Yukihiro Sakai ”Hinokuni” Shiroichi Gyuto 210mm

About the Shape – Inspired by the profile of a traditional European chef knife, Gyutos are a multi purpose knife with a slight meat cutting bias. “Gyuto” translates to “cow sword.” If you want one knife to do it all, This is it. Starting at 180mm, Gyutos can reach the ridiculously long (and awesome) 370mm. For the at-home or professional cook, we recommend a Gyuto which measures between 210mm and 270mm long.

About Hinokuni Sakai – Yukihiro Sakai-san was apprenticed under Nishida-san in Kumamoto, a staunch traditionalist who strictly forge-welds his steel in-house. Sakai-san has learned everything from Nishida-san and continues the traditions of his sensei. Sakai-san recently started his own workshop in Kumamoto making his own knives.

Now he forge-welds everything in house, from hard carbon steel clad with soft steel, and the Shirogami #1 steel used in these knives is forge-welded in house by Sakai-san. This is a very traditional steel that can achieve incredible sharpness and has great edge retention, a favourite of more traditional blacksmiths.

Hinokuni means ‘Country of Flame’, an oldschool nickname for Kumamoto Prefecturedue to the famous local volcano Mt. Aso.