Top 8 Best Japanese Kitchen Knives Reviews & Buying Guide

Japanese knives are renowned for their beauty, specific design, and incredible cutting abilities. They’re razor-sharp, clear, and last for a long time. That is why professional chef prefers this over other kitchen knives. If you’re looking for a truly unique kitchen knife for slicing, chopping, or dicing, meat, fruits, or other types of food, the best Japanese kitchen knives will not disappoint.

You may have trouble narrowing your search for the best Japanese knife because there are so many available. A good Japanese knife is lightweight, comfortable to hold, razor-sharp, strong, and simple to sharpen. We’ve compiled a ranking of the top eight Japanese knives that you should never overlook.

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Review: Best Japanese Kitchen Knife

Let’s see what you’re paying for

1. Shun Classic 8″ Chef’s Japanese Knife

Shun Classic 8” Chef’s Knife

Shun Classic 8″ Chef’s Japanese Knife

Quick specs:

  • Blade size: 8 inch
  • Material: High carbon stainless Steel
  • Weight: 7.13 ounces
  • Color: Black

You’ll never want to go back once you’ve got this sleek new Japanese knife with all the most current features. The Knife is a multi-purpose blade that is well-suited for a variety of cutting tasks.

It is a perfect blend of antiquity blade-making teachings and cutting-edge innovation, handcrafted in Japan by highly skilled specialists. The blade’s size and width make it the perfect tool for preparing nutrients, fruits and veggies, and other foods. It’s an attractive addition to your modern-style home, so grab one now before they’re gone! Click here to know how many types of knives for kitchen use.

Let’s look at its features.

Features:

VG MAX Steel –

A proprietary high carbon stainless steel that provides incredible edge retention and superior corrosion resistance.

IMPRESSIVE LAYOUT –

Shun’s Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife is a strong technical knife. You can easily chop, slice, snip, and mince with the razor-sharp blade.

RAZOR SHARP BLADE –

The incredible razor-sharpness Japanese knives was made in Seki City, Japan’s 700-year-old samurai sword capital. Shun knives have a rust-resistant “ripple” Damascus finish forged from 34 layers of steel on every side. The versatile, stick-resistant blade is stamped, then hand-ground, and refined to an exceptional 16-degree angle.

EDGE RETENTION AND DURABILITY-

Whenever it gets down to it, the Knife is among the sharpest knives available; due to its exceptional hardenability, it retains its edge for an extended period and does not require sharpening. It should be capable of slicing through any material, including meat, vegetables, herbs, and everything in between.

EASY TO HOLD –

Ergonomic PakkaWood handle with a full tang and triple rivets for security.

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Incredibly sharp
  • Excellent edge stability
  • Perfect for a wide range of tasks
  • Excellent edge stability
  • The handle is comfortable to hold
  • Excellent edge stability
  • Rustproof

Cons

  • Technically, the handle is made for right-handed people.

  • When possible, keep it dry – it’s not completely rustproof.

2. Global 8″ Chef’s Knife

Global 8 Chef's Knife

Global 8″ Chef’s Knife

Quick specs:

  • Blade size: 8 inch
  • Handle Material: High carbon stainless Steel
  • Weight: 7.8 ounces
  • Warranty Description: Lifetime Warranty

Global is a highly respected brand in the kitchenware industry. When Japanese knives first appeared on the culinary scene to replace traditional European cutlery, they sparked controversy!

The 8″ Chef’s Knife features full quality products with unique designs that are sure not only help you cook more creatively but provide lasting beauty for any home or professional setting too. I am positive this will be one of your most prized possessions, so make sure not to miss out by grabbing it now !!!

Let me show some features:

Features:

BALANCED 8-INCH CHEF’S KNIFE –

The Global 8 inch Chef’s Knife is the perfect Knife for chopping, mincing, slicing, dicing, and more. Its weight is evenly distributed, making it simple to use. Use for extended periods without fatigue or discomfort.

