Higonokami Carbon steel Black Medium
R420.00
Higonokami – Carbon steel
After the disempowerment of the Samurais in the late 1800’s, blacksmiths lost their main customers and had to resort to manufacturing different types of blades to earn an income. The name of the knife is strongly related to these events. “Higo no Kami” in Japanese means “Lord of Higo”. Higo is the old name of the Kyushu province, where the original knife came from, but “Higo no Kami” is also an aristocratic title historically given to powerful samurai.
A knifemaking guild was formed in 1899 to manufacture Higonokami’s and the Higonokami was trademarked in 1907. Sadly only one blacksmith from the original guild is left – Motosuke Nagao. All Higonokami knives produced outside of the guild are referred to as Higonokami style knives.
The Higonokami charged to success becoming a popular utilitarian pocketknife for craftsmen and school children alike. The very sharp, Sanmai high carbon steel blade was easily sharpened, inexpensive and durable.
This small Japanese folder is one of the oldest knife trademarks still in production, is almost unchanged since its creation and is also one of the most affordable on the market. It is perfect as a gift or as your own Japanese styled pocket knife companion.
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Narihira Saku – Yanagiba 300mm
Narihira
Narihira knives are manufactured by Fuji Cutlery Co., Ltd.
The sister company of Tojiro applies advanced construction techniques and modern materials, combined with high quality Japanese quality control to obtain great knives suitable for chefs, home cooks and professionals at a great price.
Yanagiba
Yanagiba Knife (柳刃包丁 – pronounced: Yanagi-ba Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘willow leaf blade’. The name refers to its blade shape being long, slender in a leaf shape. An alternative name Shobu refers to the Iris shaped leaf in the Kansai region.
The Yanagiba knife is best for slicing raw fish, especially for the preparation of sashimi and nigiri sushi dishes. The thinness and length of the blade profile allow for Japanese pull-cutting techniques. The sharpness of the blade makes it possible to do so in one clean sweep preventing tearing or bruising of the fish. The cut surfaces stay smooth, fresh, shiny and deliver delicate flavours and soft textures.
The Yanagiba’s long, thin and narrow blade allows the user to cut through a fish fillet using just one single long stroke instead of back and forth “sawing”. The weight of the blade is enough to ensure minimum pressure while slicing fresh fish fillets. The Yanagiba has a single-bevel edge allowing it to be extremely sharp. Traditional Japanese knives characteristically have single-bevel edges. Most single-bevel knives are right-handed so if you are left-handed make sure to request.
Type: Traditional
Best for: Fish
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: Precise – Knowledge of the knife and limited use cases
Molybdenum Vanadium Stainless steel:
AUS 8 is a high carbon, low chromium stainless steel that has proven, over time, to be a very good compromise between toughness, strength, edge holding and resistance to corrosion.
It has added Vanadium to give the steel more hardness. This steel is very easy to sharpen to a razor edge but it will dull relatively quickly compared to high-carbon.
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
Sakai Kikumori Nihonko – Petty 125mm
Sakai Kikumori
With a passionate devotion to knife-making as well as working with some of the most skilled craftsman in Japan, Sakai Kikumori has been making cutlery of incredible quality and performance since its inception in 1926.
The Kikumori Nihonko Gyuto is a mono-steel blade made from SK Carbon Steel. SK Rusts slower than other Japanese Carbon Steels such as Aogami and Shirogami and has notable toughness for a blade of HRC 63. The blade is thin and easy to sharpen and will hold edges for respectable periods of time. The handle is a Western Style Handle made from Pakka Wood with a half bolster.
Petty
Petty (Paring/Utility) Knife (ぺティ – pronounced: Petti Naifu). It is said to be derived from French ‘petit’ meaning small or little. The Petty Knife is seen as a small Gyuto making it purposeful for any use in the kitchen.
