Hatsukokoro 初心

Marks on the blade

About

Brand company near Osaka that has knives made by workshops around Japan (Seki, Sakai, Echizen, Sanjo …) and sells them under series names: 銀嶺 Ginrei (Ginsan nashiji, made in Seki), 雲影 Kumokage, 白梅 Shirobai, 黒龍 Kokuryu and others. The kanji on the blade is usually the series name plus 初心 — the smith is not named, so the series name is the clue.

Steels

• Ginsan (Silver #3, Gingami 3) — Hitachi/Proterial stainless that sharpens almost like White steel: the usual 'stainless wa-bocho' steel in Sakai, and the Hatsukokoro Ginrei line.
• Aogami #2 (Blue #2) — White #2 plus chromium and tungsten: better wear resistance, a touch harder to sharpen.
• Aogami Super — Longest edge life of the Hitachi carbon steels. Kiryu Kogyo tempers it to HRC 64–65 inside stainless cladding.
• SG2 / R2 (powder stainless) — Powder-metallurgy stainless. Long edge life, chips if abused. Kataoka's TAMAHAGANE and Kiryu's SPG2 line.
• VG10 — Takefu Special Steel's stainless with cobalt. The default steel of Tojiro's DP/PRO lines; also in damascus lines.
• Shirogami #2 (White #2) — Hitachi/Proterial Yasuki carbon steel. Easiest to sharpen, takes the finest edge, rusts fast.

Facts

Knife types made

• Gyuto (chef's knife) 牛刀 · Western-style chef's knife: meat, large vegetables, rocking cuts.
• Santoku 三徳 · All-round home knife: vegetables, fish, meat. The first knife to buy.
• Petty ペティ · Small jobs in hand: peeling, trimming, garnish, fruit.
• Nakiri 菜切 · Vegetables only: straight up-and-down cuts, thin slices, cabbage, daikon.
• Bunka 文化 · Santoku with a reverse-tanto tip: precision tip work plus vegetables.
• Sujihiki 筋引 · Long slicer for roasts, brisket, portioning fish without bones.
• Kiritsuke (double-bevel) 切付 · Gyuto with a straight edge and angled tip; slicing and push cuts.

Care for these steels

Carbon steel (Shirogami / Aogami / SK)

• Rinse and wipe dry immediately after each use — never leave it wet or in the sink.
• Do not put in the dishwasher. Do not cut acidic foods and walk away (lemon, tomato, onion will stain within minutes).
• A grey-blue patina is normal and protective; orange rust is not. Remove orange rust with a rust eraser or #1000 stone slurry.
• Before storing for more than a day, wipe with camellia oil (椿油) or any food-safe oil.
• Store dry, in a saya or on a rack — not loose in a drawer.

Stainless (VG10 / AUS10 / molybdenum / CROMOVA / SG2)

• Wipe dry after use. Dishwasher still not recommended — the heat and detergent dull the edge and loosen handles.
• Powder steels (SG2) chip rather than roll: avoid bones, frozen food and twisting cuts.
• Sharpen on #1000; finish on #3000–5000 if you like a polished edge.

Where to buy

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