Kiritsuke Japanese kitchen knife Matsubara Hamono Cleaver KT-224 18cm

The Tanaka Kama Industry KT-224 Kiritsuke Cleaver is a Japanese knife with a unique design, combining the wide blade of a kitchen cleaver with the distinctive profile of a *kiritsuke*. The brand Matsubara Hamono (Tanaka Kama Industry) is renowned for the work of bladesmith Katsuto Tanaka, a fourth-generation master of the craft. The wide blade provides an expansive working surface, making it convenient for slicing vegetables, meat, and fish, while also allowing for the easy transfer of ingredients from the cutting board. The *kiritsuke* geometry, featuring a characteristic sharp tip, is well-suited for precision tasks and making clean, accurate cuts.

The core of the blade is forged from Japanese Aogami #2 (Blue Steel No. 2) carbon steel, laminated between layers of stainless steel. Aogami #2 contains tungsten and chromium, which enhance wear resistance and help the blade retain its sharpness for longer. This steel is easy to sharpen on water stones, allowing for the creation of a fine, aggressive cutting edge. While the stainless steel cladding protects the sides of the blade from corrosion and simplifies maintenance, the Aogami #2 cutting edge remains susceptible to rust; therefore, the knife must be washed and wiped completely dry after every use.