The Japanese word Gyuto (牛刀) literally translates to beef sword. The gyuto is the equivalent of the Western chef's knife, and is designed to cut everything: vegetables, meats and fishes. It is made to be used with the push-cut method, lifting the blade between each cutting motion, or with the rocking motion method. It is important that the blade is straight upon impact with the cutting board to avoid damage to the knife edge.
Kikuchiyo, the celebrated blacksmith from Sakai, Osaka, rose to prominence in the early 2000s when he was invited to join Sakai's master craftsmen. His early start in blacksmithing allowed him to amass extensive knowledge and skills before physical limitations set in. Notably, Kikuchiyo boldly experimented with unconventional steels like stainless, resulting in his Ginsan (Silver 3) knives becoming highly coveted among Japanese chefs. His expertise extended to Honyaki quenching, producing beautiful Hamon patterns and achieving the ideal hardness and consistance. Kikuchiyo's knives gained the respect of Sakai's sharpeners and finishers, and he remains dedicated to his dream of success, paying homage to his master's forge in every blade he forges.
VG-10 is a stainless steel produced by Takefu Special Steel in the early 1960s. It is still in use more than 60 years later. This steel was specially designed for knife making and is used by many blacksmiths in Japan. Despite the 15% chromium in its composition which gives it a high corrosion resistance, VG-10 can reach an HRC of 60-61. This is due to the addition of 1.5% Cobalt, which gives the steel a higher hardness with a high temperature quenching treatment.