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Sukenari  |  SKU: SU-HAP40NIMAI-YA330

Sukenari HAP40 Mirror Polished Yanagiba 330 mm, Ebony Brass Handle

Regular price ₩979,000

Availability

  • St Peters, NSW
    2 Bishop St, Unit 2, St Peters NSW 2044
  • Crows Nest, NSW
    107 West St, Shop 1, Crows Nest NSW 2065
    Pickup only
  • Prahran, VIC
    180 Commercial Road, Shop 1, Prahran VIC 3181
    Pickup only
Detailed Specifications
Line Sukenari HAP40 Single Bevel Mirror Polish
Profile Yanagiba
Weight 243 g | 8.6 oz
Edge Length 320 mm | 12 19/32″
Heel Height 35 mm | 1 3/8″
Width @ Heel 3.5 mm | 9/64″
Width @ Mid 2.5 mm | 3/32″
Width @ 1cm from Tip 1.1 mm | 3/64″
Steel HAP-40 | Powdered | Semi-stainless
Blade Construction Nimai - Stainless Clad
Hardness (HRC) 64 - 68
Surface Finish Mirror Polish
Handle
Region Toyama
Best for
  • Enthusiasts
  • Pro chefs
  • Free shipping for knives over AU$200 Australia wide.
  • World-wide shipping via DHL Express, 3 to 5 days.


These HAP40 Yanagiba belong to a group of specialized knives that takes the innovative metallurgy technology, and mixing it with some Japanese traditional flavour. However, this line still employs a Nimai construction instead of a Honyaki, which makes them more afforodable and easier to sharpen.

To elaborate on the aforementioned "specialized knives", they are blades that are made in the traditional for using traditional techniques, like a Honyaki Yanagiba, but uses newer stainless or even powder steels instead of Hitachi carbon steels. Pairing these high performance steels with a top notch finishing, these are the knives that pushi the boundary of Japanese knifemaking as "Practical Arts“. One famouse example is Sakai Akazawa, which has multiple products including Honyaki VG-10 or ZDP-189 forged by the legendary bladesmith Yoshikazu Ikeda. We too keep some SG2 Honyaki Yanagiba from Sukenari in store.

As great and beautiful these knives are, the price and scarcity of them have made them nearly inaccessible to most of us, this is where I think this Sukenari HAP40 line comes in place. As it is still uses the powder tool steel which got that very good edge retention, your are not gonna miss any performance compair with those Honyaki knives, but the Nimai structure have made this line much easier to produce and sharpen, thus the price of this line have come to a much affordable range for what it is.

The finish of this line is done very well, the uniformity of the finish across this blade is very good, with hardly any inconsistency that I can spot. If you are planning to venture into the world of these high end Yanagiba, this line can be something to consider about as it fit in the spot between a high-end Honyaki and a carbon steel Kasumi Nimai.

Pros Cons
  • Easy to look after
  • Excellent performance
  • Excellent fit and finish
  • Mirror polish can be hard to maintain
  • Relatively hard to sharpen
Care Instruction
  1. Don't cut hard things! Japanese knives are brittle so bone hacking is a NO NO!
  2. Wash with neutral detergent after use, and wipe dry;
  3. Please don't wash knife with dishwasher, it will damage the wood handle;
  4. Be careful not to leave the knife close to a heat source for a long time;
  5. It is a lot more dangerous to cut with a blunt knife than a sharp knife!
  6. It is best to sharpen a Japanese knife regularly on a waterstone.
  7. Semi-stainless steel won't rust easily but may still patina

Sukenari

Sukenari: The Toyama Forge That Tames Steel No One Else Can

Sukenari(佑成), a brand with a trademark written in two Kanji, one is "to support" or can be broken down to "human and its right side", the other one is "become, achieve). According to the current Representative Director Nobuo Hanaki, this name is filled with the desire of making product that will become an inseparable part in the right hand of those who cook.

Eversince the founding of the company in Showa 8th (1933), Sukenari have been renowned for its products utilizing the hardest manufacturing technique of Honyaki. This applies not only to the traditional carbon steel, but also to modern stainless alloy steels, or even powder metallurgy steels. It is quite safe to say Sukenari, is one of the most, if not the most pioneering Japanese company in terms of new steel selection, with glorious track records of forging with steels never seen on any other kitchen knives.

Read more

Sukenari(佑成), a brand with a trademark written in two Kanji, one is "to support" or can be broken down to "human and its right side", the other one is "become, achieve). According to the current Representative Director Nobuo Hanaki, this name is filled with the desire of making product that will become an inseparable part in the right hand of those who cook.

Eversince the founding of the company in Showa 8th(1933), Sukenari have been renowned for its products utilizing the hardest manufacturing technique of Honyaki. This applies not only to the traditional carbon steel, but also to modern stainless alloy steels, or even powder metallurgy steels. It is quite safe to say Sukenari, is one of the most, if not the most pioneering Japanese company in terms of new steel selection, with glorious track records of forging with steels never seen on any other kitchen knives.

ZDP-189, YXR7 and HAP-40, these are the steels with extreme performance that was never considered by the industry to be suitable for knife making, yet Sukenari was daring enough to experiment with them, which lead to the adoptation by the industry. Without this company, we are likely unable to get our hands on some of the extreme performer knives today. It is great to see a Japanese company with rich history can breake the stereotype of lacking in innovation, and show us there are still potential for improvement. Just like the current company owner, 3rd-generation Hanaki - Mr. Nobuo Hanaki said: "we are willing to work hard to improve our skill and technique, so we can be relied upon by those who cook."

