Aogami Super vs Aogami #2 青紙スーパー / 青紙2号
Short answer
Aogami Super adds molybdenum and vanadium to the Blue recipe: the longest edge life of the Yasuki carbon steels and usually run very hard (64–66 HRC). It is slower to sharpen and chips if twisted or used on bones. Blue #2 is easier to live with.
| Aogami Super | Aogami #2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (typical HRC) | 64–66 | 62–64 |
| Type | carbon | carbon |
| Easy to sharpen | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Edge retention | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Rust resistance | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Chip resistance | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Mark on the blade | 青紙スーパー / 青スーパー / 特青 | 青二 / 青紙 / 青鋼 |
| Whetstone | 1000 → 3000 (a diamond plate helps) | 1000 → 3000–6000 |
Scores are relative, 1–5, for kitchen-knife use — our summary of maker data and common experience, not lab tests. Heat treatment and grind can move a knife a full point either way.
Aogami Super 青紙スーパー
Longest edge life of the Hitachi carbon steels. Kiryu Kogyo tempers it to HRC 64–65 inside stainless cladding.
Who uses it: Babacho Co., Hinoura Hamono Kobo, Kiryu Kogyo, Anryu Katsushige (Echizen (Takefu)), Fujiwara Teruyasu (Tokyo), Hatsukokoro (Hyogo (brand)), Kanehide (Seki), Kato Yoshimi (Echizen (Takefu)), Kurosaki Yu (Echizen (Takefu)), Moritaka Hamono (Kumamoto)
Sanjo examples with prices:
No Sanjo price rows yet.
Aogami #2 青紙2号
White #2 plus chromium and tungsten: better wear resistance, a touch harder to sharpen.
Who uses it: Babacho Co., Hinoura Hamono Kobo, Kiryu Kogyo, Nakagawa Shokai, Tadafusa, Tsurugi Kenshin, Anryu Katsushige (Echizen (Takefu)), Fujiwara Kanefusa (Seki), Hatsukokoro (Hyogo (brand)), Hitohira (Tokyo)
Sanjo examples with prices:
- Tadafusa — 庖丁工房タダフサ 青紙鋼 洋包丁三徳 170 · ¥14,300
- Nakagawa Shokai — 定明 青紙 鮭切 210 · ¥34,750
- Nakagawa Shokai — 定明 青紙 鮭切 240 · ¥39,300
- Nakagawa Shokai — 定明 青紙 鮭切 270 · ¥45,900
- Nakagawa Shokai — 定明 青鋼 蛸引 300 · ¥59,900
Care
Rinse and wipe dry immediately after each use — never leave it wet or in the sink.