The Best Japanese Knives Of 2022

We looked at several factors to decide which Japanese knives are best. Personal accounts detailing the experience with a product were considered. Press reviews — whether of a brand or a specific knife — were taken into account as well. General popularity also played a part in our decision-making: If a knife has never been bought online before, we think something's fishy. Most importantly, we considered the features of the knife and how well these help to achieve certain functions.

The type of Japanese knife was also considered. For your benefit, we selected popular versions of the gyutou (Japan's take on the Western chef's knife) and the santoku (a multipurpose kitchen tool), per Chubo Knives. But we also included nakiri, deba, yanagiba, pankiri, and other types of Japanese cutlery in our selections.

We contemplated each knife's bevel (the part where the tool is ground to the point) because Japanese knives sometimes have less of those than Western ones (via Kamikoto). We examined steel types because those can vary in quality. We appraised the hardness on the Rockwell scale (HRC) since Japanese knives have a higher HRC than most Western knives. We looked at knife angles because Japanese knives should have blades angled at less than 20 degrees (via Chef's Choice). We also studied the shape and material of each knife's handle, since these should be usually light, in an octagonal D-shape, and made of wood (via Oriental Souls). Read on to discover our selected products.

For an affordable option, check out Imarku's 8-inch Japanese Chef's Knife. It is popular on Amazon, where it has over 10,000 reviews. It is the No. 1 best-selling product among other gyutou knives — the Japanese version of the Western chef's knife (via Amazon). Buyers were mostly pleased with this product, giving it an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. Reviewers remarked that it's a "great affordable all-purpose knife," and that it has "great value."

Still, you sacrifice some quality indicators by going with this cheaper option. For one, this product is made in China, not Japan. Even though the company's website explains that Imarku has multiple manufacturing sites — including one in Japan — Amazon tells us that this specific knife is made in China. This checks out, as Imarku also has a manufacturing headquarters in Yangjiang, China. In addition, this knife is made with German steel. While being made in China with German steel isn't necessarily going to give you a bad Japanese knife, it may be a less authentic one.

Despite these downsides, it still has some good statistics backing it up. This knife has a hardness factor of between 56 and 58, and its handle is made with pakkawood, a traditional material used for Japanese knives (via Santoku Knives). 

You can buy Imarku's 8-inch Japanese Chef's Knife on Amazon for $39.99 as of October 2022.

The gyutou, or gyuto, is the Japanese version of the Western chef's knife. Whatever the spelling you use, the name translates to "cow sword," according to MTC Kitchen. Despite the name, it's not a butcher's knife but instead a multi-purpose tool. If you were collecting a new set of Japanese knives for your home, you would start by getting a gyutou. You can use it to do just about anything. If you're looking for one, go with Tojiro's VG10 Clad Steel with Bolster Chef Knife.

We picked this one because Tojiro is one of the most well-known names in the Japanese cutlery industry. Its history dates back to the 1950s, per the company. But traditional sword-making techniques — such as in the construction of weapons called the "katana" — still influence Tojiro's cutlery today. Tojiro's knives are handcrafted in Japan, in the city of Tsubame, which is known for metal production.

This particular gyutou — the model number is FBA-F-808 — is Tojiro's flagship model. Per Tojiro, it is reinforced with a handle bolster, has a versatile double bevel, and is made with VG10 and 13-chrome stainless steel. It also won two awards in 1996. On Amazon, it's been reviewed over 1,300 times, receiving an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. One customer even called Tojiro's product "the best possible option for a gyutou at the price paid."

You can buy Tojiro's 8.2-inch gyutou knife on Amazon for $99.95 as of October 2022.

When shopping for a new knife, many look to add a paring knife to their toolkit for smaller tasks. For the Japanese version of the paring knife, look for a petty knife. Along with paring knives, petty knives are also compared to utility knives (via Cooks Illustrated). All of these knives are thin, short, and small, per Knives Academy. If you're looking for a petty knife, we recommend this one from the brand Yoshihiro.

Yoshihiro's Hammered Damascus Petty Knife (model number HDPE135) is a quality piece of Japanese cutlery. It has a hardness score of 60, meaning it's going to maintain sharpness and be resistant to damage (via FNSharp). The blade is made with ultra-strong VG-10 stainless steel as well as 16-layer hammered Damascus. That means you're going to get a lovely pattern as well as a super-strong blade. According to the company, the Damascus layer also helps to reduce friction and prevent food from sticking. Yoshihiro's petty knife is also double-edged, meaning it has two bevels. This makes it similar to Western knives and versatile for many chefs, regardless of whether they are right-handed or left-handed.

On Amazon, this product has been reviewed over 400 times, receiving an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Many people said they used it for cutting vegetables, remarking that Yoshihiro's product was excellent at slicing onions, making a slaw, or cutting up peppers.

You can buy Yoshihiro's petty knife on Amazon for $109.99 as of October 2022.

