Shogo K. Masamoto VG vs Misono UX10: Which Japanese Gyuto Deserves Your Money? Two names come up constantly when serious home cooks start researching high-quality Japanese knives: Masamoto VG and Misono UX10. Both are made in Japan, both are respected by professionals, and both sit in a similar price bracket. Yet they’re genuinely different knives built around … Read more
The Best Tojiro Knives in 2024: Tested & Ranked by a Japan-Based Enthusiast Tojiro is one of those brands that comes up every single time someone asks about affordable, high-quality Japanese knives. And for good reason. Based in Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata — a region I’ve personally visited and walked through the workshops of — Tojiro has … Read more
The Best Petty Knife for Every Kitchen: 7 Top Picks Tested and Reviewed The petty knife is the unsung hero of the Japanese kitchen. Smaller than a gyuto but far more versatile than a paring knife, it sits in that sweet spot that Western kitchens rarely acknowledge — until you use one and wonder how … Read more
Best Miyabi Knife in 2025: 7 Top Picks Reviewed by a Japan-Based Enthusiast Miyabi knives occupy a fascinating middle ground in the Japanese knife world — they’re made in Seki, Japan’s cutlery capital, yet owned by German giant Zwilling J.A. Henckels. The result is a line that blends Teutonic engineering precision with authentic Japanese craftsmanship. … Read more
Best Fujiwara Knife: 7 Top Picks Tested & Reviewed (2024) Fujiwara knives occupy a fascinating sweet spot in the Japanese knife world — serious enough for professional chefs, accessible enough for ambitious home cooks, and priced fairly enough that you don’t need to remortgage your kitchen. Whether you’re looking at the entry-level FKM series or … Read more
Best Deba Knife: 7 Top Picks Tested by a Japan-Based Enthusiast The deba knife is one of Japan’s most specialized and misunderstood blades. Built specifically for breaking down whole fish — from removing heads to filleting — a quality deba can transform a frustrating, messy task into something almost meditative. After years of testing knives … Read more
Best Japanese Chef Knife in 2025: 7 Picks From a Japan-Based Knife Obsessive There’s a moment every serious cook experiences — the first time a truly great Japanese chef knife glides through a ripe tomato without any pressure at all. No sawing. No squishing. Just clean, effortless contact. That moment ruined me for ordinary knives … Read more