Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS-34 Nakiri 170mm

Hatsu – Kokoro means innocent spirit. A very important wholesaler from Amagasaki city in Hyogo prefecture cooperating with some of the best craftsmen in Japan. The Hatsukokoro brand is their house brand, crafted from undisclosed but some of the most experienced blacksmiths.

The Ginga (Galaxy or Milky Way) line is one of the latest creations of Hatsukokoro in collaboration with Yoshihiro Yauji, one of the most talented blacksmiths and one of the youngest to be honoured as Dentokogeshi (Traditional Craftsmen) in Takefu Knife Village (we met him in our latest visit to Japan and is an amazing person too). After many years of training under Hideo Kitaoka, he started making his own knives, that soon became famous for their excellent fit and finish.

It features an impressive polished Damascus finish and is made with one high end stainless steels by Hitachi, namely ATS-34. It contains a high amount of carbon and chromium that provides excellent wear and corrosion resistance.  All details are taken care of – rounded and polished spine for looks and comfort – a tapering that makes the knives both sturdy and nimble and an Ebony mono octagonal handle to adds to the overall beauty of these knives.

Despite the polished finish it has a very good food release even when cutting sticky ingredients like potatoes.

The Nakiri, that looks like a small cleaver, is a specialized knife for vegetables. It is a double bevel knife and has a tall, thin blade in order to go through vegetables easily. It is a very popular knife throughout Japan as well as the rest of the world because its specialized profile makes the veggie preparation so easy. Feels nimble in the handle despite its size and its thin blade is designed for precise cuts. Perfect for chopping, slicing and push cuts.