Yanagiba knives are a type of Japanese sushi knife often used to slice boneless pieces of fish (via Japanese Chef's Knife). They are recognizable for having long blades that allow users to cut through fish in one smooth motion. Yanagiba — or yanagi, as they are sometimes called — translates to "willow-leaf blade." This term represents the slim look of this knife. For shoppers, we recommend the Masahiro's yanagiba.

According to Hocho Knife, Masahiro is an established knife manufacturer operating out of the knife cutlery epicenter of Japan: Seki City. This particular knife has a hardness between 58 and 59 on the Rockwell scale, is made of stainless steel, and comes with a laminated handle that's built to prevent bacteria spread. Its blade is 9.4 inches long, with a total knife length of 18.11 inches. This yanagiba is made for right-handed people only, meaning it is a single-bevel tool.

On Amazon, this product is less popular than other knives. But it still has good reviews, receiving an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. According to some users, this knife is extremely sharp and lightweight. Others remarked that it held up for use in professional kitchens. "After 3 months of use in a busy sushi bar, this knife deserves some recognition. I thought the blade looked a little too shiny at first, but underneath the factory gloss is no-nonsense steel," one online shopper wrote.

You can buy Masahiro's right-handed yanagiba knife on Amazon for $93.63 as of October 2022.

Usuba knives, like nakiri knives, are Japanese cutlery used to prepare vegetables. Per The Japanese Bar, the term "usuba" translates to "thin blade." This extra-sharp edge is achieved, in part, by an usuba's single bevel, which reaches halfway up the blade. As Korin explains, the sharpness of an usuba knife prevents vegetables from losing their coloring or flavor. If this sounds useful to you, check out Yoshihiro's usuba.

You can trust knives made by Yoshihiro, which has about a century of experience and has gathered a reputation for quality. As YuiSenri explains, Yoshihiro is one of the foremost manufacturers of well-made knives in Japan. Many Reddit users recommended the company from personal experience with Yoshihiro's products as well. "I think they're great knives for someone who wants to dip a foot into Japanese knives," one Reddit user said. "They stay super sharp for a long time," another person said of Yoshihiro's cutlery products.

On Amazon, users appreciated Yoshihiro's usuba knife. Customers gave the product an average rating of 4.8 out of 5, from more than 190 reviews. This particular knife has admirable features, including 46 layers of hammered Damascus steel, a VG-10 steel core, a hardness factor (HRC) of 60, and a traditional, octagonal-shaped handle made of shitan rosewood. It also comes with a Saya cover (a sheath used to protect a knife's blade).

You can buy Yoshihiro's usuba knife on Amazon for $179.99 as of October 2022.

Honesuki knives are a type of boning knife. As Chubo Knives explains, these Japanese tools are more triangular and stiff than their Western counterparts. You can use them for deboning poultry. There is usually more of an asymmetrical grind, making it similar to a single-bevel knife. For an excellent Japanese honesuki, look toward Misono.

We recommend Misono's honesuki knife (model number 541) from the brand's molybdenum steel series. This is one of Misono's most affordable lines, but knives within this category are still well-reviewed and use admirable materials. This particular honesuki knife has an asymmetrical 70/30 grind (for left-handed folks) and a 57 hardness factor (HRC). It is made with high-carbon stainless steel and has a pakkawood handle. In addition, this is a full-tang knife, meaning that the blade runs through the length of the handle (via Gear Patrol). Full-tang knives are preferable to some because they can be more balanced. However, they can also be heavier and more expensive than partial-tang knives.

On Amazon, there are not many reviews, but existing ones are positive. Some people liked the weightiness provided by this full-tang honesuki. "With some practice, you can almost wave it like a wand at whole chicken and scare them into an eight piece dinner," one customer said. Other people appreciated the sharpness. "Be super careful, this knife is no joke. It's ultra-sharp and robust," another person wrote.

You can buy Misono's honesuki knife on Amazon for $86.48 as of October 2022.

With Japanese cooking, it's not all fish and vegetables. A pankiri is simply a large serrated knife used for slicing bread. According to HDMD Knives, "pan" means bread, and "kiri" means slicer — so you can see how the name came about. These knives can also be used on soft fruits and vegetables. For an excellent pankiri knife, check out Kasumi's bread knife.

This serrated knife comes with a 10-inch blade, double-beveled grind, Damascus-clad steel, an asymmetrical handle, and a full tang. It's also authentic. This Kasumi product was produced at the Sumikama Cutlery in Seki, Japan. On Amazon, it's flying under the radar. But the few who've checked it out so far are liking it. "I am VERY glad I bought this knife ... If you can afford it, do not compromise. It is worth it," one person wrote. Another said it was great for slicing crusty artisan sourdough bread. "This knife just pressed right through the loaf with ease," they said.

You can buy Kasumi's 10-inch bread knife on Amazon for $148.49 as of October 2022.