Shirogami (White Steel)

Shirogami (白紙), known in the West as White Steel, is the closest steel to the ideal katana of the Edo period. Its name - similar to Aogami - comes from the white paper in which Hitachi Metals wraps its finished ingots. At Yasashi Ōkami, we perceive Shirogami as "the purest form of steel."

The Soul of Steel: Absolute Purity

Shirogami is a carbon steel with an extremely simple composition. It is almost entirely free of impurities, which makes it an extremely demanding material for the smith, but rewarding for the user.

• Extreme Sharpness: Thanks to the lack of impurities, Shirogami allows for a cutting edge so sharp it seems almost unreal. It defines the concept of a "Japanese laser."
• Ease of Sharpening: Despite its high hardness, white steel sharpens exceptionally quickly and pleasantly. It is with this steel that you can best feel the "feedback" of a waterstone.
• Reactivity: This is a highly reactive steel. It reacts instantly to contact with acids, developing a patina faster than any other steel.

Grades of Purity

In the manufacturers Yasashi Ōkami collaborates with, you will find two main types of Shirogami:

• • Shirogami #2: The most popular and highly valued for its balance. It is incredibly sharp, yet slightly less brittle than version #1. This is the steel found in the legendary Masamoto KS.
• • Shirogami #1: Has the highest carbon content. It offers the absolute maximum sharpness but requires a master's hand - both in forging and during use.

Why Shirogami?

Choosing a Shirogami knife is choosing the path of a purist. It is a steel that forgives nothing, but in the hands of a conscious chef, it becomes a surgical tool. It does not have the wear resistance of Aogami steel, but it compensates with a cutting aggressiveness that makes food almost part under the blade.