What makes Japanese knives different from Western knives?

Japanese knives are typically forged from harder steel, allowing them to be thinner and hold a much sharper edge (often a 12-15 degree angle) than heavier Western knives. This results in precision, effortless cuts, and less fatigue during food prep.

What is the best Japanese knife for a beginner?

For a first Japanese knife, we highly recommend either a 210mm Gyuto (the Japanese equivalent of a chef's knife) or a 165mm Santoku. If you want easy maintenance, choose a stainless steel option like VG-10 or SG2 rather than high-carbon steel.

Do Japanese knives rust?

It depends on the steel. Traditional high-carbon steels (like Aogami or Shirogami) will rust if left wet and require wiping down immediately after use. However, we offer hundreds of stainless steel and stainless-clad Japanese knives that are highly resistant to rust and very easy to maintain.

How do you sharpen a Japanese kitchen knife?

Japanese knives should be sharpened by hand using water whetstones. You should never use a pull-through sharpener or a standard honing steel on a high-end Japanese blade, as the hard steel can easily chip. We also recommend regular stropping to maintain the edge between whetstone sessions.

Japanese Knives - Shop All

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Reverse side of Makoto Kurosaki Samidorizuki 165mm santoku with stainless-clad blade

Makoto Kurosaki Samidorizuki SG-STRIX Santoku 165mm

CHF 330.00

Reverse side of Yoshimi Kato V-Tsuchime SG2 240mm K-tip gyuto

Yoshimi Kato SG2 V-Tsuchime Kiritsuke Gyuto 240mm – Ebony Handle

CHF 405.00

Yoshimi Kato Hyo SG2 Ko-Bunka 130mm – Ebony & White TruStone Handle

CHF 330.00

Yu Kurosaki Kokusen Aogami Super Bunka 170mm – Ebony & Buffalo Horn Handle

CHF 250.00

Yu Kurosaki Kokusen AS Gyuto 210mm — blade finish detail

Yu Kurosaki Kokusen AS Gyuto 210mm with Ebony and Buffalo Horn Handle

CHF 292.00

Teruyasu Fujiwara White #1 Nashiji Gyuto 180mm, front angled view

Teruyasu Fujiwara White #1 Nashiji Gyuto 180mm with Magnolia Handle

CHF 188.00

Masutani VG-1 Nashiji Gyuto 180mm, angled blade and handle view

Masutani VG-1 Nashiji Gyuto 180mm with Brown Western Handle

CHF 113.00

Yu Kurosaki Kokusen AS Nakiri 155mm with Rosewood Octagon Handle

CHF 260.00

Nigara VG-XEOS Polished Tsuchime Nakiri 165mm

From CHF 345.00

Nigara VG-XEOS polished tsuchime santoku 170mm, angled view showing hammered Damascus blade and red custom handle.

Nigara VG XEOS Polished Tsuchime 170mm Santoku

From CHF 301.00

White Skull Prisma custom Japanese wa handle, 143mm

Skull Prisma Handle

CHF 137.00

Prisma Knife custom wa handle — Emerald Tide green resin and natural wood

Prisma Mountains and Forest

CHF 137.00

Prisma Colour Madness

From CHF 114.00

Tokushu rosewood wa handle with black horn ferrule, 135mm

Tokushu Rosewood & Ebony Wa Handle – 135mm

CHF 28.00

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Takeshi Saji VG-10W Gold Damascus Gyuto 180 mm, angled blade and cow bone handle detail.

Takeshi Saji VG-10W Gold Damascus Gyuto 180 mm with Cow Bone Western Handle

CHF 660.00

Takeshi Saji VG-10 Gold Damascus Petty 90 mm, maker mark and handle detail.

Takeshi Saji VG-10 Gold Damascus Petty 90 mm with Cow Bone Western Handle

CHF 377.00

Imai Aogami Super Kurouchi Gyuto 210mm blade detail showing the stainless cladding line and polished cutting edge

Imai Stainless Clad Aogami Super Kurouchi Gyuto 210mm with Sanjo Walnut Handle

CHF 254.00

Masutani Kokuryu VG10 Damascus Tsuchime Santoku 170mm – angled blade view

Masutani Hamono VG10 Kokuryu Damascus Tsuchime Santoku Knife 170mm – Scotch Western Handle

CHF 109.00

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Sakamoto-Ginsan No. 3 Damascus Gyuto 210mm, angled full-knife view showing the Damascus blade and custom wa handle. #handle_amboyna burl & blonde buffalo horn

Sakamoto-Ginsan #3 Damascus Gyuto 210mm

From CHF 235.00

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kuro Tsuchime Petty displayed with leather sheath

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kuro Tsuchime Petty 150mm with Burnt Wood Handle

From CHF 71.00

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kuro Tsuchime Petty with mono ebony handle and fitted wooden saya

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kurouchi Petty 150mm with Mono Ebony Handle

