HATSUKOKORO Ryusui Blue #2 Damascus

A Japanese kiritsuke chef’s knife with 196 mm blade length from tip to heel. Powerful, precise and elegant.

The knife is stable and sits beautifully in the hand. The grind is medium-thin to maintain strength and durability, though it can be thinned further if you prefer a more delicate cutting feel. This model remains relatively thin but leans slightly toward a workhorse-style knife.

The Hatsukokoro Ryusui series represents the meeting of tradition and aesthetics. Each knife is hand-forged by skilled Japanese craftsmen and features the beautiful Ryusui pattern; A flowing damascus design symbolizing running water. The name Ryusui (流水) literally means “running water.”

The kiritsuke gyuto model combines the versatility of a classic chef’s knife with the distinctive tip and cutting precision of the kiritsuke profile.

Specifications:

• Blade length: 196 mm

• Blade height at heel: 51 mm

• Thickness at spine root: 3.5 mm

• Thickness mid-spine: 2.5 mm

• Weight: 193 g

• Core steel: Aogami #2 (Blue #2) carbon steel known for its sharpness and excellent edge retention

• Hardness: About 63 HRC

• Cladding: 49-layer stainless damascus steel with Ryusui (流水) pattern

• Handle: Octagonal ebony with a blue-speckled spacer

Aogami #2 offers an outstanding balance of sharpness, durability, and ease of sharpening. The stainless Damascus cladding protects the carbon steel core, making the knife more resistant to rust and easier to maintain. However, the core steel itself is not stainless, so it’s important to keep the knife dry after use, especially when cutting acidic ingredients such as tomatoes or citrus.