Echizen is undoubtedly one of the areas having the richest knife-making history in Japan. After the end of the war, Isamu Takamura established Takamura Cutlery, a cutlery company in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Nakiri knives and agricultural knives were the most common products at that time.
Takamura -san created excellent quality knives he could forge using stainless steel. This practice is still unpopular during that time. Takamura Hamono prospered manufacturing kitchen knives and was the first to make knives from new materials like powered high-speed steel. Crafters forge knives using R2/SG2 steel to improve the sharpness and edge retention. Takamura Cutlery believes that excellent materials, good forging/heat treatment, and good sharpening are the key to making quality knives.
Takamura Cutlery has continued making unprecedented stainless-steel knives which they started more than 65 years ago. The store put more effort into developing professional knives. Their kitchen knives are also sold in more than 20 countries worldwide. These knives gained valuable opinions. Professional cooks around the world favored Takamura knives. Their reputation soared in a blink of an eye because of their blade’s sharpness. Takamura has also gained worldwide recognition by professional cooks and ranked number 1 in a consumer test by Smartson in Sweden.
Feature of Takamura Knives
Takamura is the leading cutlery in Japan. Each knife Takamura makes is hard to obtain and has a longer delivery time. It is because each blade is hand-forged at a limited production capacity.
There are five series of Takamura knives, namely:
- R2 Mikagi – R2 powder steel with red pakka wood handle
- VG-10 Mikagi – VG-10 steel with Tsuchime and black pakkawood handle
- R2 Pro – SG-2 / R2 powder steel and black pakka wood handle
- Uchigumo Suminagashi – R2 powder steel with Damascus and black pakka wood handle
- Hana Damascus – SG-2 / R2 powder steel with Damascus and a traditional octagonal handle
Takamura uses R2 powder steel as the core for most of its knives. R2 is also known as HSPS or SG-2 steel. R2 powder makes Takamura knives achieve a high hardness grade from 62-64 HRC that users can easily sharpen.
On the other hand, the Uchigumo and Hana series have a thicker R2 core layer with a damask steel outer layer.
The VG-10 series utilizes VG-10 steel as the core with two layers of outer softer steel. It has a Tsuchime which prevents food from sticking to the blade. It also has a hardness grade from 60-61 HRC.
The R2 Pro, Uchigumo, and Hana knives take a longer time for delivery. It usually takes at least three months of delivery since these knives are not available from stock. Customers should make A reservation to obtain one of these knives.
Best 5 Takamura Knives
Some Takamura knife series is not available in the market. Below are the top 5 Takamura knives available in the market according to price.
1.Takamura Hana Damascus HSPS Sujihiki 270mm (10.6″)
This knife features 64-layer Damascus in its blade. Takamura uses R2 or SG2 high-speed powdered steel to forge the blade. This steel makes the blade super hard yet easy to sharpen with superior edge retention. Drill and saw manufacturers use this same steel for making drills and saws that cut other steel.
This knife redefines sharpness and is said to even peel apples without making a sound.
This knife is the Japanese version of the western slicing knife with a thinner blade holding a sharp edge. This blade is ideal for carving and slicing meat. This Sujihiki can also be used to replace Yanagi to cut raw fish.
You can purchase this knife for around $720.
2.Takamura Damascus High-Speed Powdered Steel Gyuto 240mm (9.4″)
Takamura Damascus also features a 64 layer Damascus pattern on its blade. Takamura used R2/ SG2 powdered steel to forge the blade with hardness from 63-64 HRC.
Takamura uses a resin-treated compressed pakka wood as a handle which includes a saya or cover.
This knife is part of the Uchigumo series. This gyuto knife has a blade thinner than the western chef knife. It is best for chopping, mincing, and slicing meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables.
You can purchase this knife for around $ 710.
3.Takamura Damascus High-Speed Powdered Steel Honesuki 150mm (5.9″)
This Honesuki knife is also part of the Uchigumo series. Honesuki knives are not as flexible as a western boning knife, and it has a sharp blade with a pointed tip that helps cut along bones, cartilage, and joints to make different cuts.
Like the other Uchigumo knives, the blade is made from R2/SG2 powdered steel that makes the blade hard, easy to sharpen, and has long edge retention. The handle is also made from Resin-treated compressed wood and includes a saya.
You can purchase this knife for around $600.
4.Takamura High-Speed Powdered Steel Pro Yo-Deba 240mm (9.4″)
This HSPS knife is part of the Takamura HSPS pro series.
This knife is a Yo-Deba which is a counterpart of the Western Deba. It has a double-bevel edge which is best for cutting through shells.
Takamura also uses R2/SG2 Powdered steel to create this knife. Like other knives made from this steel, it has a sharp edge with long-lasting edge retention. However, this does not feature a Damascus pattern.
You can purchase this knife for around $600.
5.Takamura VG-10 Gyuto
Takamura VG-10 is a gyuto knife. Chefs and ordinary users use a gyuto knife for chopping, mincing, and slicing meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables.
This VG-10 knife has two layers of stainless steel for the outside. It is Sanmai forged with a smooth surface. Takamura completely hand-forged this knife. The blade got a hardness ranging from 60-61 HRC.
The handle is a black pakka wood with stainless steel bolster.
You can purchase this knife for around $180
Takamura Knife reviews
Takamura proves that it is a knife with a higher level than the rest through their reviews and users. The following review is from the experiences of users who voiced out their joy through Reddit and Twitter/Instagram.
New toy!!
— David Rodriguez (@ChefDaveRod) May 8, 2020
Absolute fucking laser. R2 is hands down my favorite steel for kitchen knives. #chefknife #chefslife #takamura #gyuto #Japanesesteel @ Oddfellows https://t.co/w8EWLO5Xiy
Best Place to Buy Takamura Knives
Takamura receives customers’ orders through a facsimile machine. Buyers need to select products from their catalog and fill in the necessary information in the dedicated purchase ordering form. And then send it by facsimile machine. You may visit their website http://takamurahamono.jp/ for more details.
If you want to order online, you may visit the following websites since they have Takamura knives on their product listing.
https://mtckitchen.com/japanese-knives/brand/takamura/#https://www.amazon.co.jp/
https://www.japanny.com/collections/takamura-knives?sort_by=manual
https://www.japaneseknives.eu/
Just don’t forget that not all knives are available since Takamura knives production is limited.
Summary
Takamura Saku, the works of Takamura, is challenging new heights in the cutlery industry. Being one of the pioneers of using high-speed powdered steel, Takamura continues to experiment and develop new ways of making professional and standard kitchen knives.
Their creed on maintaining the three pillars of creating a good knife has helped them in their ideals. A good knife is impossible if any of these pillars is missing, a great material, good forging, and a good sharpening. This creed is Takamura’s source of kitchen knife making and the belief that they continue to protect.
