shinyunggyun
Senior Member
Just asking because I never asked before.
But no unicorns(kato, shigs) and no western custom makers please.
But no unicorns(kato, shigs) and no western custom makers please.
Forum favorite Japanese knives?
- Thread starter shinyunggyun
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- Sakai Kikumori SK: Just good, resilient, work-oriented knives that get stuff done.
- Tsunehisa: Good, consistent, volume-production knives with a broad variety of shapes, steels and finishes. Maybe something considered a bit above entry level.
- Akifusa: Quality, consistent, volume production knives. Might not have a sexy pedigree but they are very well done.
- Watanabe Pro line: I hate the origin murkiness that these knives have but they are excellent performers.
- Munetoshi: Have to admit that I'm loving my new 210. A bit of heft but still an excellent slicer. A little F&F sacrifice (nothing not easily remedied) but vey well executed function-forward offering.
- Tsunehisa: Good, consistent, volume-production knives with a broad variety of shapes, steels and finishes. Maybe something considered a bit above entry level.
- Akifusa: Quality, consistent, volume production knives. Might not have a sexy pedigree but they are very well done.
- Watanabe Pro line: I hate the origin murkiness that these knives have but they are excellent performers.
- Munetoshi: Have to admit that I'm loving my new 210. A bit of heft but still an excellent slicer. A little F&F sacrifice (nothing not easily remedied) but vey well executed function-forward offering.
Corradobrit1
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myguidingmoonlight
Senior Member
Big boy knives like Toyama/Watanabe and Teruyasu Fujiwara are mentioned a lot around here.
Yoshikane, Watoyama, Wakui, Kochi, Gengetsu, Konosukeb FM or original Fujiyama, any Takada, probably most Tanaka knives at Hitohira, Kato, Shig.
M1k3
Senior Member
Tosa
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Shihan San
I'm honestly very impressed with my Zakuri Sabaki, nimble little knife with good steel and grind. Probably gonna grab a Funayuki later.
M1k3
Senior Member
Don't forget the highly regarded sharpener in Sakai.
ModRQC
Just shutup n' grabbit!
I like to look at it the other way around... what makers I'd never recommend. J-knives it'd be a rather short list: avoid Global or Shun, take Miyabi with the appropriated grain of salt but they're interesting at least, and without trying I'd put Mac along with Miyabi, in a much more sober way. Then what.... if one's willing to improve them, most of them are rather pretty darn good for the money. Just beware of low-tier factory as a whole but they're still apt to do more to impress a newcomer than their western counterpart for a similar price. Otherwise, not getting too much caught into the high end is also I believe a good caution. North of 400$ USD, at least consider the alternative of a custom maker.
Otherwise I'll agree with most KKF choices, they're hard to avoid, and even harder to call them anything short of pretty ******* good. There's a reason why they're favorites.
K. Tanaka (Matsubara) is so rarely mentionned, or always a latecomer, amongst the much more obvious Tanakas, is all I can really add to this. If not that if I'd have to go really dirt cheap again, I'd buy another Kaji-Bei. I recognize that guy needs to expand a bit on shapes and lenghts, however, if to become a point of interest.
If I just answer the question top of my head, it'd be S. Tanaka and Wakui. They're not the ultimate of anything, just the very best values for different reasons to me, and I'd readily build a complete set of knives just choosing amongst these two and have everything someone needs not just to work, but to shine and have fun. Obviously, with hundred of choices at hand, it's easy to start including... well as I said, just about half of them at least?
Otherwise I'll agree with most KKF choices, they're hard to avoid, and even harder to call them anything short of pretty ******* good. There's a reason why they're favorites.
K. Tanaka (Matsubara) is so rarely mentionned, or always a latecomer, amongst the much more obvious Tanakas, is all I can really add to this. If not that if I'd have to go really dirt cheap again, I'd buy another Kaji-Bei. I recognize that guy needs to expand a bit on shapes and lenghts, however, if to become a point of interest.
If I just answer the question top of my head, it'd be S. Tanaka and Wakui. They're not the ultimate of anything, just the very best values for different reasons to me, and I'd readily build a complete set of knives just choosing amongst these two and have everything someone needs not just to work, but to shine and have fun. Obviously, with hundred of choices at hand, it's easy to start including... well as I said, just about half of them at least?
tostadas
Hobbyist / Craftsman
Yea the Kyohei Shindo had an impressive grind. Fit and finish was poor, but the grind and the steel were very good.
Watoyama, Yoshikane, Myojin. My one TF didn't blow me away but obviously they have their fans. Wakui, S. Tanaka, Ashi, and Mazaki I wouldn't put on quite the same level but nevertheless very good.
I got mine rounded in both choil and spine by Jon, one of the advantage of buying from JKI. The handle is not fancy but really nice in hand, too.
Wakui of course! But the "dry" feeling when you cut with Heiji (Hello there you are) It's just there. And some unicorns of course.
I think the answer would depend on who's doing the answering and who's doing the asking. My favorite Japanese knives would be totally inappropriate for me to give a good friend's kids who are getting married next weekend. Shun or Global would be totally appropriate. And they would be objectively better than the Dalstrong set they registered. The irony is that I've been asked to write an article on pretty much that question.
MowgFace
Senior Member
In my years here there are a few that make appearances consistently:
-Sakai Lasers (Tadatsuna, Ashi/Gesshin Ginga, Konosuke, etc)
-Masamoto KS
-Watanabe/Toyama
-Yoshikane (though a lot of makers have spawned from them)
-Kato
-Shigeki Tanaka
-Heiji
-Gengetsu
-Sakai Lasers (Tadatsuna, Ashi/Gesshin Ginga, Konosuke, etc)
-Masamoto KS
-Watanabe/Toyama
-Yoshikane (though a lot of makers have spawned from them)
-Kato
-Shigeki Tanaka
-Heiji
-Gengetsu
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iimi
Well-Known Member
I think the entirety of gesshin from JKI is pretty highly regarded. Kurosaki brothers are pretty popular with some, I was pretty indifferent about the makoto I had and I like my Wakui and Kato a lot more.
myguidingmoonlight
Senior Member
I have a Heiji on the way, I am very excited to see how these performs!
They are a little rough and probably need some work to become perfect. I haven't the skills to get there yet but I really like them anyway especially the single bevels. Hope you'll enjoy your Heiji!
myguidingmoonlight
Senior Member
It's a Gesshin Heiji so I assume all the usual F&F issues are dealt with
MowgFace
Senior Member
Oh that's great! Good luck!
myguidingmoonlight
Senior Member
Is that a 240? I'm jealous, mine is an oversized 210 Gesshin Heiji.Gesshin Heijis are superb
Polished choil and spine seem a small detail for some, but they go a long way for me regarding enjoyability during usage.
MowgFace
Senior Member
It is! I also have an oversized 210.
Next to. Kochi Migaki
Here is the spine from a Heiji Direct. The edges are broken and eased but square AF.
Next to. Kochi Migaki
Here is the spine from a Heiji Direct. The edges are broken and eased but square AF.
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My Shiba Inu (Koji) is by far my favorite Japanese import.
Can we get a choil shot?
I feel like you could TLDR this with Sanjo, Myojin, Ashi, Y Tanaka. Kato and Shig ofc.
For the stuff that's popular elsewhere but not here: most Takefu knives (Kurosaki, Anryu, Shibata), TF, and Takeda.
For the stuff that's popular elsewhere but not here: most Takefu knives (Kurosaki, Anryu, Shibata), TF, and Takeda.
