Usuba 210 mm in Ginsan (Silver Steel), forged in Sakai by Nakagawa: a stainless steel with near-carbon sharpening behavior, shaped into a single-bevel kataba profile built exclusively for vegetables. The straight spine and square heel of the usuba suit push-cutting and precision techniques such as fine julienne and katsuramuki, the continuous ribbon-peeling of daikon or kabocha.
The wa-handle in magnolia (hōnoki) is lightweight, fine-grained, with an oval cross-section typical of Sakai production. Nakagawa is one of the few smiths in the region to work Ginsan using traditional hand-forging methods, a process that meaningfully improves the steel's properties compared to industrial production. Construction is sanmai, with a Ginsan core clad in jigane, and the kasumi finish is standard on this usuba.
Ginsan (Silver Steel) is a high-chromium stainless steel (13,14.5% Cr, 0.95,1.10% C), hardened to 59,62 HRC. On the whetstone, it behaves closer to a carbon steel than most stainless alloys: it responds quickly and can be brought to a very fine edge for a stainless steel. It does not develop a patina and resists corrosion under normal conditions. For a vegetable knife in daily use, this translates to straightforward maintenance without the immediate drying requirements of carbon steels.
Care
Rinse and dry after use. Never put in the dishwasher. Sharpen on water stones to maintain the single-bevel kataba edge.