Nakiri translates to "leaf cutter". The specialty of this type of knife is vegetable cutting. Its straight profile and blade height encourage a "push-cut" motion, lifting the blade between each cutting motion. The Nakiri is perfect for slicing cabbage, julienning vegetables or rough-cutting vegetables for soups.
AUS-10 is a stainless steel produced by Aichi Steel, located in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture. AUS-10 offers a balance of high cutting edge retention and high corrosion resistance, resulting in a sharp and easy to maintain blade. The AUS-10 version of the AUS steel series is of higher quality than the others due to its carbon content of 1.05%.
AUS-10 is a steel comparable to VG-10. It has better wear resistance, but is slightly less hard. It is less likely to break under impact and twisting than the average Japanese steel. However, it is more likely to bend or twist. It is therefore the perfect steel for knives suggested to people who have less experience with Japanese blades.
Futana is the name of a line of Hitohira's house knives. You will discover knives of any profile, made of stainless or semi-stainless steel and with several different types of finishes : nashiji, kurouchi, damascus, etc.