Mutsumi Hinoura Vtoku Santoku 180mm

• Style: Santoku- Multipurpose
• Steel type: Vtoku-Carbon Steel
• HRC:64
• Blade Length:180m
• Overall Length:325mm
• Blade Height @Heel: 49mm
• Spine Thickness @ Mid:3.2mm
• Weight: 202g
• Bevel: double
• Handle Material: Octagonal rosewood 

Mutsumi Hinoura, the fourth-generation craftsman from the esteemed Hinoura lineage in Niigata, Japan, continues to carry forward a legacy of exceptional bladesmithing. As the son of the legendary Tsukasa Hinoura, Mutsumi-san has carved out his own name through precise heat treatment, refined finishing, and outstanding cutting performance

Chefs and collectors around the world are already taking notice—these knives are quietly becoming some of the most sought-after in the culinary world. Owning a Mutsumi Hinoura blade now is like witnessing the rise of a true master in the early stages of his legacy. Each knife is paired with a one-of-a-kind octagonal handle, blending traditional craftsmanship with refined elegance. Far beyond a simple kitchen tool, it’s a piece of functional art destined to become a treasured heirloom.

V-Toku2 is a steel sold by Takefu Steel and is their offering to compete with Hitachi Steel’s blue paper’s steels (Aogami). This high carbon, low alloy steel, performs similarly to its well known competitor Aogami#2 offering a good balance of toughness, hardenability, ease of sharpening, and edge retention (though like all carbon and low alloys steels its wear resistance is limited), but with very limited corrosion resistance (while better than pure carbon steels like Shirogami/white paper steels, this steel will develop a patina and requires proper care not to rust). 

Mutsumi Hinoura’s V-Toku steel knives typically have a Rockwell Hardness (HRC) of around 63–64, depending on the specific heat treatment he applies.

V-Toku 2 is capable of reaching high hardness levels, and Mutsumi-san is known for carefully tuning his heat treatment process to balance edge retention with toughness. This hardness range allows the blade to take a fine edge while still being durable enough for demanding kitchen tasks.