Yoshikane Hamono is a company in its 4th generation of operation from Sanjo city with over a century of history. The current blacksmith is Kazuomi Yamamoto, who learned the trade from his uncle Tsuneo Yoshida (3rd generation). Mr. Yamamoto is regarded widely as one of the best in his trade thanks to his mastery over several domains of knife-making, an exceedingly rare trait. 

His wealth of steel knowledge has allowed him to expertly forge both carbon and stainless steels, creating rarities such as a Honyaki blade from SG2 steel. Furthermore, his sharpening/blade-shaping prowess rivals or exceeds that of many Sakai sharpeners/blade-shapers despite him primarily being known as a blacksmith. Cutting with the Yoshikane blade is certainly an experience that will put a smile to the faces of amateur and seasoned cooks.

Similar to the Konosuke Sanjo line, the Yoshikane SKD has a razor-thin edge boasting elite cutting prowess comparable to using a laser in the kitchen. This power does come with the responsibility of gentle technique and a soft hand, as the thin edge can chip easily if not used with utmost respect and care. If you are somebody with a history of mistreating knives and being rough with your tools, we do not recommend the Yoshikane SKD for you. It will chip, as this is not a “workhorse” blade with a robust edge thickness.

Constructed from SKD12/A2 semi-stainless steel, these blades are easy to sharpen and sport excellent edge retention with a toothy quality; just keep the edge dry and clean often to avoid rust spots. The generous spine thickness throughout the blade offers excellent blade control with minimum warping even when cutting through tall and dense ingredients like celeriac. Simply put, the Yoshikane SKD line is a shining example of what happens when rustic beauty is harmonically balanced with performance.

Santoku is an all-purpose blade that is incredibly useful for tight spaces and it is the one that most home cooks should purchase first. Even folks who use paring knives for everything can quickly get used to this blade since it brings so much utility in a compact size.

Brand: Yoshikane 吉兼
Blacksmith: Yoshikane Blacksmith 吉金刃物製作所
Producing Area: Sanjo-Niigata/ Japan
Profile: Santoku
Size: 165mm
Steel Type: Semi Stainless Steel
Steel: SKD-12 (A2), Soft Stainless Clad
Handle: Teak & Buffalo Horn Ferrule Octagonal
Total Length: 311mm
Edge Length: 168mm
Handle to Tip Length: 182mm
Blade Height: 49.5mm
Thickness: 4mm
Handle Length: 129mm
Weight: 143g
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Hardness: 62-63HRCHRC