Classic carbon steel: balanced edge retention and easy sharpening.
Japanese chef's knife: all-round for vegetables, meat and fish.
Long: big boards, large vegetables, pro or enthusiast use.
The town of Sanjo in Niigata prefecture has been famous for its blacksmithing since the 1600s. In the early years, nails were mainly forged by hand. Then, from 1660, different forging techniques were introduced by blacksmiths from Aizu. As a result, the town's blacksmiths began to diversify their production. The quality of Sanjo's tools and knives enjoyed a strong reputation in Japan, and continues to do so today.
Simply explained, Aogami #2 developed by Hitachi Metals is a steel made from Shirogami #2 to which a little chromium and tungsten are added for greater durability and corrosion resistance. On top of this, the steel's higher carbon content results in better cutting retention. Objectively, Aogami #2 is an improvement on Shirogami #2. For patina enthusiasts, on the other hand, Shirogami steel is more reactive to oxidation and could be an advantage.


