans more into performance than flash. This 210mm Kiritsuke is built with Aogami Blue Super carbon steel at the core — one of the highest-performing steels out there. It takes a ridiculous edge, holds it for a long time, and just feels sharp in a different way. It’s clad in stainless, so you get the performance of carbon without the full maintenance headache.

The tsuchime finish keeps things clean with a bit of texture — helps with food release, but doesn’t try too hard visually. Just a nice, functional look with some character. The kiritsuke profile adds to that: flatter edge, aggressive tip, very precise on the board. It’s the kind of knife that feels direct and controlled, especially for push cuts and detail work.

Handle-wise, this one goes more modern with a wood and epoxy construction. Clean lines, nice contrast, a bit more bold than traditional setups but still well balanced and comfortable in hand.

On the board, it delivers — thin behind the edge, smooth through product, very responsive. You feel the steel working. If you’re after something performance-driven with a modern look, this one checks all the boxes.