Yoshimi Kato Kurouchi Damascus AS – Bunka
R6,650.00
Yoshimi Kato
Yoshimi Kato first apprenticed at Kanehiro Hamono and then apprenticed under the guidance of Hiroshi-San (his Father in Law) who has also taught great blacksmiths like Yu Kurosaki. Yoshimi Kato strives to continuously improve his skills day by day working from Takefu knife village.
The Yoshimi Kato Kurouchi Damascus AS – Bunka is constructed using an Aogami Super core steel which is cladded in softer Iron. Aogami Super has amazing edge retention and sharpness. The knife has a Iron cladding around the Aogami Super Core steel. So keeping it clean and dry after use is super important to avoid rust from forming. Its features a beautiful hand-made Maplewood Handle.
Bunka
Bunka Knife (文化包丁 – pronounced: Bunka Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘Cultural Knife’. The name stems from the traditional use of making cultural and traditional Japanese cuisine at home.
The Bunka is versatile because of its similarity to the Santoku. It is regarded as a multi-use knife and is best for chopping, dicing and mincing food such as meat, fish, vegetables and herbs. The flat profile is ideal for slicing meat, fish and vegetables. The tall profile is ideal for chopping fruits, vegetables and thinly sliced meat. The pointed tip makes it superior for precision work and scoring vegetables and meat. The tip also allows for light butchering work and enables the user to get under layers of fat and sinew. The blade profile is well suited for tap-chopping or push-cutting techniques.
The length of the Bunka is generally shorter than traditional Western chef’s knives. The shorter, compacted length and thinness of the blade makes it lighter and less strenuous to handle for long periods of time. The tall, flat profile with the reverse tanto is what characteristically defines the blade from other shapes.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Meat, Fish, Herbs, Vegetables
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: All-Rounder – Easy to use and applies to most food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
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Petty
Petty (Paring/Utility) Knife (ぺティ – pronounced: Petti Naifu). It is said to be derived from French ‘petit’ meaning small or little. The Petty Knife is seen as a small Gyuto making it purposeful for any use in the kitchen.
The petty knife is perfect for smaller working surfaces, cutting smaller sized produce if for users with smaller hands. Its comparison to the Gyuto makes it the ultimate small-sized all-rounder and professional cooks prefer it for its compact size and versatility. It can be used to peel, slice, dice, mince and trim a variety of smaller fruits, vegetables, herbs, garnishes and proteins. It is perfect for light butcher work and delicate tasks such as making precision cuts. The blade profile is well suited for thrust-cutting while the belly allows for rock-cutting.
The Petty knife is generally larger than a Western petty knife. Similar to the Gytuo the Petty knife’s heel to belly is quite flat with a rounded profile to the tip. The sharp, double-bevel edge makes this knife ambidextrous and is the perfect companion in a small kitchen with limited workspace or for users with smaller hands.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Meat, Fish, Herbs, Vegetables
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VG10 Stainless
The blade is made from VG10 Stainless. Its a very popular stainless steel for knife makers in Japan. It is produced by Takefu Special steel Co. Ltd. VG10 is specifically designed for kitchen knife making. Its’s relatively easy to work, has great edge retention, hardness and ductility. VG10 is usually hardened to 60-61 HRC.
Knife Specifications
Knife Shape: Petty
Blade Length: 150mm
Steel Type: VG10 Stainless
Rockwell Hardness: 60:61
Handle Material: Western Handle
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.

RYUTOKU Santoku 165mm
RYUTOKU
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Santoku
Santoku Knife (三徳包丁 – pronounced: Santoku Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘Three Virtues’. Three Virtues refers to the three methods of using a knife namely slicing, dicing and chopping or the three types of fresh produce that is meat, fish and vegetables.
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- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
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- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.

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Care Instructions:
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food. I’m sure you have a 4×4 somewhere in your kitchen for this job.
- Never twist, cleave or prise the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.

Tsunehisa AS Kurouchi Santoku 165mm
Tsunehisa
Tsunehisa is a Japanese knife company that sources their knives from various OEMs in Tosa, Japan. They are well known for there outstanding quality steels and amazing sharpness out of the box.
The Tsunehisa AS Kurouchi is made from Aogami Super ( Blue Super Steel ). Its an improved version of Blue # 1. Blue Super (Aogami Super or AS) they add more carbon for hardness. The extra added Vanadium gives extra toughness and creates smaller carbides. Blue Super is often considered by blacksmiths, to be the best carbon steel for knife making in Japan.
Santoku
Santoku Knife (三徳包丁 – pronounced: Santoku Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘Three Virtues’. Three Virtues refers to the three methods of using a knife namely slicing, dicing and chopping or the three types of fresh produce that is meat, fish and vegetables.
The Santoku’s multi-purpose and versatility nature leads it to be compared with a Western chef’s knife or the Gyuto. As the Three Virtues suggests it’s perfect for chopping, mincing and slicing the three main fresh produces. It excels easily through the fresh produce and creates thin slices of meat, seafood, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. The wide blade is handy for scooping food off the cutting board. The blade profile is well suited for up-and-down motion or using a tap-chop or a push-cut.
The Santoku thin blade is shorter than Western chef’s or Gyuto knives making it lighter, easier to handle and less strenuous for long periods of work. The flatter cutting edge is nearly straight from heel to tip. The Santoku is perfect for users with smaller hands and a bit more limited working space. The double-bevel, thin, sharp edge prioritises finesse instead of power.
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Knife Specifications
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Steel Type: Aogami Super
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Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.

