Indigo Bocho

A gift that lasts a lifetime.
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[Indigo Bocho] Yanagiba (Right-Handed) 24cm

A knife that carries the quiet beauty of indigo and stands up to everyday use.

A kitchen knife that combines ease of use and beauty, making it a natural fit for everyday cooking.

Engraving and gift wrapping available — a good choice as a gift.

Shipping is calculated at checkout.
See our Shipping policy for details.

Ready-to-ship items leave within 2 business days. Everything else takes 7–10 days.

$245.00 USD
$245.00 USD
Shipping calculated at checkout. Import duties are not included in the price. For orders shipped to the United States we pay the duty before dispatch and email you a payment link once your order is placed; we ship as soon as that payment clears. Duty on kitchen knives is currently about 31% of the item price. Shipping policy
  • Blade: Shirogami No.2 carbon steel
  • Blade length: 24cm
  • Blade grind: Single bevel (right-handed)
  • Handle: Hiba (Japanese cypress)
  • Ferrule: Laminated plywood

A sashimi knife, used after the fish is broken down, when the slices have to look right.

The blade is shaped like a willow leaf, which is where the name yanagiba comes from.

It is ground on one side only, and that is what lets it cut a clean face and leave a crisp edge on the slice.

A santoku or a gyuto cuts by pushing; a yanagiba cuts by pulling.

As the old line has it, a blade that rusts is a blade that cuts — so this one is carbon steel, chosen for its edge.

Being carbon steel it will rust if left wet, so wipe it dry after every use.

"Craftsman collaboration": different crafts, from different regions, brought together in one object.

This knife pairs Sakai bladesmithing in Osaka, with six hundred years of history behind it, with the indigo dyeing of Tokushima.

The handle begins as hiba, a wood with about the best rot resistance you can ask for.

It is dyed with indigo, valued since antiquity for its antibacterial, deodorizing and insect-repelling qualities.

Once the wood is dyed, more indigo is sprayed over it to build the gradation, which is how a handle ends up working as well as it looks.

A waterproof coating compliant with Japan's Food Sanitation Act goes over the indigo, so the dye will not bleed or wear away.

The other idea behind the knife is simple: one product, several craft regions, all of them better off for it.

The Indigo Bocho is also a new attempt at keeping Japan's traditional crafts in working use.

We hope you enjoy what these craftsmen have made together.

[Optional] About Tosa Washi gift wrapping

Gift wrapping in Tosa washi is available as an optional add-on. A natural choice when you are giving the knife as a present.

See the gift wrapping page

[Optional] About the name engraving service

A name or short message can be carved into the blade. Available across the Indigo Bocho lineup.

See the engraving page

About shipping, delivery, and delivery date

Shipping

Shipping is calculated at checkout. See our Shipping policy for details.

About handling methods and precautions

Wood grain and the depth of the indigo differ slightly from piece to piece.

A food-safe waterproof coating keeps the indigo from bleeding out.

The coating can come away if the knife takes a hard knock.

Cutting anything hard or frozen will chip the edge.

Do not hold the blade over a flame.

Please do not put it in the dishwasher.

Wash with a mild detergent, dry it thoroughly, and leave it to air-dry.