From CHF 71.00

Fitted wooden saya for Dao Vua V3 Kuro Tsuchime Santoku 165mm

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kurouchi Santoku 165mm - Mono ebony Handle

From CHF 90.00

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kuro Tsuchime Santoku with burnt wood handle in leather sheath

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kuro Tsuchime Santoku - Burnt Wood Handle

From CHF 90.00

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kurouchi Sujihiki 270mm with mono ebony handle and fitted wooden saya

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kurouchi Sujihiki 270mm - Mono Ebony Handle

From CHF 109.00

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kuro Tsuchime Sujihiki 270mm

From CHF 109.00

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kurouchi Gyuto 210mm

From CHF 90.00

Dao Vua V3 52100 Kuro Tsuchime Gyuto 210mm

From CHF 99.00

Hatsukokoro Ryuhyo SG2 Black Damascus Gyuto 210mm with Walnut Handle

CHF 226.00

Kokugei Blue #1 kurouchi gyuto 210mm with mono ebony handle, angled full view

HATSUKOKORO Kokugei Blue #1 Steel Kurouchi Gyuto 210mm with Mono Ebony Handle

CHF 169.00

Hatsukokoro Ryuhyo SG2 Damascus Migaki Gyuto 210mm

From CHF 207.00

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Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue #2 Kurouchi Bunka 190mm with Mono Ebony Handle

CHF 122.00

Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS-34 Nickel Damascus Gyuto 210mm

From CHF 282.00

Hatsukokoro Kaijin Blue #2 Stainless Clad Santoku 180mm with Mono Olive Wood Handle

CHF 160.00

Hatsukokoro Ryuhyo SG2 Damascus Migaki Bunka 180mm

From CHF 179.00

Angled view of the Hatsukokoro Kokugei Blue #1 Santoku showing its kurouchi finish and polished cutting edge.

Hatsukokoro Kokugei Blue #1 Kurouchi Santoku 165mm with Mono Ebony Handle

CHF 132.00

Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS-34 Nickel Damascus Santoku 180mm

From CHF 264.00

Hatsukokoro Ginrei Silver 3 Nashiji Kiritsuke Petty 125mm with mono olive wood handle, full knife angled view

Hatsukokoro Ginrei Silver #3 Nashiji Kiritsuke Petty 125mm – Mono Olive Wood Handle

CHF 122.00

Hatsukokoro Ryuhyo SG2 black Damascus petty 150mm with walnut handle, full knife angled view

Hatsukokoro Ryuhyo SG2 Damascus Black Coating Petty 150mm – Walnut Handle

CHF 156.00

Tokushu Knife Stainless Clad Blue #2 Nashiji Gyuto 210mm - Custom Wa Handles

From CHF 132.00

Tokushu Knife Blue No. 2 Nashiji Santoku 165 mm with cypress and buffalo horn wa handle, hero view

Tokushu Knife Stainless Clad Blue #2 Nashiji Santoku 165 mm - Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 122.00

Tokushu Knife stainless clad Blue No. 2 Nashiji Nakiri 165mm — rosewood and ebony handle, angled front view #handle_rosewood & ebony

Tokushu Knife Stainless Clad Blue #2 Nashiji Nakiri 165mm - Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 122.00

Tokushu Knife Blue No. 2 Nashiji Hiraki 165 mm with Amboyna and buffalo horn wa handle, main view #handle_amboyna & buffalo horn

Tokushu Knife Stainless Clad Blue #2 Nashiji Hiraki 165 mm - Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 113.00

Tokushu Knife stainless clad Blue No. 2 Nashiji 105 mm with rosewood and buffalo horn wa handle, main view #handle_rosewood & buffalo horn

Tokushu Knife Stainless Clad Blue #2 Nashiji 105mm - Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 94.00

Tokushu Knife stainless clad Blue No. 2 Nashiji petty 135 mm with rosewood and buffalo horn handle A, main view #handle_rosewood & buffalo horn a

Tokushu Knife Stainless Clad Blue #2 Nashiji Petty 135mm - Custom Wa Handles

From CHF 103.00

Tokushu Knife Hammertone SLD Petty 135mm, rosewood & buffalo horn, engraved side full knife #handle_rosewood & buffalo horn

Tokushu Knife Hammertone SLD Petty 135mm – Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 113.00

Yoshimi Kato SG2 Minamo Santoku 165 mm, Mono Ebony & Buffalo Horn, main view #handle_mono ebony & buffalo horn

Yoshimi Kato SG2 Minamo Santoku 165 mm - Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 273.00

Nigara STRIX Petty 125 mm with Mono Ebony & Horn handle, main view #handle_mono ebony & horn

Nigara STRIX Petty 125 mm - Mono Ebony & Horn

CHF 279.00

Nigara VG10 Gyuto 210mm, Amboyna & Horn Contrast No. 1, main view #handle_amboyna & horn contrast no. 1

Nigara VG10 Gyuto 210mm - Custom Handle

From CHF 208.00