AS some of you know I am a hopeless Japanese carbon steel junkie.When I saw the Yoshimitsu Tatara forged Tamahagane steel knives being folded many times & wt. clay forming a true Hamon on a PBS show.I researched these kitchen knives,the best price by far was in my own backyard at A-Frames.I bought a Aritsugu 270 Blue steel Yanagi fr. Takeshi about 5 yrs. ago.He was in Japan when I tried to contact him,when he came back,I checked the Yoshimitsu out & bought it.The brothers that forge the Tamahagane have many yrs. of skill & use the steel for high end limited production Kitchen knives.Most Tamahagane is used for swords,small amount for KIt. knives.
Some Veg. prep.using a razor sharp Tamahagane Yoshimitsu,I took it to a 8K edge & stropped it on leather.Brings out the true Hamon.Takeshi says this steel is in a class of it's own & has great edge holding.I paid 365.00 for it,admit I bought it because of the lore of the forging tech.,rareness,& the steel itself.The blade is very lite & flys thu food.I usually let my carbons patina,but this blade I wash & dry well & use my sword kit to polish it &

use clove oil.