MADE OF HIGH TECH MOLYBDENUM/VANADIUM STAINLESS STEEL –

This high-quality material provides excellent sharpness and edge retention.

ERGONOMIC HANDLE –

The handle has been ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in your hand, making it easier to use for extended periods without fatigue or discomfort.

HAND-FINISHED RAZOR SHARP EDGE –

The blade is hand finished with a razor-sharp edge that will not rust, stain or discolor foods while remaining dishwasher safe for easy cleaning after use.

WARRANTY- Amazon offers a Lifetime Warranty against flaws and damages for this product.

Pros

  • Sharper than a normal knife for a longer time.
  • Its balanced weight makes it manageable.
  • The ergonomic handle is very comfortable to hold.
  • Worldwide shipping
  • A superb sharpness
  • Lifetime Warranty

Cons


  • Some customers complain that the blades don’t retain an edge and are uncomfortable to hold.
  • It’s not suitable for a professional kitchen.

3. Miyabi Chef’s Knife Birch/Stainless Steel

Miyabi Chef's Knife

Miyabi Chef’s Knife Birch/Stainless Steel

Quick specs:

  • Blade size: 8 inch
  • Blade Material: Alloy Steel
  • Weight: 1.18 Pounds
  • Colour: Birch/Stainless Steel

If you’re searching for cost-efficient, fabulous kitchen Japanese knives, the Miyabi Chef’s Knife is a perfect way to start. Its use in culinary arts has popularized this means of cutlery and cooking shows on television worldwide because it looks good and is functional! It also comes with a one-of-a-kind floral pattern that’ll make your food prep skills stand out even more than before – who doesn’t want that?

Let’s look at its features.

Features:

G2 MICRO CARBIDE POWDER STEEL –

The Miyabi G2, micro carbide powder steel, is a proprietary high-carbon stainless steel developed by Hitachi Metals Ltd. and the same material used in the manufacturing of surgical blades, industrial cutting tools, and even Samurai swords!

AUTHENTIC BESTJAPANESE PROFILE –

The Miyabi Chef’s Knife has an authentic thin and best Japanese blade profile hand-honed to 9.5 to 12-degree edge on each side, making this Knife perfect not only in terms of tallie but also for cutting fish fillets, slicing vegetables, dicing onions, or any other food preparation task you have at hand!

SHARPNESS-

The Knife is made of high-quality steel and has a razor-sharp edge that will hold up through everyday use.

BEAUTIFUL DESIGN –

The Miyabi Birch/Stainless Steel Chef’s Knife has a beautiful Damascus pattern with a katana edge, created through the 101 layers of steel in its blade to form this remarkable floral design.

ERGONOMIC HANDLE –

The handle was ergonomically shaped to have complete comfort while using their new favorite kitchen tool.

Pros

  • Full tang
  • The 9.5-12 degree cutting edge
  • Made of SG2 higher quality steel
  • 100 strong steel layers
  • Produced in Japanl

Cons

  • Compared to others, this Knife is heavier.
  • The cost is higher.

4. DALSTRONG Nakiri Knife

DALSTRONG Nakiri Knife

DALSTRO NG Nakiri Knife

Quick specs:

  • Blade size: 6 inch
  • Blade Material: High Carbon Steel
  • Weight: 1.37 Pounds
  • Handle Material: Pakkawood

The Dalstrong Nakiri knife is a powerhouse of the blade that will be perfect for any kitchen. It has been designed with an incredibly sharp edge, which means you can cut through any ingredient without much effort–and its handle made from the best Japanese pakkawood only makes it more beautiful!

Check out the following features.

Features:

POWERHOUSE KNIFE –

The Dalstrong Nakiri knife is a powerhouse of a blade that will be the perfect addition to your kitchen. It has been designed with an incredibly sharp edge, which means it can cut through any ingredient without much effort.

