Madison, WI, USA. September 2017. Andy Jack, of Fromagination, recently took a trip to Japan. Before leaving he asked for my recommendations on various knife shops and blacksmiths that he could visit. One that immediately came to mind was Yu Kurosaki, a young master who has recently set up his own venture outside of Takefu Village.
The personal connection is what makes this one so unique. When Andy returned from his travels he was anxious to pass his 210mm Kurosaki Blue Super Clad Hammered Gyuto with Kurouchi finish that he bought from the maker himself from one craftsman to another. This octagonal wa handle is made from materials that he personally selected from my studio, resulting in a finished knife that is rich, dark, and subtly sexy.
Materials include: royal purple bird's eye maple ferrule, black-dyed buckeye burl spacer and end cap, and 5-thousand-year-old silky bog oak.