Overview

The Nakagawa x Tokushu White #1 Mizu Honyaki Mirror Gyuto 240mm is a rare collaboration forged by master blacksmith Satoshi Nakagawa and sharpened by Master Shuji Yamaguchi. Made from a single piece of Shirogami #1 carbon steel and water quenched to approximately 65 HRC, this tall gyuto combines a fine, responsive edge with a dramatic mirror-wave finish and visible hamon.

Honyaki construction is among the most demanding forms of Japanese knife making. Unlike clad san-mai blades, this knife is forged from monosteel and differentially hardened, requiring exceptional control during water quenching. The result is a collectible knife built for precise, high-level cutting performance.

Choose Your Configuration

Blade Only: Supplied without a handle for collectors or customers selecting their own wa handle. Professional fitting is required.

One-of-One Red Custom Handle: A complete, ready-to-use knife fitted with the exact custom handle shown in the variant photographs. Only one is available; the pictured knife is the knife the buyer receives.

Common Questions

Q: Who made this Mizu Honyaki gyuto?

A: Satoshi Nakagawa forged and water quenched the White #1 honyaki blade, and Master Shuji Yamaguchi performed the sharpening and finishing.

Q: What makes Mizu Honyaki special?

A: Mizu honyaki blades are differentially hardened using a water quench, one of the most demanding traditional methods in Japanese bladesmithing. The process creates the visible hamon while producing a very hard, fine-grained cutting edge.

Q: How should I care for White #1 honyaki steel?

A: White #1 is fully reactive carbon steel. Hand wash, dry immediately, and never leave the blade wet. A patina is normal; orange rust is not.

Care and Maintenance

For storage, apply a light coat of tsubaki oil. Maintain the edge between sharpenings with a Tokushu leather strop, or add our professional sharpening service. Use a knife-friendly surface such as a Hasegawa Pro cutting board.

Specifications

Brand: Nakagawa x Tokushu

Blacksmith: Satoshi Nakagawa

Sharpener: Master Shuji Yamaguchi

Core Steel: Shirogami (White) #1 monosteel honyaki

Construction: Mizu honyaki; no cladding

Finish: Mirror-wave finish with visible hamon

Hardness: Approximately 65 HRC

Knife Type: Tall gyuto

Nominal Size: 240mm

Measured Blade Length: 227mm

Blade Blank Overall Length: 303mm; final handled length varies

Blade Height at Heel: 53.7mm

Spine Thickness at Heel: 3.83mm

Spine Thickness 1cm Behind Tip: 0.57mm

Blade-Only Weight: 169g; handled weight varies

Grind: 50/50 double bevel

Handle Options: Blade only or the exact one-of-one red custom handle shown