The Jiro Tsuchime Yo Sujihiki 270mm with a Western tagayasan handle is a Japanese slicing knife from the work of Jiro Nakagawa, in the Nagano region of Japan. This is a 270 mm sujihiki designed above all for long, even cuts, especially on large cuts of meat, roasts, and boned fish. This piece uses a Yasugi Shirogami #1 core with a mild steel cladding, in a 'clad' rather than 'monosteel' construction. The Western tagayasan handle provides a familiar grip, with an ambidextrous format.
The long and narrow profile of the sujihiki promotes a clean pulling cut, with less friction than a taller knife. On this specimen, the dimensions recorded by Hitohira indicate a total length of 408 mm, a blade length of 272 mm, a blade height of 42 mm, a thickness of 2.9 mm and a weight of 243 g. These proportions contribute to a feeling of an elongated, precise and relatively thin blade for this format.
In use, this Japanese knife stands out for its clean and direct cut, with good fluidity in long slices. Shirogami #1 is appreciated for its very high edge retention and its lively feel on the stone as well as in cutting. This type of profile excels for portioning and presentation, but will be less suited to versatile board work than a gyuto, and not very relevant for tasks that require blade height or chopping movements. The raw finish of the upper part of the blade, combined with the polished cutting area, gives a sober and artisanal contrast visible in the photos, while remaining consistent with the Jiro aesthetic.
As it is a carbon steel with mild steel cladding, careful maintenance is important. It is recommended to wipe the blade during use, especially when in contact with acidic or wet foods, and then dry it thoroughly after use. Over time, a patina may form on the blade; it is normal for this type of Japanese knife and is part of the expected behavior of a reactive carbon steel. The manufacturing date indicated for this specimen is November 2025.
