The Masakage Shimo Gyuto - Kevin's knife
"This is my Masakage Shimo gyuto. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My Masakage Shimo gyuto is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my Masakage Shimo gyuto is useless. Without my Masakage Shimo gyuto, I am useless. I must sharpen my Masakage Shimo gyuto true."
-From a famous film about philosophical chefs in tight situations
This knife is made by Kurosaki san. He is a younger blacksmith, but just killing it now. He is making knives like an old master blacksmith can and he’s in his mid-forties. It’s clear that he loves making knives.
The blade is fat and rugged enough for my restaurant abuse (please keep in mind that I’m not overly abusive on knives) and sharpens so easily that it’s always crazy sharp, like a white carbon laser beam. The carbon steel takes on a patina quickly and starts looking bad ass and unique quickly. I can pick mine from a lineup of 10 others. It is mine.
About the Blacksmith: Yu Kurosaki
Kurosaki-san started his blacksmithing career young. He dropped out of school at 16 to work in a car factory. Then, when he was only 17, he started working at Takefu Knife Village in Echizen. While he was there, he apprenticed under Hiroshi Kato and Katsushige Anryu before becoming the youngest Master Blacksmith in Knife Village.
In 2015, Kurosaki-san spread his wings and opened his own workshop. He built his factory and showroom on the other side of the Knife Village parking lot. Striking out on your own doesn’t mean you have to move across the country. The new workshop is clean, so clean. It hasn’t had the decades of coke dust, engine grease, and steel powder to make it a filthy, loveable mess yet. Give him time. The shop is also set up for speed. It is organized. Everything has a place and it’s all very logical. I like how he works.
Kurosaki-san is the poster boy for the future of blacksmithing in Japan. His knives are sexy, cool and unique. He’s successful and stylish, and he has customers around the world.