ULTRA SHARP –

The Dalstrong Nakiri Knife has an incredibly sharp edge that can cut through any ingredient with ease. The edge is rigorously sharpened by hand to 14-16 degrees on each side, ensuring the optimal mix of the blade edge and optimum resistance.

WEAR RESISTANT –

The blade of this Knife has been ice tempered, which gives it incredible strength and durability. It’s perfect for use in both professional and home kitchens alike!

RIGHT AND LEFT-HAND USE-

This makes it suitable for use by both right-handed and left-handed chefs alike.

ERGONOMIC HANDLE-

Its design is optimized for comfort, stability, and mobility.

WARRANTY-

Amazon gives a 100% Gratification OR Cash Back Guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

Pros

  • An extremely sharp edge
  • The handle is easy to use
  • Steel construction in Japan
  • Logos on the blade and handle are exquisitely carved.
  • Long-lasting construction

Cons

  • Extremely costly
  • This Knife is only for cutting vegetables.

5. Shun Cutlery Premier Chef’s Knife

Shun Classic 8” Chef’s Knife

Shun Cutlery Premier Chef’s Knife

Quick specs:

  • Blade size: 8 inch
  • Blade Material: High carbon stainless Steel
  • Weight: 7.7 ounces
  • Handle Material: Walnut color Pakkawood

The best Japanese kitchen knife is the best choice if you want an overall good quality and attractive-looking set. It’s comfortable to use so that it will be perfect for home cooks just starting or those with old knives already in their collection! I think it will be a hit with all householders, young couples, and others. Why are you trying it?

Let’s look at its features.

Features:

RAZOR-SHARP EDGE BLADE –

This Shun Premier Chef’s Knife is designed for comfort and ease of use. The razor-sharp edge blade cuts through food with precision, accuracy, and Each side has 34 layers of Damascus cladding on a powerful VG-MAX cutting core.

EXTREMELY CONVENIENT TO USE –

The contoured handle fits comfortably in your hand, making it extremely easy to use. It’s also light, making it easier to handle when chopping or slicing foods.

WALNUT-COLORED PAKKAWOOD HANDLE –

Walnut trees are known to live long lives and grow slowly. The wood from these trees has an attractive grain pattern and rich color that make it perfect for creating beautiful Shun knives.

PREMIER CUTLERY –

Forged from a single piece of the highest-quality best Japanese high carbon stainless steel, this Knife is precision-sharpened to a sharp edge that can retain its sharpness longer than other knives. The blade’s edge is also thicker and wider at the heel than at the tip for optimal strength and durability.

PREMIUM HANDLE –

The handle has been ergonomically designed for comfort and balance with traditional best Japanese styling. It features a pakkawood (Resin impregnated hardwood) handle, which gives it a unique look and feels compared to other materials like stainless steel or wood.

Pros

  • Extremely thin and light Knife
  • Stunning appearance
  • Razor-sharp
  • Dragging is extremely unlikely.

  • When it comes to cutting, nothing beats this tsuchime-finished blade.
  • The Pakkawood handle is comfortable to hold.

Cons


  • The item is more costly than similar items in the same category.
  • After a while, the blades may get dull.

6. Zelite Infinity Nakiri Chef Knife

Zelite Infinity Nakiri Chef Knife 6 Inch

Zelite Infinity Nakiri Chef Knife

Quick specs:

  • Blade size: 6 inch
  • Blade Material: High carbon Stainless Steel
  • Weight: 1.28 pounds
  • Color: Black

You will never own a more multi-functional Chinese Style Chef’s Knife! It’s incredibly easy to control and handle. So it’s perfect for home cooks who are just starting or those with old knives already in their collection!

You get Sharpness, Edge Retention PLUS Stain/Rust Resistance, which means less time prepping vegetables before cutting into them, giving your family more quality meals together as they await the food’s arrival at the table–and all this without having an arsenal of kitchen tools are handy. Why try anything else?

Let’s look at its features.