“The knife behind the knife — and the steel no one else dares.”

Est. 1933 | 昭和8年
Known for Forging the "unforgable" powdered steels
Website sukenari.jp Instagram @sukenari_official Read more about Sukenari
Sukenari — Toyama
Profile: Yanagiba
Profile

Yanagiba

The Yanagiba, often simply called Yanagi, stands as a quintessential knife in the Japanese culinary realm, specifically designed for the artful preparation of sashimi, sushi, and sliced raw fish and seafood. As a member of the Sashimi hōchō family, it is celebrated for its long, slender blade that ensures precision cuts with minimal effort. Blade lengths start at approximately 210mm and can extend up to 360mm, with the 240mm and 270mm sizes being the most favored for home use, while professional kitchens frequently opt for 300mm and larger. This knife's design is not just about aesthetics but about fulfilling the precise requirements of Japanese cuisine, making it a vital tool for both amateur and seasoned chefs.
Composition

HAP-40 Element Composition

Compare with
    HAP-40
    8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0
    C Carbon 1.3%
    Primary hardening element. Raises hardness and wear resistance — but too much increases brittleness and corrosion susceptibility. As a reference: German 1.4112 (~0.5%) sits at the low end; VG-10 (~1.0%) is a common mid-range; SG2 (1.25–1.45%) and ZDP-189 (~3.0%) represent high and extreme ends respectively.
    C
    1.3%
    Cr Chromium 4.0%
    Raises corrosion resistance; 13%+ qualifies steel as stainless. Also improves hardenability and wear resistance. In kitchen use, higher chromium levels contribute to a slight drag or sticking sensation when cutting — a trade-off for the rust resistance it provides.
    Cr
    4.0%
    V Vanadium 3.0%
    Forms extremely hard carbides for superior edge retention. Also refines grain structure, improving toughness.
    V
    3.0%
    Mo Molybdenum 4.8%
    Improves hardenability and toughness. Boosts corrosion resistance and helps the steel hold hardness under heat.
    Mo
    4.8%
    W Tungsten 6.0%
    Forms hard carbides for wear resistance and edge retention. Gives the steel hardness even at elevated temperatures.
    W
    6.0%
    Co Cobalt 8.0%
    Allows higher hardening temperatures, increasing hardness and wear resistance. Slightly reduces toughness at high levels.
    Co
    8.0%
    C — Carbon Cr — Chromium V — Vanadium Mo — Molybdenum W — Tungsten Co — Cobalt
    Hardness 64–68 HRC
    555759616365+
    Steel
    HAP-40
    Category
    Semi-stainless
    Process
    Powder Metallurgy (PM)
    Manufacturer
    Hitachi Special Steel, Japan 🇯🇵
    Hardness
    64–68 HRC
    Steel

    HAP-40

    • Manufacturer
      • Hitachi Special Steel, Japan
    • Nature Semi-stainless
    • Hardness64–68 HRC
    HAP-40 steel is a high-speed tool steel known for its exceptional edge retention and durability, ideal for kitchen knives. It achieves high hardness, up to 68 HRC, allowing it to maintain sharpness through extensive use. Comprising a mix of carbon, chromium, and other elements like tungsten and vanadium, it offers a balance of hardness and toughness, reducing chipping risks. While its superior wear resistance ensures long-term performance, sharpening HAP-40 steel may require advanced tools due to its hardness. This steel appeals to those who prioritize cutting efficiency and minimal maintenance in their culinary tools.
    Construction: Nimai - Stainless Clad
    Construction

    Nimai - Stainless Clad

    Nimai(Two Piece) is the Japan's traditional approach to the kitchen knife making, this construction method is typically found on knives with native Japanese origins like Yanagiba, Deba and Usuba. When constructing a Nimai knife, a piece of soft cladding metal will be placed onto a core steel, the two pieces of metal are then forgewelded and shaped into the knife.

    The Nimai knives are usually sharpened in single-bevel fashion, with hardened core steel exposed on the flat/hollow-ground side and soft cladding warping over the other side and over the spin. The soft cladding offers support for the harder yet more brittle core steel so the knive can have a thin, sharp edge while have some overall strength. Since the single bevel Japanese knives usually don't have a secondary bevel, the combination of soft cladding and hollow-grind have made the sharpening process easier than Monosteel and Honyaki knives.

    In recent years, knifemaker have been trying to utilize stainless claddings on the traditional Nimai knives, which were typically forged withcarbon steel. But unlike the Sanmai construction, the core steel will still be exposed on the hollow-ground side even the stainless cladding can protect the other side. The Stainless Clad Nimai knives seen on the market now would typically use a stainless core to pair with the stainless cladding, making the Nimai and traditional single bevel knives much more approachable for users who are interested in them.

    Finish: Mirror Polish
    Finish

    Mirror Polish

    Mirror Polish is a simplistic yet hightly demanding process, where the roughness of the metal surface is gradually removed with higher and higher grit abrasives, leading to a extremly smooth surface with only specular reflection, just like a mirror.

    The Mirror Polish can be applied to various constructions, ranging from Damascus to Honyaki. It can reveal the beautiful Hamon on the Honyaki blade, and form textural contrast on damascus. The perfect surface is highly appreciated, but it also means a lot of care must be give to avoid it being scratched.

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