The petty knife is perfect for smaller working surfaces, cutting smaller sized produce if for users with smaller hands. Its comparison to the Gyuto makes it the ultimate small-sized all-rounder and professional cooks prefer it for its compact size and versatility. It can be used to peel, slice, dice, mince and trim a variety of smaller fruits, vegetables, herbs, garnishes and proteins. It is perfect for light butcher work and delicate tasks such as making precision cuts. The blade profile is well suited for thrust-cutting while the belly allows for rock-cutting.
The Petty knife is generally larger than a Western petty knife. Similar to the Gytuo the Petty knife’s heel to belly is quite flat with a rounded profile to the tip. The sharp, double-bevel edge makes this knife ambidextrous and is the perfect companion in a small kitchen with limited workspace or for users with smaller hands.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Meat, Fish, Herbs, Vegetables
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: All-Rounder – Easy to use and applies to most food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
Yoshida Hamono Blue2 Kurouchi – Nakiri 165mm
Yoshida Hamono is a Family owned company with a rich history of knife and sword manufacturing. They manufacture knives at their workshop in Saga Prefecture, Japan.
The Yoshida Blue 2 range comes at a sharp price for a hand-forged knife. They are nice and thin behind the edge and are very well balanced in hand.
The Yoshida Blue 2 knives have a core steel of Blue 2 Carbon steel cladded in soft iron. Both the core and the iron cladding are reactive Carbon steel. This knife patinas nicely, but extra care is required when using the knife. We recommend that the blade be wiped down regularly during use and washed and dried properly after use. We recommend getting a rust eraser for maintenance.
Using a good cutting technique is very important. Make sure your cutting motion is straight up and down with no lateral movement when hitting the cutting board.
Nakiri
Nakiri Knife (菜切り包丁 – pronounced: Nakiri Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘knife for cutting greens’ or ‘leaf-cutter’. Most Japanese households make use of the Nakiri and in general, it is loved by vegetarians.
The Nakiri’s broad rectangular blade allows for quick and efficient chopping, dicing and mincing of large vegetables. The height of the blade also allows cutting through harder root vegetables with a straight down chopping motion. The Nakiri may also be turned upside down to use the spine of the blade to scrape ingredients across the chopping board without damaging the blade. The blade profile with its straight, flat edge works best when using an up and down chopping motion.
The Nakiri knife has a long, thin, and rectangular-shaped blade with a straight edge, and a flat, blunt tip. The Nakiri’s shape can be mistaken for a cleaver but be warned that it is not made for heavy-duty work like cutting bones or frozen foods. The thinness of the blade also ensures that delicate vegetables can be cleanly cut without ripping the skin, and helps to achieve crisp edges on each slice.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Vegetables
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: Specialist – Easy to use but applies to specific food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
Tojiro Shirogami – Santoku 165mm
Tojiro Knives
Tojiro is one of the few manufactures in Japan that performs all of its manufacturing processes in-house. They choose this path of integrated in-house production, from the careful selection of materials to after sale service. The reason why they are able to deliver high quality lies in their commitment to being directly involved in every aspect of making their knives.
As knives are tools that people directly take into their hands to use, Tojiro values the skills of producers, which are the foundation of manufacturing, and keep a close eye on all processes until each craftsman at TOJIRO is completely satisfied. Our knives that are produced by traditional techniques and modern industrial technology are held in the highest regard not only in Japan, but around the world.
Santoku
Santoku Knife (三徳包丁 – pronounced: Santoku Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘Three Virtues’. Three Virtues refers to the three methods of using a knife namely slicing, dicing and chopping or the three types of fresh produce that is meat, fish and vegetables.
The Santoku’s multi-purpose and versatility nature leads it to be compared with a Western chef’s knife or the Gyuto. As the Three Virtues suggests it’s perfect for chopping, mincing and slicing the three main fresh produces. It excels easily through the fresh produce and creates thin slices of meat, seafood, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. The wide blade is handy for scooping food off the cutting board. The blade profile is well suited for up-and-down motion or using a tap-chop or a push-cut.
