The santoku, 'three virtues': vegetables, meat, fish, is a tall-profile, rounded-tip knife built for push cutting. Its compact format makes it easy to maneuver, and the blade height provides good knuckle clearance on the board. This santoku in Aogami #2 (Blue Steel #2), with its sanmai construction and kurouchi finish, brings together a technically consistent set of choices for a daily-use kitchen knife.
The sanmai construction places an Aogami #2 core with jigane cladding on both sides. This geometry directs the hardness of the steel toward the edge, while the jigane supports the blade and absorbs stress during cutting. The kurouchi finish covers the blade body: matte, slightly textured, left intentionally as-forged. The polished bevel contrasts with this dark surface, marking the visual boundary between the cladding and the edge.
Aogami #2 (Blue Steel #2) is produced by Hitachi Metals from Shirogami #2, with chromium (0.2,0.5%) and tungsten (1,1.5%) added for stronger edge retention between sharpenings, without sacrificing response on the stone. The steel takes a very fine edge and holds it well over time. It develops a progressive patina on contact with moisture and acidic foods, normal and without effect on performance. For those who value faster patina development, Shirogami remains the more reactive option, which has its own appeal depending on preference.
Care
Wipe the blade immediately after use. Never leave the steel in prolonged contact with moisture. Avoid abrasives on the kurouchi zone. Do not wash in a dishwasher. For storage, a light application of camellia oil protects the blade.