{"product_id":"hatsukokoro-aokitae-blue-2-kurouchi-bunka-190mm-black-chacate","title":"Hatsukokoro Aokitae Blue 2 Kurouchi Bunka 190mm Black Chacate","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-details__block\"\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/www.knivesandstones.com.au\/cdn\/shop\/files\/hatsukokoro_transparent2_cfb6d8da-6e77-45f6-8dfd-7184ae866545_small.png?v=1708757456\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"metafield-rich_text_field\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Hatsukokoro Aokitae(青鍛, Blue forge) is a seemingly familiar line, this forged lineup falls into that “classy” category, reserved for people who like to discover the most authentic way of building knife in Japan: Sanmai structure, carbon core with iron cladding, hand forged taper and the iconic kurouchi finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpeaking of feeling familiar, the Aokitae bears a look that is very close to the Aosagi series - a Sakai-produced blue 2 line with Kurouchi finish. Judging from the rather clean finish and restrained forging texture, this might be the product of Sakai, likely of the same origin as the Aosagi. As the name suggests, the Aokitae is forged, which gives it reduction in spine thickness and weight compared to the non-tapered Aosagi. The weight change on paper may not look big, yet the feeling in hand is quite noticeable. The Aosagi line has a strong tip heavy balance, but as Aokitae has the material removed at its front, the change in balance is significant. For those who may think the Aosagi is too unwieldy but like the build and finish, Aokitae is the new alternative with a more nimble control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite the change in spine thickness, this line retains a well executed sharpening. There is almost no visible secondary bevel, which means the thickness of the primary bevel is reduced to nearly nothing, an experienced knife nerd would know without touching, this knife would have excellent entry upon any food. This paired with the now thinner blade and mild convex, offering less cutting resistance and decent food release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf there is a downside to be talked about with this blade, it would be the traditional construction using soft iron as the cladding for the Blue 2 steel core. As the iron is easier to work with for blacksmiths, costs less and develops a beautiful Kurouchi more easily than stainless cladding, they are commonly chosen for forged products with a raw finish. But as both the core and cladding don’t have enough chromium content to resist oxidation, this type of knife demands a high level of attention to not corrode in usage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough attention-demanding, the Aokitae have positioned itself well in the sub-200 AUD price range. It can either be an interesting toy for carbon steel lovers and polishing enthusiasts, or a classic-look and good-performing blade for people who want to attempt carbon steel for the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-details__block\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pros_and_cons\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"spec-description\" cellspacing=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCons\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"procon\"\u003eThin behind the edge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"procon\"\u003eBudget friendly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"procon\"\u003eProne to rust\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetailed Specifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"spec-description\" cellspacing=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eLine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.knivesandstones.com.au\/pages\/line\/hatsukokoro-aokitae-blue-2-kurouchi\"\u003eHatsukokoro Aokitae Blue 2 Kurouchi\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eProfile\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.knivesandstones.com.au\/pages\/profile\/bunka\"\u003eBunka\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eBevel Type\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003eDouble Bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__metric\"\u003e176 g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__sep\"\u003e|\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__imperial\"\u003e6.2 oz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdge Length\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__metric\"\u003e189 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__sep\"\u003e|\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__imperial\"\u003e7 7\/16″\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eHeel Height\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__metric\"\u003e51 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__sep\"\u003e|\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__imperial\"\u003e2 1\/64″\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eWidth @ Heel\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__metric\"\u003e3.1 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__sep\"\u003e|\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__imperial\"\u003e1\/8″\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eWidth @ Mid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__metric\"\u003e1.6 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__sep\"\u003e|\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__imperial\"\u003e1\/16″\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eWidth @ 1cm from Tip\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__metric\"\u003e0.9 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__sep\"\u003e|\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"kns-dual__imperial\"\u003e1\/32″\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eSteel\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.knivesandstones.com.au\/pages\/steel\/blue-2-aogami-2\"\u003eBlue 2 \/ Aogami #2 | Carbon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlade Construction\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003eSanmai - Soft Iron Clad\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eHardness (HRC)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e61 - 63\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eSurface Finish\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003eKurouchi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eHandle\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003eOctagonal Black Chacate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eRegion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.knivesandstones.com.au\/pages\/maker\/hatsukokoro\"\u003eHyogo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eBest for\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd bgcolor=\"f0f2f2\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnthusiasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStudents\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Instruction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"even\"\u003eDon't cut hard things! Japanese knives are brittle so bone hacking is a NO NO!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"odd\"\u003eWash with neutral detergent after use, and wipe dry;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"even\"\u003ePlease don't wash knife with dishwasher, it will damage the wood handle;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"odd\"\u003eBe careful not to leave the knife close to a heat source for a long time;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"even\"\u003eIt is a lot more dangerous to cut with a blunt knife than a sharp knife!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"odd\"\u003eIt is best to sharpen a Japanese knife regularly on a waterstone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"even\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOil the (carbon) knife if storing for an extended period of time to prevent rust.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hatsukokoro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51774925996320,"sku":"HT-AKT-B2KU-BK190-BC","price":144.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0819\/1043\/2032\/files\/DSC_5056.webp?v=1780455915","url":"https:\/\/kakumei.com.au\/products\/hatsukokoro-aokitae-blue-2-kurouchi-bunka-190mm-black-chacate","provider":"Kakumei","version":"1.0","type":"link"}