Moriya Munemitsu YHC Kataha Usuba 180mm

The three key elements to producing a fine traditional Japanese knife don't change.

First is what Moriya Munemitsu Hamono describes as yoi sozai o shiyō suru koto: the use of quality materials, meaning steel with absolutely minimal impurities. The second is saitekina netsushori o suru koto: optimal heat treatment - hardening, annealing and tempering - without which quality materials won't mean much. Thirdly, seizō kakō, ha-tsuke: the process of manufacture and sharpening, that of creating a well-balanced knife with the cutting weight and sharpness professional users expect.

Moriya Munemitsu YHC prides itself on fulfilling these three requirements to the letter. It should come as no surprise; this is the Yasugi Specialty Steels subsidiary that produces and markets these professional-grade knives across Japan. 

Parent company YSS produces the high-grade aogami#2 alloy steel. Moriya Munemitsu's optimal heat treatment of this 'in-house' steel results in a blade with high hardness and resistance to chipping. Ha-tsuke - let's call it edge sculpting - in turn delivers an outstanding cutting tool. Asked the essence of their success in a competitive market, Moriya Munemitsu tells us that it derives from many years of research and experience, and deep consideration of the requirements of their users. 

Moriya Munemitsu's single bevel knives are hand-forged in the traditional measurement of 'sun'. This is their 6-sun usuba-bocho with a total blade length of 190mm and measuring 170mm along the cutting edge.