Yoshida Hamono Blue2 Kurouchi – Nakiri 165mm
Yoshida Hamono is a Family owned company with a rich history of knife and sword manufacturing. They manufacture knives at their workshop in Saga Prefecture, Japan.
The Yoshida Blue 2 range comes at a sharp price for a hand-forged knife. They are nice and thin behind the edge and are very well balanced in hand.
The Yoshida Blue 2 knives have a core steel of Blue 2 Carbon steel cladded in soft iron. Both the core and the iron cladding are reactive Carbon steel. This knife patinas nicely, but extra care is required when using the knife. We recommend that the blade be wiped down regularly during use and washed and dried properly after use. We recommend getting a rust eraser for maintenance.
Using a good cutting technique is very important. Make sure your cutting motion is straight up and down with no lateral movement when hitting the cutting board.
Nakiri
Nakiri Knife (菜切り包丁 – pronounced: Nakiri Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘knife for cutting greens’ or ‘leaf-cutter’. Most Japanese households make use of the Nakiri and in general, it is loved by vegetarians.
The Nakiri’s broad rectangular blade allows for quick and efficient chopping, dicing and mincing of large vegetables. The height of the blade also allows cutting through harder root vegetables with a straight down chopping motion. The Nakiri may also be turned upside down to use the spine of the blade to scrape ingredients across the chopping board without damaging the blade. The blade profile with its straight, flat edge works best when using an up and down chopping motion.
The Nakiri knife has a long, thin, and rectangular-shaped blade with a straight edge, and a flat, blunt tip. The Nakiri’s shape can be mistaken for a cleaver but be warned that it is not made for heavy-duty work like cutting bones or frozen foods. The thinness of the blade also ensures that delicate vegetables can be cleanly cut without ripping the skin, and helps to achieve crisp edges on each slice.
Best for: Vegetables
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: Specialist – Easy to use but applies to specific food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.

Sakai Kikumori Nihonko – Santoku 180mm
Sakai Kikumori
With a passionate devotion to knife-making as well as working with some of the most skilled craftsman in Japan, Sakai Kikumori has been making cutlery of incredible quality and performance since its inception in 1926.
The Kikumori Nihonko Gyuto is a mono-steel blade made from SK Carbon Steel. SK Rusts slower than other Japanese Carbon Steels such as Aogami and Shirogami and has notable toughness for a blade of HRC 63. The blade is thin and easy to sharpen and will hold edges for respectable periods of time. The handle is a Western Style Handle made from Pakka Wood with a half bolster.
Santoku
Santoku Knife (三徳包丁 – pronounced: Santoku Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘Three Virtues’. Three Virtues refers to the three methods of using a knife namely slicing, dicing and chopping or the three types of fresh produce that is meat, fish and vegetables.
The Santoku’s multi-purpose and versatility nature leads it to be compared with a Western chef’s knife or the Gyuto. As the Three Virtues suggests it’s perfect for chopping, mincing and slicing the three main fresh produces. It excels easily through the fresh produce and creates thin slices of meat, seafood, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. The wide blade is handy for scooping food off the cutting board. The blade profile is well suited for up-and-down motion or using a tap-chop or a push-cut.
The Santoku thin blade is shorter than Western chef’s or Gyuto knives making it lighter, easier to handle and less strenuous for long periods of work. The flatter cutting edge is nearly straight from heel to tip. The Santoku is perfect for users with smaller hands and a bit more limited working space. The double-bevel, thin, sharp edge prioritises finesse instead of power.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Meat, Fish, Vegetables
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: All-Rounder – Easy to use and applies to most food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.

Tsunehisa AS Kiritsuke 210mm
Kiritsuke:
Traditionally a single bevel knife, but most modern Kiritsuke knives are now double beveled, miking it functional for both lef-handed and right-handed users.
The Kiritsuke profile is often quite flat, offering great contact with your cutting board.
It also offers a thin drop tip, which is great for precision work and getting into those nooks and crannies.
Delivery time: 3 to 5 Working days
FREE SHIPPING for orders over R500
We use Payfast and EFT as payment method.
Care Instructions:
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food. I’m sure you have a 4×4 somewhere in your kitchen for this job.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.

Yoshida Hamono Blue2 Kurouchi – Sujihiki 240mm
Yoshida Hamono is a Family owned company with a rich history of knife and sword manufacturing. They manufacture knives at their workshop in Saga Prefecture, Japan.
The Yoshida Blue 2 range comes at a sharp price for a hand-forged knife. They are nice and thin behind the edge and are very well balanced in hand.
The Yoshida Blue 2 knives have a core steel of Blue 2 Carbon steel cladded in soft iron. Both the core and the iron cladding are reactive Carbon steel. This knife patinas nicely, but extra care is required when using the knife. We recommend that the blade be wiped down regularly during use and washed and dried properly after use. We recommend getting a rust eraser for maintenance.
Using a good cutting technique is very important. Make sure your cutting motion is straight up and down with no lateral movement when hitting the cutting board.
Sujihiki
Sujihiki Knife (筋引き出刃 – pronounced: Sujihiki Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘flesh slicer’. The name insinuates that it is perfect for slicing or carving meat which it was designed for initially. This is a composite between a Yanagiba and a Western-style carving knife.
The Sujihiki’s long, double bevelled blade allows for pull cutting in one clean motion using the blade from heel to tip. The length of the blade is perfect to cut up, carve or even butcher small to medium size animals or cuts of meat. The Sujihiki is also perfect for trimming sinew and fat from meat and filleting and skinning fish.
The Sujihiki has a relatively long and narrow blade with an acute edge angle with a narrow heel height. These components reduce the effort to cut through ingredients. For this reason, it is best to use a blade that is as long as your workspace will allow. The combination of cutting technique, acute blade angle, and sharp edge result in very little cellular damage in the cut surface.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Meat, Fish
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: Specialist – Easy to use but applies to specific food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
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