Exotic: Yoshikazu Ikeda Blue #1 Mizu-Honyaki K-tip Yanagiba 300mm with Blood Groove Ebony Set

Forged by the legendary Yoshikazu Ikeda in Sakai, this Blue #1 Mizu-Honyaki Yanagiba is a masterpiece that unites artistry, tradition, and performance in perfect harmony.

Hand-forged from Aogami #1 carbon steel and hardened to an exceptional HRc 63–65, it offers outstanding edge retention and an incredibly smooth, precise cut — the kind sought after by the most skilled sushi chefs. The mirror-polished surface reveals subtle steel banding beneath, while the traditional mizu-honyaki quench unveils a soft, mist-like hamon that showcases Ikeda’s remarkable heat-treatment control.

Enhancing its beauty is a graceful bohi (fuller or blood groove), a refined detail rooted in classic Japanese swordcraft. This piece is paired with a matching ebony wood saya and octagonal handle, both precisely crafted from dense, jet-black hardwood that adds a sense of quiet luxury and timeless elegance.

Elegant, powerful, and full of soul — this is more than a knife. It’s a collector’s treasure that captures the spirit of Sakai’s finest honyaki tradition, available exclusively from K&S.