The Bunka is a general-purpose knife with a straighter edge profile than a santoku, which makes the rocking motion more difficult to perform. However, this knife is perfect for use with the push-cut or pull-cut method. The fine tip of the Bunka will give you precision and agility as it will pass through the food more easily when cutting.
At the age of 35, Go Yoshizawa is a creative craftsman who is making the family business shine. He is the head-chef of the Nigara's forge, one of the most renowned forges in Japan and worldwide, and famous for damascus work. Yoshizawa-san builds on the solid foundation of steelworking that he has developed over the years to discover and explore new processes. Nigara's forge and its craftsmen continue to amaze us with knives that are as beautiful as they are performing.
Aogami literally translates as: "blue steel" and therefore "Blue Super Steel" for Aogami Super. Manufactured by Hitachi Metals Ltd, this carbon steel grade has one of the highest hardness levels and is one of the most renowned in Japan. In addition to containing more carbon, chromium and tungsten than Aogami #1, it also contains molybdenum. The high carbon content results in higher hardness, but in return, it reduces the corrosion resistance and makes the steel more brittle. Chromium and molybdenum counterbalance the effect of the high carbon content by improving corrosion resistance. While tungsten greatly increases the wear resistance of the steel to make it less brittle. This makes it, objectively, a superior carbon steel on a practical level than other steels in this category.
