Allow us to help since everyone always asks this question. No Shigeki Tanaka is not related to Yoshikazu Tanaka. They are different smiths working out of different cities - Meki city for Shigeki-san - with different approaches to knives. Shigeki Tanaka knives are easily recognizable as they exude more of a workhorse appearance, and have remarkable performance.

The core of this series is blue (aogami) #2 steel, a steel which lends itself to being tougher than blue #1, qualities which work very well for a smith who likes to make more robust knives. 17 layers of Damascus envelope this knife and what's really cool, Shigeki Tanaka Damascus is quite recognizable with his heavy two tone satin and polished finish. Very attractive knives at this price point, and qualities that lend themselves well to those that don't want to worry about owning too delicate a knife.

A 210mm gyuto is by far one of our most popular knife styles and length. Whether you are a home cook or a busy on the line professional chef, there's just something about 210mm that fits the sweet spot for most. Kind of like having a shoe that's half a size larger so when you decide to put on a warmer pair of socks, the shoe still fits seamlessly. To tie it back to knives, what we mean is, 210mm is a very versatile length which belongs in any kitchen!