Features:

PREMIUM JAPANESE STEEL –

The Chef Knife is made from AUS10 Super Steel, a high carbon stainless steel with 67-layers of Stainless Steel bonded together with carbon. It has excellent edge retention and also stains and rust resistance, allowing you to cut everything from vegetables to flesh with modest kitchen prep time. You’ll get more time to spend with your loved ones as well.

IMPRESSIVE! VEGETABLE KNIFE PREP –

Whether you’re shredding iceberg lettuce for tacos, cubing tomatoes, or slicing veggies or celery with seamless buttery smoothness, this is the tool for you.

IMPRESSIVE TRIPLE RIVETED, ROUNDED GRIP –

A Top Military Grade G10 Black Grip is Triple Riveted to the Proven false Full Tang for Special Strength & Reliability and is Slickly Adorned with the Zelite Infinity Classic 3-Metal Mosaic Rivet. Handles are ergonomically designed and -ROUNDED- for a comfortable and secure hand!

PREMIER RAZOR ULTRA SHARP –

The chef Knife is an Asian-style knife with a razor-sharp blade that will cut through anything with ease. The Chef Knife has been hand finished using the traditional three steps Honbazuke Method, ensuring the blade is perfectly aligned and honed to an incredible 12-degree angle per side. It ensures the effortless slicing of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit.

Pros


  • Ultra sharp, long-lasting blade

  • German steel of exceptional quality
  • The display case is included.
  • Extremely fine-tuned design

Cons

  • Possibility of storage difficulties

7. Global G-2-8″ Chef’s Knife with Custom Engraving

Global G-2-8 knife

Global G-2-8″ Chef’s Knife with Custom Engraving

Quick specs:

  • Blade size: 8 inch
  • Blade Material: Alloy Steel
  • Construction Type: Forged
  • Handle Material: Alloy Steel

Global Japanese knives are known worldwide for their high quality, and they have something about them that sets them apart from everyone else. You can feel it in your hand when you hold one of these magnificent tools: That feeling is what makes Global unique!

The stainless steel edge provides superior durability, which means less money spent on replacing blades; plus with its ultra sharp will ensure quality results every time – giving us all an opportunity at saving some cash too!.

Let’s take a closer look.

Features:

STAMPED BLADE –

Global knives are made from high carbon steel, hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 60. That means the blade will stay ultra sharp longer and is less likely to chip or break when dropped on a hard surface.

ERGONOMIC HANDLE –

The G-2’s handle has been curved to fit comfortably in your hand while you’re working away at your next masterpiece! Made from polypropylene, it provides the perfect balance between comfort.

AMAZING STABILITY-

Global knives are made of high-quality components and are designed to last longevity. The length of time our customers’ knives stay ultra sharp has astounded them!

BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED –

This Knife is designed to be comfortable in your hand and easy to use for all of your slicing needs. It features a wide blade for easy chopping, rocking motion for mincing, and a pointed tip for precision cutting. Our customers love this chef Knife!

Pros


  • Weight balance makes it manageable.
  • Longer lasting than a regular knife.
  • The contoured handle provides excellent grip.

Cons

  • Some users say the blades lose their sharpness quickly and are difficult to hold.

8. Yoshihiro VG-10 16 Layer Hammered Damascus Stainless

Yoshihiro VG-10 16 Layer Hammered Damascus Stainless Steel Nakiri Vegetable Knife

Yoshihiro VG-10 16 Layer Hammered Damascus Stainless

Quick specs:

  • Blade size: 6.5 inch
  • Blade Material: Alloy Steel, stainless steel
  • Weight: 6.6 ounces
  • Handle Material: Wood

The best Japanese vegetable knife called a Nakiri knife is among the most famous knives available today. The Nakiri is a Japanese knife with a smooth ultra sharp end and two edges.

Preparing delectable meals begins with healthful foods and the greatest tools, including a high-quality chef’s Knife, to transform each meal into something unique. Even the most basic activities enhance with a handmade chef knife that is both beautiful and functional.