The Santoku thin blade is shorter than Western chef’s or Gyuto knives making it lighter, easier to handle and less strenuous for long periods of work. The flatter cutting edge is nearly straight from heel to tip. The Santoku is perfect for users with smaller hands and a bit more limited working space. The double-bevel, thin, sharp edge prioritises finesse instead of power.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Meat, Fish, Vegetables
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: All-Rounder – Easy to use and applies to most food types
Shirogami #2 or White Carbon Steel #2:
Shirogami or White Carbon steel is one of the most pure types of carbon steel. Its made from Iron sand made in Japan.
White Carbon steel is most definitely the easiest steel to sharpen and to achieve an incredible smooth “silky” cutting edge.
These knives do however require special care as they are the most reactive of the carbon steels, after a strong patina has formed on the blade they are less likely to rust.
Knife Specifications
Knife Shape: Santoku
Blade Length: 165mm
Steel Type: Shirogami #2 / White Carbon # 2
Rockwell Hardness: 61:63
Handle Material: Wa (Japanese) Handle
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
Sakai Kikumori Nihonko – Santoku 180mm
Sakai Kikumori
With a passionate devotion to knife-making as well as working with some of the most skilled craftsman in Japan, Sakai Kikumori has been making cutlery of incredible quality and performance since its inception in 1926.
The Kikumori Nihonko Gyuto is a mono-steel blade made from SK Carbon Steel. SK Rusts slower than other Japanese Carbon Steels such as Aogami and Shirogami and has notable toughness for a blade of HRC 63. The blade is thin and easy to sharpen and will hold edges for respectable periods of time. The handle is a Western Style Handle made from Pakka Wood with a half bolster.
Santoku
Santoku Knife (三徳包丁 – pronounced: Santoku Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘Three Virtues’. Three Virtues refers to the three methods of using a knife namely slicing, dicing and chopping or the three types of fresh produce that is meat, fish and vegetables.
The Santoku’s multi-purpose and versatility nature leads it to be compared with a Western chef’s knife or the Gyuto. As the Three Virtues suggests it’s perfect for chopping, mincing and slicing the three main fresh produces. It excels easily through the fresh produce and creates thin slices of meat, seafood, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. The wide blade is handy for scooping food off the cutting board. The blade profile is well suited for up-and-down motion or using a tap-chop or a push-cut.
The Santoku thin blade is shorter than Western chef’s or Gyuto knives making it lighter, easier to handle and less strenuous for long periods of work. The flatter cutting edge is nearly straight from heel to tip. The Santoku is perfect for users with smaller hands and a bit more limited working space. The double-bevel, thin, sharp edge prioritises finesse instead of power.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Meat, Fish, Vegetables
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: All-Rounder – Easy to use and applies to most food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
Tojiro Shirogami Mini Deba 120mm
Tojiro Knives
Tojiro is one of the few manufactures in Japan that performs all of its manufacturing processes in-house. They choose this path of integrated in-house production, from the careful selection of materials to after sale service. The reason why they are able to deliver high quality lies in their commitment to being directly involved in every aspect of making their knives.
As knives are tools that people directly take into their hands to use, Tojiro values the skills of producers, which are the foundation of manufacturing, and keep a close eye on all processes until each craftsman at TOJIRO is completely satisfied. Our knives that are produced by traditional techniques and modern industrial technology are held in the highest regard not only in Japan, but around the world.
Deba
Deba Knife (出刃包丁 – pronounced: Deba Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘pointed carving knife’. The Deba is not a carving knife though but rather a ‘carver’ of fish and mainly applied to breaking down whole fish.
The Deba Knife is traditionally used for cleaning, filleting and beheading whole fish but the sturdy blade and heavier weight allows it to break down other meats and poultries with small bones but is not suited for cutting through thick bones. Like with most Traditional Japanese knives the Deba is best designed for a single or specific purpose, fish filleting.
