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 White #2 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 White #2 for you. It will chip, as this is not a “workhorse” blade with a robust edge thickness.

Constructed from White #2 carbon 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. 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 White #2 line is a shining example of what happens when rustic beauty is harmonically balanced with performance.

A petty (utility) knife probably gets used most often after your all-purpose knives. It can be used to cut small fruits, vegetables, and even some smaller cuts of meats (any many many more things, like cutting through plastic wrapping from a grocery trip!) If you have one, for a quick meal for two, you may just get it done without a chef's knife. 

Brand: Yoshikane 吉兼 
Blacksmith: Yoshikane Blacksmith 吉金刃物製作所
Producing Area: Sanjo-Niigata/ Japan
Profile: Petty
Size: 150mm
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Steel: White (Shirogami) #2, Soft Stainless Clad
Handle: Double Ebony Enju & Ebony Ferrule Octagonal
Total Length: 281mm
Edge Length: 155mm
Handle to Tip Length: 166mm
Blade Height: 32mm
Thickness: 3.6mm
Handle Length: 115mm
Weight: 88g
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous