Hatsukokoro Santoku Ginsanko Damascus 180mm (7.1″)

The Hatsukokoro Santoku Ginsanko Damascus 180mm is a versatile Japanese kitchen knife that stands out for its appearance (unique combination of a densely marbled damascus pattern and delicate hammer impressions) and performance (63 HRC Ginsanko steel core ensures effortless sharpening and excellent edge retention). 

BLADE SHAPE:
Santoku is the original Japanese multipurpose knife, most commonly used in Japanese home kitchens. This blade shape excels at all types of cutting and chopping on the cutting board. The blade has a gentle curve in the belly and is also good for rocking cutting techniques.

San means “three”, hence “knife of three virtues”. 3 ingredients: meat, fish, veggies 3 tasks: slicing, chopping, mincing 3 parts of the knife: tip (fine work), cutting edge (general duty), heel (heavy-duty chopping)

STEEL:
Hitachi’s Silver III steel, also named Ginsan steel or Ginsanko, was hardened to around 63 HRC. Due to its high content of Chromium (Cr), Ginsan steel will resist corrosion very well. Despite it being a stainless steel, it feels and behaves very similarly to carbon steels, due to its extremely pure composition. 

LAMINATION:
The core layer was sandwiched between 24 layers of softer steel. This technique is called san-mai damascus and is used to protect the hard (but delicate) core from outside factors and physical impacts, which could lead to breakage.

GEOMETRY:
It has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade.

BLADE FINISH:
The look of the knife is unique: the upper half of the blade shows hammer prints in the 25-layer damascus pattern, which isn’t something you usually see on Japanese knives. The spine and choil (the curve that runs from the handle to the heel of the blade) are very nicely polished, so the knife will be comfortable to work with.

Damascus knives are a true work of art. These knives are handcrafted by skilled artisans who have honed their craft over generations, and their intricate designs are simply breathtaking. These patterns are created by folding layers of different types of steel together, and then repeatedly hammering and forging them until the desired pattern emerges. The resulting blade is both strong and sharp, with a distinctive, rippled pattern. The patterns themselves are often inspired by nature, with designs that resemble the waves of the ocean, the swirling of clouds, or the movement of wind. Each pattern is unique, and the process of creating them is a labor of love that requires patience, skill, and precision.

HANDLE:
Octagon Japanese (Wa) style handle is made out of teak wood with a buffalo horn ferrule. Because of its symmetrical shape, the handle fits perfectly in both palms. 

BLACKSMITH:
Blacksmith: The knife was designed and made by Yoshihiro Yauji, a young blacksmith based at Takefu Knife Village. He specializes in traditional, single-bevel knives. He started as an apprentice to master blacksmith Hideo Kitaoka. A few years ago, he set out on his own and launched his own knife range under his own name.
Brand: Hatsukokoro is a Japanese brand, established in 2019, that aims to be a bridge between Japan and the world. It seeks out the best products Japan has up its sleeve and develops sales channels to distribute them around the world. The meaning of Hatsukokoro comes from the Japanese proverb “do not forget your original purpose”.