The Deba knife is a heavy, robust knife featuring a thick, wide blade with a pointed tip. The thick blade and heavyweight on the heel allow for heavier duty work while the middle of the blade creates clean cuts. The pointed tip is used for precision work and helps you to feel the bones of the fish when filleting. The Deba has a single-bevel edge allowing it to be extremely sharp. Traditional Japanese knives characteristically have single-bevel edges. Most single-bevel knives are right-handed so if you are left-handed make sure to request.
Type: Traditional
Best for: Fish
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: Precise – Knowledge of the knife and limited use cases
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
RYUTOKU Nakiri 160mm
RYUTOKU
RYUTOKU knives are manufactured by Fuji Cutlery Co., Ltd. The sister company of Tojiro applies advanced construction techniques and modern materials, combined with high quality Japanese quality control to produce great knives suitable for chefs, home cooks and professionals at a great price.
Please note: These knives are more suited for home use rather than in a professional environment.
Nakiri
Nakiri Knife (菜切り包丁 – pronounced: Nakiri Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘knife for cutting greens’ or ‘leaf-cutter’. Most Japanese households make use of the Nakiri and in general, it is loved by vegetarians.
The Nakiri’s broad rectangular blade allows for quick and efficient chopping, dicing and mincing of large vegetables. The height of the blade also allows cutting through harder root vegetables with a straight down chopping motion. The Nakiri may also be turned upside down to use the spine of the blade to scrape ingredients across the chopping board without damaging the blade. The blade profile with its straight, flat edge works best when using an up and down chopping motion.
The Nakiri knife has a long, thin, and rectangular-shaped blade with a straight edge, and a flat, blunt tip. The Nakiri’s shape can be mistaken for a cleaver but be warned that it is not made for heavy-duty work like cutting bones or frozen foods. The thinness of the blade also ensures that delicate vegetables can be cleanly cut without ripping the skin, and helps to achieve crisp edges on each slice.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Vegetables
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: Specialist – Easy to use but applies to specific food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
Sakai Kikumori NDH AUS10 – Sujihiki 240mm
Sakai Kikumori
With a passionate devotion to knife-making as well as working with some of the most skilled craftsman in Japan, Sakai Kikumori has been making cutlery of incredible quality and performance since its inception in 1926.
The Sakai Kikumori NDH series is constructed using a core steel of AUS-10, a stainless steel with a high carbon content that is easy to sharpen and will hold a sharper edge for longer periods of time. AUS-10 is hard yet flexible making it a good compromise between edge retention and durability. The core steel is cladded in softer stainless steel with a hammered and Damascus finish. The handle is a Dark Oak Octagonal shape.
Sujihiki
Sujihiki Knife (筋引き出刃 – pronounced: Sujihiki Bōchō) literally translated from Japanese means ‘flesh slicer’. The name insinuates that it is perfect for slicing or carving meat which it was designed for initially. This is a composite between a Yanagiba and a Western-style carving knife.
The Sujihiki’s long, double bevelled blade allows for pull cutting in one clean motion using the blade from heel to tip. The length of the blade is perfect to cut up, carve or even butcher small to medium size animals or cuts of meat. The Sujihiki is also perfect for trimming sinew and fat from meat and filleting and skinning fish.
The Sujihiki has a relatively long and narrow blade with an acute edge angle with a narrow heel height. These components reduce the effort to cut through ingredients. For this reason, it is best to use a blade that is as long as your workspace will allow. The combination of cutting technique, acute blade angle, and sharp edge result in very little cellular damage in the cut surface.
Type: Western Style
Best for: Meat, Fish
Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: Specialist – Easy to use but applies to specific food types
Care Instructions
- Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. Dishwashers are very bad for all knives.
- Use a soft cloth to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers and powders as these can damage the finish of your beautiful knife.
- Do not cut through bones. You can certainly cut along/beside bones, but do not cut into bones. This can, at worst, chip the blade.
- Never use this knife to cut frozen food.
- Never twist or cleave the blade.
- Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board. Never cut on bamboo, glass, marble, slate, a plate, china, marble, arborite or anything harder than steel.
- Store knives in a way that the blades will not knock into each other.
- Never transport knives unprotected.
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