Indigo Bocho — Care & Safety Instructions

Important Notice

WARNING: This product has an extremely sharp blade. Improper use may cause cuts or other serious injuries.

Read all instructions before use and follow them carefully. Keep this page available for future reference.

1. Product Information

Product Name	Indigo Bocho Kurouchi Tsuchime Santoku
Blade Material	SUS stainless steel with hammered finish
Rust Resistance	High
Blade Length	Approx. 18 cm
Edge	Double-beveled
Handle Material	Hiba wood
Handle Finish	Natural indigo dye with water-resistant coating
Accessory	Indigo-dyed wooden sheath

2. Before Use

Before each use, inspect the blade, handle, and sheath. Do not use the knife if you notice:

Chipping, cracks, breakage, or bending of the blade
A loose or unstable connection between the blade and handle
Cracks, deformation, or significant peeling of the handle coating
Cracks, deformation, or excessive looseness of the sheath
Any other condition that may make the knife unsafe

Do not disassemble, modify, or repair the knife yourself. Contact the seller if any abnormality is found.

3. Safe Use

Never touch the cutting edge directly.
Use the knife on a stable cutting board. Keep hands and fingers away from the blade and cutting path.
Wet or greasy hands may cause the handle to slip. Dry your hands and the handle before use.
Never attempt to catch a falling knife. Move your hands and feet away.
When placing the knife down, keep the blade pointed away from people and place it where it cannot fall.

4. Prohibited Uses

This knife is intended only for food preparation. Do not use it for any other purpose.

Do not use it to cut:

Fully frozen food
Bones or hard shells
Extremely hard foods that require excessive force
Cans, bottles, metal, wood, plastic, or other non-food materials

Do not:

Twist or pry with the blade
Strike the spine of the knife
Throw the knife
Expose it to fire or high heat
Use it as a screwdriver, can opener, or tool
Disassemble, modify, or improperly repair it

Improper use may cause chipping, breakage, deformation, or injury.

5. Child Safety

Keep this product out of the reach of infants and children.
Children must never use the knife without direct adult supervision. An adult who understands safe knife handling must supervise its use, cleaning, and storage.
Do not leave the knife unattended after use. Store it safely immediately.

6. Cleaning

Wash the knife promptly after use by hand with mild detergent and a soft sponge.

Keep the blade pointed away from your body and hands while washing. Do not squeeze the cutting edge with a sponge or slide your hand along the blade.

After washing, wipe away all moisture with a clean, dry cloth and allow the knife to dry completely.

Do not use:

A dishwasher
A dish dryer
Bleach
Abrasive cleaners
Metal scrubbers
Boiling water
Prolonged soaking

These may damage, discolor, or deform the blade, indigo-dyed handle, wooden components, or coating.

7. Rust and Discoloration

The blade is made of stainless steel; however, rust or discoloration may still occur depending on use and storage conditions.

Do not leave salt, acidic food residue, dirt, or moisture on the blade. Wash and dry it thoroughly after use.

If rust or discoloration appears, do not continue using the knife without checking its condition. Contact a qualified knife specialist or the seller when necessary.

8. Sheath and Storage

Make sure both the knife and the inside of the sheath are completely dry before storage.

Storing the knife while wet may cause rust, discoloration, mold, odor, swelling or deformation of the wood, or deterioration of the coating.

The sheath protects the blade but does not necessarily lock it securely in place. Do not carry the knife by holding only the sheath, and do not place the sheathed knife loosely in a bag.

Store in a dry, secure place away from high humidity, direct sunlight, fire, and heat.

9. Indigo-dyed Handle

The handle is made from natural hiba wood and dyed with natural indigo.

Wood grain, color, and indigo tone vary from piece to piece. The appearance may also change over time and through use.

Friction, moisture, detergent, and ultraviolet light may cause color transfer, fading, or discoloration. Do not leave the handle wet, and dry it promptly after washing.

Stop using the knife and contact the seller if the handle coating shows significant peeling, stickiness, cracking, or deformation.

10. Sharpening

When the blade becomes dull, sharpen it properly using a whetstone suitable for kitchen knives.

Incorrect sharpening may damage the blade geometry or cause injury. If you are not experienced in sharpening, consult a professional knife sharpener or specialist.

Some electric or pull-through sharpeners may not be suitable for this blade. Check the sharpener's instructions and compatibility before use.

11. Damage or Abnormal Conditions

Stop using the knife immediately if you notice:

Significant blade chipping
Cracks, breakage, or fracture
Severe bending of the blade
A cracked, loose, or unstable handle
Significant peeling of the coating
Any other condition that feels unsafe or abnormal

Do not touch broken blade fragments with bare hands.

If an accident or injury occurs, obtain appropriate first aid or medical attention first. Then stop using the product and contact the seller.

Keep the knife, sheath, packaging, and any information showing when and how the product was received, as these may be needed to investigate the incident.

12. Limitations

Nothing on this page is intended to exclude or limit any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Damage resulting from misuse, use outside the intended purpose, modification, improper repair, normal wear, or failure to follow these instructions will be assessed according to the circumstances and applicable law.

13. Reporting an Accident or Defect

If you become aware of an accident, defect, or safety concern, stop using the product and contact the seller with the following information:

Your name
Contact details
Product name
Approximate date of purchase or receipt
Description of the defect or accident
Date, time, and circumstances of the incident
Photos of the full product and affected area
Details of any injury
Product identification or lot number

14. Seller and Contact Information

Seller	EDIT JAPAN / Akiyuki Sakamoto Inc.
Representative	Akiyuki Sakamoto
Address	Entre Salon, Marui Omiya 7F, 2-3 Sakuragicho, Omiya-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama 330-9501, Japan
Email	shop@editjapan.com
Telephone	+81 3-5050-2145
Website	https://editjapan-store.com
Business Hours	Weekdays 10:00–17:00 (JST)