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.

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Nigara STRIX Gyuto 210mm with Prisma Aurora custom wa handle, front view #handle_prisma aurora

Nigara STRIX Tsuchime Damascus Gyuto 210mm - Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 330.00

Nigara STRIX Tsuchime Damascus Gyuto 240mm with mono ebony and horn handle, angled full knife view

Nigara STRIX Tsuchime Damascus Gyuto 240mm - Mono Ebony & Horn

CHF 439.00

Yoshikazu Ikeda White No. 1 Mizu Honyaki Kiritsuke 220mm, angled engraved-side view #handle_prisma handle

Yoshikazu Ikeda White #1 Mizu Honyaki Kiritsuke 220mm

From CHF 1,504.00

Yoshikazu Ikeda White No. 1 Mizu Honyaki Yanagiba 310mm, full knife with ebony and horn handle #handle_ebony & horn

Yoshikazu Ikeda White #1 Mizu Honyaki Yanagiba 310mm — Mirror Finish on the Hira

From CHF 1,693.00

Sakai Hokushin Aogami No. 2 Honyaki Wa-Sujihiki 275mm, full knife with Prisma handle #handle_prisma handle

Sakai Hokushin Yoshikazu x Shotaro Nomura Aogami #2 Honyaki 275mm Wa-Sujihiki

From CHF 1,127.00

Sakai Hokushin Ikeda x Nomura Blue No. 2 oil-honyaki gyuto 245mm, blade only, full engraved-side view #handle_blade only

Sakai Hokushin Yoshikazu Ikeda × Shotaro Nomura Blue #2 Oil-Honyaki 245mm Wa Gyuto – Full Mirror Blade

From CHF 1,410.00

Tokushu Knife Tsuchime Gyuto 240mm with Rosewood & Horn wa handle, full knife #handle_rosewood & horn

Tokushu Knife white #2 Tsuchime Gyuto 240mm - Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 141.00

Mont Blanc black knife roll by The Hidemaster, angled closed view with buckle straps and carry handle

Mont Blanc Knife Roll – Black – by The Hidemaster

CHF 189.00

Snakewood wa handle showing dark figured grain and tang opening

Snakewood Handle

CHF 113.00

Ebony and horn wa handle No. 1, 135 mm, pale horn with a dark stripe #handle_no. 1 - 135 mm

Ebony & Horn Wa Handles – 135 mm & 124 mm

CHF 56.00

Rosewood and horn wa handle No. 1, 128 mm, amber swirling grain and pale grey cream horn #handle_no. 1 - 128 mm

Rosewood & Horn Wa Handles – 128 mm & 116 mm

CHF 56.00

Amboyna with contrast and horn wa handle No. 2, 113 mm. Copper-red wood with a broad pale area near the upper right, paired with cream horn carrying a bold brown vertical stripe. #handle_no. 2 - 113 mm

Amboyna with Contrast & Horn Wa Handles

CHF 66.00

Cypress wood and horn knife handle, 116 mm, Handle 1, dark swirling grain and pale horn ferrule #handle_handle 1

Cypress Wood with Horn Handle – 116 mm

CHF 66.00

Full horn knife handle, 135 mm, Handle 1, blonde horn with a bold black streak #handle_handle 1

Full Horn Handle – 135 mm

CHF 94.00

152 mm sujihiki / slicer handle, Full Ebony, dark brown and black lengthwise grain #handle_full ebony

Sujihiki / Slicer Handle – 152 mm Full Wood

CHF 56.00

Hatsukokoro Hayabusa ATS-34 Migaki Kiritsuke 240 mm, Cypress & Horn, front view #handle_cypress & horn

Hatsukokoro Hayabusa ATS-34 Migaki Kiritsuke 240 mm – RH Asymmetric Bevel

From CHF 170.00

Tokushu Knife Honesuki 150mm Nashiji Blue No. 2 with cypress and horn handle, front view #handle_cypress & horn

Tokushu Knife Stainless Clad Blue #2 Nashiji Honesuki 150mm with costom WA Handle

From CHF 113.00

Tokushu Knife White No. 2 iron clad forged finish petty 135mm, Amboyna & Contrast Horn, full knife, front #handle_amboyna & contrast horn

Tokushu Knife Iron Clad White #2 Forged Finish Petty 135mm – Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 94.00

Tokushu Knife White No. 2 iron clad forged finish sujihiki 270mm, full amboyna with contrast, full knife front view #handle_full amboyna with contrast

Tokushu Knife Iron Clad White #2 Forged Finish Sujihiki 270mm – Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 169.00

Tokushu Knife White No. 2 iron clad forged finish Santoku 165 mm, ebony & horn, full knife hero #handle_ebony & horn

Tokushu Knife Iron Clad White #2 Forged Finish Santoku 165mm – Custom Wa Handle

From CHF 113.00