Forged stainless clad SG2 powder metal with hammer marked 'tsuchime cladding and octagonal wenge handle. SG2 takes a very fine edge easily for a stainless steel of its hardness (63/64) and holds it nicely. 

Nigara Hamono in Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture is a 350 year old metalworking company with 

Nigara Hamono is a distinguished Japanese blacksmithing house with a legacy spanning over 350 years. Founded during the early Edo period, the Nigara family began crafting swords for the Tsugaru clan in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. Over eight generations, they have preserved and refined their traditional forging techniques, transitioning from samurai swords to high-performance kitchen knives that are celebrated worldwide.      

Under the leadership of Go Yoshizawa, the eighth-generation blacksmith, Nigara Hamono continues to blend time-honored techniques with modern innovations. This dedication has earned them recognition as one of Japan’s premier knife makers.