Hatsukokoro Hikari SLD Damascus Nakiri 160mm with Olive Handle

From the maker

Overview

Hatsukokoro Hikari SLD Damascus Nakiri 160mm with Olive Handle is a purpose-built Japanese vegetable knife designed for fast, clean, straight cuts. The tall, flat nakiri profile makes it easy to push-cut, chop, and scoop piles of produce, while the SLD semi-stainless core steel delivers strong edge retention with lower-maintenance care than fully reactive carbon steels. The Damascus cladding adds a refined layered look and can help with food release, and the olive wood wa handle keeps the knife feeling light, balanced, and comfortable for long prep sessions.

If you cook a lot of vegetables—onions, herbs, carrots, potatoes, cabbage—this is the “grab it every day” nakiri that makes prep feel smoother and more precise. Pair it with a knife-friendly board and gentle technique, and it’ll reward you with effortless glide and clean surfaces on your cuts. For best edge life, use a softer board (like a Hasegawa Pro Cutting Board) and avoid twisting through hard items.

Common Questions

Q: Is this nakiri suitable for home cooks?

A: Yes—especially if you cook vegetables often. The flat edge makes chopping and push-cutting feel intuitive, and SLD is a great “performance without drama” steel: it holds an edge well and is easier to care for than reactive carbon. Hand-wash, dry right away, and you’re set.

Q: What can’t a nakiri do well?

A: Nakiri knives aren’t built for piercing or detail tip-work like trimming silver skin or scoring—there’s no pointed tip. If you want one knife to do everything, consider adding a gyuto later; if your goal is vegetable speed and accuracy, a nakiri is perfect.

Q: How do I maintain the edge day-to-day?

A: A few light passes on a strop keeps the bite and polish between sharpening sessions—check out our Tokushu Knife Premium XL Buffalo Strop. For long-term care, wipe the blade dry after use and occasionally protect the steel and handle with 100% Pure Tsubaki Oil. If you want it dialed in before it ever hits your board, add our Knife Sharpening Service.