Sakai Kikumori Shironiko Yanagiba 270mm

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.

Best for: Fish

Kitchen Samurai Ease of Use Rating: Precise – Knowledge of the knife and limited use cases