Nigara Hamono is a historic, family-run Japanese blacksmith shop based in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan. The Nigara family has been making blades for around 350 years, dating back to the Edo period when they used to make swords for the Tsugaru clan.
Today, Nigara Hamono is led by eighth-generation master blacksmith Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa. The family has continued its traditional forging methods while producing high-quality Japanese kitchen knives, including Gyuto, Santoku and Bunka knives. The forge also produces farming and industrial tools for tradespeople in the local area.
Nigara knives are handmade using traditional Japanese blacksmithing techniques and are known for their distinctive Tsuchime hammered finish and Damascus patterns. Each knife has its own unique pattern, combining traditional craftsmanship with a modern and distinctive appearance.
Aogami Super
The Aogami Super Tsuchime range is made for those who want an extremely sharp Japanese kitchen knife with excellent edge retention. Aogami Super, also known as Blue Super Steel, is a high-carbon Japanese steel made by Hitachi Metals and is highly regarded for its sharpness and ability to hold an edge for a long time.
Aogami Super contains a high level of carbon along with tungsten, chromium and vanadium. With a hardness of around 63–64 HRC, the steel can be sharpened to an extremely sharp edge giving it a long-lasting cutting performance.
The blades feature a hand-hammered Tsuchime-Migaki finish, with the hammer marks forming small flame-like shapes across the blade. This helps reduce food sticking when cutting vegetables or meat.
The knives are finished with traditional octagonal Wenge wood handles and black Buffalo Horn bolsters. Aogami Super is a carbon steel, so the exposed edge can react with moisture and acidic foods and can rust if left wet. We recommend hand-washing and drying the knife immediately after use to keep the blade in good condition.
SG-2 Damascus
The SG2 Raindrop Damascus range combines high-performance SG2 powder steel with traditional Japanese craftsmanship and a distinctive Damascus finish. The blades feature a deep-etched “Anmon” Raindrop pattern, giving each knife a unique appearance with no two blades looking exactly the same.
At the centre of the blade is an SG2 (R2) powder stainless steel core, known for its excellent wear resistance, sharpness and long-lasting edge. With a hardness of 62–63 HRC, the blade can hold an extremely sharp edge while providing excellent cutting performance.
The SG2 core is surrounded by layers of stainless steel and nickel Damascus, creating the distinctive Raindrop pattern while providing excellent corrosion resistance. Some knives are finished with traditional octagonal Teak wood handles, paired with a black Buffalo Horn bolster and silver spacer.
SG-2 Kurouchi
The SG2 Kurouchi Tsuchime range combines traditional Japanese blacksmithing with the performance of modern SG2 powder steel. The blades feature a dark Kurouchi finish, leaving the natural blacksmith's scale on the upper part of the blade, giving each knife a raw and rustic appearance. The dark Kurouchi scale also forms a natural protective layer, helping to protect the steel from moisture and acidic foods.
The Kurouchi finish is combined with a striking hand-hammered Tsuchime pattern. The pattern also creates small gaps that can help reduce food sticking. At the centre of the blade is an SG2 (R2) powder stainless steel core. With a hardness of 62–63 HRC, it provides excellent sharpness, edge retention and wear resistance. Both the core and outer cladding are made from stainless steel, making the knives highly resistant to rust and easy to maintain.