• Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel
  • Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel – detail view
  • Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel – side profile
  • Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel – handle detail
  • Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel – blade close-up
  • Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel – view 6
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Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel

Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel

By PRE-OWNED

$48,958.00 TWD
$48,958.00 TWD
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A Nakiri 160mm Kitaeji Damascus Clad Carbon Steel knife from Shigefusa is a testament to the art and precision of Japanese knifemaking. This knife is crafted by Izuka-san, one of the most respected knifemakers in Sanjo, Niigata, Japan. Esteemed chefs like Masashi Yamamoto and knife makers like Bob Kramer have lauded Izuka-san for his exceptional skills, making Shigefusa knives some of the most coveted in the world​.

Izuka-san's training under masters like Kosuke Iwasaki and Nagashima-san has equipped him with a deep understanding of steel and knifemaking techniques. This extensive background allows him to create knives that are not only functional but also works of art. The Kitaeji series features a core of high-carbon steel, providing outstanding sharpness and durability. The blade is meticulously clad in multiple layers of hand-forged Damascus steel, known for its beautiful, wavy patterns and added resilience​.

The knife is distinguished by its superior craftsmanship and unique construction methods. Izuka-san forges his own Damascus steel, called Kitaeji, from Swedish carbon steel, which he prefers for its similarity to traditional tamahagane. Additionally, he uses a sen, a small blade with handles on either side, to precisely shave nanometres of steel, ensuring unparalleled sharpness and precision. Due to the meticulous and time-consuming process involved, acquiring a Shigefusa knife can take up to five years, but the result is a truly exceptional tool that is well worth the wait​.

Condition: New, never sharpened

 

Product Specification
  • Blade Type:
  • Edge Length: 160mm
  • Spine Heel: 3.68mm
  • Spine Mid: 2.5mm
  • Spine Tip (20mm before): 1.84mm
  • Blade Height: 51.97mm
  • Weight: 204g
  • Cutting Edge Steel:
  • Steel class: Carbon
  • HRC: 64
  • Blade Construction:
  • Blade Finish: KasumiSatin PolishAcid Etched (Forced Patina)
  • Grind:
  • Handle Construction:
  • Handle Materials: Magnolia, Water Buffalo Horn
  • Handedness: Right

Blade type

Nakiri

菜切

A double-bevel vegetable knife with a tall, rectangular blade and a straight edge that meets the board along its full length. That flat profile is built for one job done exceptionally well: clean, full-contact push and chop cuts through vegetables, with the height giving knuckle clearance and a broad face to guide sliced produce. There is no belly to rock, because rocking is not what it is for.

The nakiri's specialisation is also its limit. It is superb on vegetables and unhurried prep, but the straight edge and squared-off tip make it poor at the tip work, rocking, and protein tasks a gyuto or santoku handle easily. It is best understood as a dedicated vegetable knife that earns its place alongside a more general blade rather than replacing one.

View full knife type guide →

Cutting edge steel

High Carbon Steel

Generic descriptor

Typical HRC
Varies (58–66 depending on alloy)
Corrosion class
Varies
Production
Varies
Origin
N/A

"High carbon steel" is a category, not a recipe. It covers everything from simple plain-carbon grades like 1084 and 1095 through low-alloy carbons like 52100, 80CrV2, and 1.2419, all the way to the high-purity Japanese papers (Shirogami and Aogami families) and the modern engineered carbons (Apex Ultra, 26C3, Pop's ProCut).

Unfortunately, the phrase is also used as a marketing term, particularly on imported lower-end knives where the manufacturer is not willing to specify the exact alloy. A bare "high carbon steel" claim with no further specification on a knife under a hundred dollars usually indicates an undisclosed and probably unimpressive simple carbon — often something in the 1055 to 1065 range, reasonable but mass-market.

For the educated buyer, the rule is simple: if a maker can name the steel — 1095, 52100, White #2 — they will. If they cannot or will not, treat the omission as information.

View full steel guide →

Blade construction

Laminated Steel

A category covering knives built from multiple layers of different steels forge-welded together. The hard cutting steel is sandwiched between softer outer layers (cladding) that protect the core, add toughness, and often contribute visual contrast.

