Hatsukokoro Blue 2 Damascus Petty 150mm with Kurouchi Finish and Teak Wood Handle

We all LOVE Shigeki Tanaka’s knife, light, nimble, not a laser but glides through potatoes effortlessly, with minimal stiction.  Problem is, we can never get enough of them. One of the most difficult products to get is the Kurouchi line, the lead time was significant. So a few years ago, I started searching for the perfect replacement: cuts well, rustic looking, and most importantly, same unbeatable price. Fast forward to 2022, we finally received something from our close partner Hatsukokoro,  and man, I am stoked: this blue 2 KU line exceeded almost every aspect of expectation.  This Hatsukokoro blue 2 line is made by the Muneishi Cutlery, which has a long history back in 1955. They heat treat their blue 2 steel to about 62 to 63 HRC which I consider is optimal  hardness for blue 2. Can't fault the grind as well, very soild cutting performacne which makes this Hatsukokoro Blue 2 line a perfect knife for anyone looking to get into the world of carbon knife or for experienced users that