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Makoto Kurosaki – Echizen Craft
Makoto Kurosaki is a knife maker based in Echizen, Fukui — one of Japan’s historic centres of forged cutlery. He trained under master Hiroshi Kato, developing a strong foundation in sharpening and finishing before moving into full knife-making.
He is also the elder brother of Yu Kurosaki, and the two share a close professional connection. Makoto’s work is produced in small batches and is known for clean grinds, keen edges, and refined finishing.
Santoku – The Japanese All-Rounder
Santoku translates to “three virtues”, referring to its suitability for meat, fish, and vegetables. With a flatter edge profile and a relatively low tip, it naturally suits push cutting and straight up-and-down chopping. Typically shorter and slightly taller than a gyuto, it offers good board contact and control, making it well suited to a wide range of everyday kitchen tasks.
Coreless Damascus – VG10 / VG2 Construction
This knife uses a coreless damascus construction, meaning there is no distinct central core steel as you would usually see in san mai knives. Instead, layers of VG10 and VG2 are forged together, creating a patterned structure through the blade. The result is a distinctive look, less commonly seen than typical core-and-cladding constructions.
Tsuchime – Hammered Finish
The hammered (tsuchime) finish adds a subtle texture across the blade face. Alongside its visual appeal, it can help reduce surface contact between the blade and ingredients during cutting.
Why We Like It
We’re big fans of the distinctive tsuchime finish here — it gives the blade plenty of character. The coreless construction is something you don’t come across all that often, giving it a look that stands out on the board. The handle adds a bit of colour, which we always like to see, and with Kurosaki-san’s background in sharpening, edge performance is consistent and easy to maintain.
Specification
Blade Length: 170mm
Blade Height: ~48–52mm
Steel: VG10 / VG2 (stainless)
Construction: Coreless damascus
Finish: Tsuchime
Handle: Octagonal wa handle
Bevel: Double bevel
Care
Hand wash only. Dry thoroughly after use. Although stainless, it should not be left wet for extended periods. Use a wooden or soft plastic chopping board and sharpen on whetstones to maintain performance.
Age Verification
This is an age-restricted product. Your age will be verified at checkout, and again by the courier on delivery. Orders cannot be left in a safe place or with neighbours — someone over 18 will need to be present to receive it.
We ship Tuesday to Saturday using Royal Mail Tracked 24.
All knives ship via an age verified service in accordance with The Offensive Weapons Act 2019, which will mean the postie will need you to be in to receive the delivery & to check your ID if you look under 25.
The law also requires us to carry out a soft age check of the purchaser after checkout, this is done by an automated system that usually doesn't require your input, although we will need to contact you for proof of age if you fail, which can sometimes happen if you use a work address.
of Community Cutlery as a home for enthusiasts, for people who love the ritual of food preparation and who have realised the charm in doing it with quality tools, with items that are as pleasing on the eye as they are practical in the hand.