The most common laminated constructions in the Modern Cooking catalogue are:

SanMai (三枚) — three layers: hard cutting steel in the centre, softer cladding on both sides. The traditional and most common form.

GoMai (五枚) — five layers: a hard core, two intermediate layers, and two outer layers. Adds visual depth and structural complexity.

KuMai (九枚) — nine layers: similar logic, with more cladding layers for additional pattern and structural variation.

GoMai and KuMai are often chosen not only for the additional layers and visual depth, but also because the intermediate layers can act as a nickel diffusion barrier — limiting carbon migration out of the core into the cladding during forge welding, and protecting the core's intended carbon content through the heat of the forging process.

In all cases the cutting performance is determined by the core steel; the outer layers are cosmetic and structural. The lamination contributes corrosion protection (when a stainless jacket clads a carbon core), reduced reactivity, and the visible boundary between core and cladding that gives the knife its character.

View full construction guide →

Grind

Convex

A grind whose bevel bulges outward in a gentle curve from spine to edge, rather than running flat. That extra steel directly behind the edge makes a convex grind notably strong and resistant to chipping, while the curved geometry helps food release and lets the blade glide through dense ingredients with less wedging than a flat grind.

The strength comes at the cost of ultimate thinness and ease of maintenance. A convex edge has more metal behind it, so it is not quite as effortlessly keen as a thinly flat-ground edge, and it is harder to sharpen freehand — holding the curve takes a stropping technique or a deliberate hand rather than a single fixed angle. The reward is an exceptionally tough, smooth-cutting edge.

View full grind guide →

Handle construction

Hidden Tang

A construction in which the tang runs into the handle but stays concealed inside it, rather than showing between two scales. A narrower tang — a full-length stick or a shorter projection — is set into a drilled or burned channel in a one-piece handle and secured with adhesive, a friction fit, or a threaded fitting drawn up against the blade. This is the traditional construction of Japanese wa-handles and many European hidden-tang knives.

The design puts the handle material in charge of the look and feel: a single piece of wood, horn, or composite — often with a ferrule or spacers at the front — is shaped into any cross-section the maker wants, from the classic octagonal and D-shaped wa profiles to fully rounded Western forms. With no steel showing along the grip, the handle can be slim and light, and is frequently made to be removed and replaced, with the balance sitting toward the blade.

View full construction guide →

Shipping & Returns

Shipping

We process orders 5 days a week (Monday - Friday) and ship from our shop in Sydney, Australia. We ship with FedEx, UPS and DHL.

We are happy to offer free international shipping on a variety of orders depending on location and order value.

Free Shipping Regions and Minimum Order Values

For Australia and New Zealand the minimum is $500AUD. For the rest of the world it is approximately €1000EUR. The discount is applied automatically when you reach the minimum cart value at checkout.

Returns

If you're not entirely happy with your purchase, you can return it within 14 days of delivery for a refund. The item must be in its original condition with all original packaging.

  • Returns are accepted for 14 days
  • The customer is responsible for return shipping costs
  • A 15% restocking fee may be applied to change-of-mind returns
  • We do not accept returns on second-hand items for change of mind

Faulty or Damaged Items

You must notify us within 5 business days of receiving your order. Photographic evidence of damage is required. Once approved, Modern Cooking will cover return shipping costs.

Product Care

Cleaning: Clean by hand with warm water. Avoid wetting the handle when possible.

Sharpening: We advise using whetstones to sharpen your knives and a honing rod or steel to maintain the burr between sharpening sessions.

Reactive Steels: Reactive steels like Aogami Super, Apex Ultra or premium reactive German and Swedish steels are susceptible to rust if not properly cared for. Keep the knife dry between uses and when storing for longer periods, wiping the blade with Tsubaki oil or another food-safe oil is a wise choice. A patina can be a beautiful personal feature on your knife and helps to stop rust forming.

Handle Care: For non-stabilised wooden handles, apply Tsubaki oil or another food-safe oil from time to time. Food-safe wax can be applied to both stabilised and non-stabilised wooden handles. Never apply hot wax or oil as you risk warping or damaging the handle.

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