Hitohira Tanaka Kyuzo Blue #1 Kurouchi Petty 165mm Yakusugi Cedar Handle

Brand: Hitohira ひとひら (一片)

Smith: Tanaka Blacksmith 田中打刃物製作所
Producing Area: Sakai-Osaka/ Japan
Profile: Petty
Size: 165mm
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Steel: Yasuki Blue (Aogami) #1, Soft Iron Clad
Handle: Yakusugi Cedar & Buffalo Horn Ferrule Octagonal
Edge Length: 162mm
Blade Height above the Heel: 38.5mm
Spine Thickness above the Heel: 1.9mm
Weight: 78g

Sharpener: Kyuzo

Kyuzo’s father Heihachi is one of the busiest sharpeners in Sakai. Heihachi’s workshop room and corridor were always filled with knives waiting to be sharpened. Although Kyuzo initially worked under his father to learn the foundation of rough sharpening, eventually he became a student of Kambei, known as one of the best sharpeners in Sakai because he knew best how to sharpen wide double bevel knives. After a few years of training, he built his style based on both his father and Kambei’s respective styles. Today, Kyuzo is one of only a few people who can sharpen wide double bevels with a really good Shinogi-line in Sakai, one of the most challenging techniques in sharpening.

Message from Craftsman

Tanaka's way of quenching knives does not produce a Kurouchi dark finish enough. So in order to produce the finish, which is both aesthetically pleasing and useful in protecting against rust, sharpener uses a special and secret technique that has been used in Sakai for a long time and etches the surface of the knife.
This way of finishing creates the dark and beautiful Kurouchi finish found on this special line. While both types of Kurouchi finishes can fade over time, the etching technique used by sharpener may fade faster.
This is not a sign that there is anything wrong with the blade. So please do not worry if this happens, as it is natural.