Yoake (夜明け) means “Dawn.” I chose this theme for my first collection because dawn symbolizes a new beginning, the arrival of a new day. After Joonetsu’s transition to Yuki and the opening of the store, this period is a renewal for me, and I’m very excited to share it with you! The signature colors of this collection will be yellow/gold, orange, white, and purple.
The nakiri is a typical Japanese blade designed primarily for cutting fruits and vegetables. Nigara Hamono’s version features a slightly beveled tip, unlike the traditional square cut.
There is something that sets Nigara Hamono apart from other knifemaking families in Japan. One could first point to its 350-year history, beginning with swordmaking for the Tsugaru clan in the early Edo period. The passing down of know-how and skills over eight generations has undoubtedly given Nigara knives their cultural DNA, but this long history is not unique to Nigara.
One could say that having a legendary fifth-generation swordsmith—Japan’s national treasure, Mr. Kunitoshi Nigara (二唐國俊)—gives the family brand a high status. The best way to understand why Nigara stands out in the eyes of the current (8th) generation swordsmith—Mr. Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa (吉澤剛)—is to understand why. As he stands in the family business workshop with his younger brother and two young craftsmen, he feels inspired to create the most remarkable knives in the world.
The Nigara family has expanded since its sword-forging days into structural steelworks, steel beam technology, and the restoration of historic metal structures. In a word, Nigara is the guru of steel.
Brand: Nigara Hamono
Swordsmith: Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa
Series: Tsuchime Kurouchi
Steel: Aogami Super
Hardness: 63-64 HRC
Type: Nakiri
Blade Length: 16.6 cm
Heel Height: 5.16 cm
Heel Thickness: 2 mm
Tip Thickness: 0.9 mm
Weight: 156 g
Designed entirely by hand, the handle and case are made of hybrid robinia burl with resin.
Nigara Hamono has many distinctive knife lines. From the swirling pattern of the Anmon Kurozome to the highly sought-after Troll Killers, this Aogami Super Migaki Tsuchime line is no different. What makes this a solid knife choice is that incredible steel, the Aogami Super. Unparalleled sharpness.