So, let’s learn more about this great Knife.

Features:

FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP-

Yoshihiro is a family-owned and operated company in Japan that has been handcrafting knives for over 400 years.

MADE OF HIGH-QUALITY VG-10 STEEL –

This blade is made of high-quality and the best Japanese steel, forged and hammered to create a unique pattern on the blade. The hammered surface creates extra friction between food and the Knife, preventing it from sticking to the blade while you cut.

As a result, the cut is cleaner, and there’s less of a chance that vegetable knife will still be stuck together by a thread after slashing.

SUPERB HANDLE MATERIAL-

The handle material is made of superb Mahogany wood grip with a wide tang for a well-balanced, beautiful mosaic pin pattern that looks great and feels comfortable in your hand.

INCREDIBLE SHARPNESS-

The blade is made of high-quality steel, which has been hammered into 16 layers to increase hardness and durability. It is hand sharpened by master craftsmen to ensure a razor-sharp edge that will last for years.

EASY TO HANDLE –

This Knife is simple to use. It’s lightweight and comfortable in your hand, making it easy to chop or slice without tiring or straining your wrist or arm muscles.

Pros

  • Quality at a reasonable price
  • Stainless Steel Core VG-10 (HRC 60)
  • 16 layers of Damascus steel hammered together
  • Handle made of premium mahogany wood
  • For superb balance, it’s fully tanged.
  • Hand-forged and produced in Japan

Cons

  • This Yoshihiro Knife is made of high carbon steel with stainless steel layers; it may rust due to its high carbon content. Ensure it’s perfectly dry after each wash. It consists of layers of carbon-based steel and stainless. It may rust due to the high carbon content. As a result, it’s wise to keep it dry after use.

Buying Guide: Best Japanese Kitchen Knife

When you fix your mind to purchase Japanese knives, keep the following points in mind to get the best Japanese kitchen knife easily.

Type of Knife

Today, three distinct styles of Japanese knives are in use: honyaki, Kasumi, and san mai. Honyaki is forged from one solid piece of steel, so it’s very strong but hard to sharpen. Kasumi is made by combining two kinds of steel; soft iron and hard carbon steel.

The hard steel is forged to the blade very carefully, making a hard edge and easy to break. San mai uses three kinds of steel; soft iron, hard carbon, and stainless. It makes the blade to be more flexible and strong but also hard to break from impact.

The steel type

This one is also very important when looking for the best Japanese knife. Japanese knives are made of three different types of steel: carbon steel, stainless steel, and semi-stainless steel.

Carbon Steel contains 1.5%-1.8% of carbon; higher than stainless (0.08%-1.00%). It makes the blade harder and stronger but also makes it more prone to rusting and stains. Carbon steel is also easier to break than other types if it’s not used properly.

Stainless Steel contains 10.5%-13.5% of carbon and chromium, so it’s harder than carbon steel and much more rust-resistant. However, it’s not as ultra sharp as carbon steel when they are new because the edges on stainless steel knives need to be polished to get that sharpness and edge retention capability.

Semi-Stainless contains 1%-1.5% of chromium, making it harder to rust and not as sharp as pure stainless steel. Since it has 1%-1.5% carbon, it can be sharpened much easier than stainless steel and holds the edge longer.

Shape and Size

When searching for the best Japanese knife, it’s another essential aspect to consider. When you go to a kitchen knife shop, check the display case and see what kind of knives they have. Try holding them to feel their weight and balance in your hand.

Your budget

This one is pretty obvious. If you’re looking for a long-lasting knife, you need to spend quite a lot on it. The price range for Japanese knives, forged and stamped, has many categories, from cheap ones for amateur cooks to high-end ones used by professional chefs.

Wrap it up!

Japanese knives are a kitchen essential. They can use for slicing, chopping, and dicing vegetables, meat, fruits, and other foods with ease. But which one is the best? Hope this article helps you pick out your next Knife! So, pick The Japanese knives to suit your different needs.

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