Aogami Super vs Shirogami #2 青紙スーパー / 白紙2号
Short answer
The two ends of the Yasuki carbon family. White #2 is the easiest to sharpen and takes the finest edge; Aogami Super holds an edge far longer and is harder to sharpen and more brittle.
| Aogami Super | Shirogami #2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (typical HRC) | 64–66 | 60–63 |
| 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 | 白二 / 白紙 / 白鋼 / 白紙2号 |
| 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.
Shirogami #2 白紙2号
Hitachi/Proterial Yasuki carbon steel. Easiest to sharpen, takes the finest edge, rusts fast.
Who uses it: Babacho Co., Babacho Kanamono, Hinoura Hamono Kobo, Shigefusa, Tadafusa, Tojiro, Tsurugi Kenshin, Wakui Bar Hamono, Wakui Co., Yoshikane Hamono
Sanjo examples with prices:
- Tadafusa — 庖丁工房タダフサ 黒打 最高級白鋼 鍛冶鍛造 210 · ¥23,100
- Babacho Co. — 切れるよろこび 白紙 柳刃 270 (片刃) · ¥27,450
- Babacho Co. — 切れるよろこび 白紙 出刃 (片刃) · ¥28,050
- Wakui Co. — 金次郎 槌目 水牛栗柄 ペティ 135 · ¥45,760
- Wakui Co. — 金次郎 槌目 水牛栗柄 三徳 165 · ¥47,840
Care
Rinse and wipe dry immediately after each use — never leave it wet or in the sink.