Hatsukokoro Shinkiro Damascus Gyuto 210 mm

The Blacksmith

Hatsukokoro brings in masters of smithing, sharpening, and handle making to ensure quality, and a high attention to detail on their knives, so you know that you will be getting an amazing work knife. Based out of the industrial city of Amagasaki , Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, Hatsukokoro offers a wide breadth of handcrafted blades, sourcing from a variety of knife making regions across Japan. Their offerings are diverse in price point and profile, making them a great option for both industry guys and home cooks.

The Shinkiro series is made for Hatsukokoro by Takahiro Nihei who is a very famous knife maker from Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture Japan. He has worked with many different knife brands and constantly produces beautiful and very high performing knives. Hand forged by Nihei-san, He hammers layers of soft iron on both sides, with an Aogami Super core, then acid etches in order to make the damascus effect really pop. Shinkiro roughly translates to “mirage”, as this guy feels deceptively heavy, it cuts like light beaming through glass, with a nice strong taper from heel to tip. 

The Knife

This Gyuto is double beveled and is suitable for both right and left handed users. It's beautiful damascus pattern in created by hand which requires a great deal of skill, time and effort and gives each knife a one of a kind pattern. The handle may look simple in the pictures, and is, but is made from high quality ebony and beautifully figured buffalo horn. Additionally, the handle is polished to a wonderfully shiny and smooth finish and balances the knife perfectly. 

The Gyuto is the Japanese equivalent to the chef's knife and is the most versatile knife available. An essential for the professional cook/chef they can handle a wide variety of tasks including vegetable chopping, more intricate vegetable prep and slicing proteins. 

Knife Care (Iron Clad)

• This Knife is made from 3 layers of material; A layer of iron on each side protecting a layer of carbon steel at the core, in a process referred to as Sanmai or forge welding. Iron and carbon steel are both susceptible to rust and must be kept dry and clean at all time’s to avoid oxidation and discolouration.
• Simply wipe the knife with a damp cloth immediately after use.
• Wash with regular dish soap and warm water using a none abrasive sponge or cloth.
• Never put your knife in the dishwasher! The extreme heat will ruin the wooden handle.

• Highly acidic ingredients (Onions, Tomatoes, Citrus) Will cause rust and oxidation to happen faster, thus the user must ensure the knife is wiped clean immediately after working with such an ingredient.
• Should any rust form it can be removed using a rust eraser or a mixture of Baking soda and water to simply scrub it clean.
• Avoid Bones, Frozen foods, nuts and hard candies or anything other than fruits, vegetables and proteins.

Follow these care recommendations for your Japanese knives to protect the edge and keep them sharp as long as possible: 

• Do not put them in the dishwasher or soak them in water, as this may ruin the wooden handle and rust the blade. 
• Wash with soapy water and wipe dry after each use, especially after handling acidic ingredients, to minimize the risk of rusting.  
• Don’t cut through anything you wouldn’t bite through, like frozen foods, hard candies, or bones, as this may chip or damage the knife. 
• Don't torque the blade, as this may chip the knife. Use it in a forward and back, up and down motion without twisting.
• Don’t scrape the cutting board with your knife, as this will cause it to dull quickly and ruin your edge. 
• Use an end grain wooden cutting board or hi-soft rubberized cutting board if you can to protect your edge. Glass, bamboo, and granite are terrible materials for cutting boards, and plastic is only slightly better. 

All products are shipped within 24 hours. We offer same day shipping for products ordered by 12pm. Please allow 4-7 business days for your shipment to arrive with standard shipping. Expedited shipping options are also available at checkout.

We offer free shipping on orders within Canada over $150 CAD and free shipping on orders to the US over $200 USD.

Curbside pick-up is available at both our Hamilton and Etobicoke locations.

To make sure our customers are always satisfied, we offer full refunds on products for 14 days after receiving them. See our full return policy for details.

More questions? Check out our shipping policy, our return policy, or reach out to us directly.