Shirogami No.2 has minimal impurities and a very fine grain structure, so it is ideal for fine cutting tools such as Japanese traditional-style knives. Despite being a ‘simple’ carbon steel, Shirogami No.2 has very good edge retention and it is also very easy to re-sharpen. Recommended for first-time users of Japanese traditional-style knives.

Traditional Kasumi polished finish. Kasumi roughly translated to “mist” or “cloud” and refers to the hazy appearance of the soft steel/iron cladding, in contrast to the fine polished cutting edge. This elegant finish is very common on traditional style Japanese blades.