A striking blend of rugged Kurouchi blacksmith finish and faceted Tsuchime hammer-marks gives this 165mm nakiri dramatic texture while keeping food from clinging to the blade. The wide, flat profile glides through piles of vegetables, and the octagonal burnt-chestnut handle offers a warm, slip-resistant grip even with wet hands.

Kurouchi Tsuchime by Tadafusa is forged in Sanjo, Niigata, where blade-smiths have honed their craft for 400 years. A hard Aogami A2/S core is clad in stainless steel using the traditional San Mai technique, marrying carbon-steel sharpness with everyday rust resistance. Each blade is quenched, hand-hammered, ground and sharpened in-house, so you receive a razor edge that holds its bite through long prep sessions.

Tadafusa 忠房 keeps Sanjo’s smithing heritage alive, combining hand-craftsmanship with precise modern tooling to supply professional kitchens worldwide.

Toda “Tsu” Shigeo 忠房 重雄 founded the workshop in 1948; three generations later the family still tempers every knife, famed for distinctive Kurouchi and Nashiji finishes that reveal the steel’s soul while protecting it from corrosion.

Nakiri 菜切 translates to "vegetable cutter." Its tall, straight edge and broad face are purpose-built for push-cutting vegetables without rocking, while the wide blade excels at scooping and transferring prep from board to pan, making it the go-to knife for plant-forward cooks.

San Mai 三枚 means "three layers" — a hard cutting core sandwiched between two softer outer layers. This traditional construction protects the delicate edge from shock while adding toughness and simplifying maintenance, so you can enjoy the performance of high-carbon steel worry-free.

Aogami A2/S 青紙 (Blue Paper No. 2) is essentially white carbon steel enhanced with chromium and tungsten for added toughness. With 1.05 – 1.15% carbon plus tungsten (1 – 1.5%) and chromium (0.2 – 0.5%), this very hard Hitachi steel delivers exceptional edge retention and fine grain structure. Takes a razor-keen edge, sharpens effortlessly on whetstones, and rewards proper care—hand wash, dry immediately—with decades of superior performance.