You’ve got me firmly nodding in agreement at least - my first experience of a Jiro provoked much the same reaction, that big sharp intake of breath occurring as it slid through the first product far more easily than I expected. This is a big beast - a 180mm wa nakiri weighing close to 300g - but there’s some spectacular taper towards the front ‘tip’/point and thin, thin, thinness behind the edge. Add in a lovely balance and sublime feel in hand and it‘s a pleasure in use, with far more delicacy and versatility than expected.
It‘s not perfect I’ll admit. There could be a little more convexing - this thing can suffer from a little sticktion and certainly sucks fast to the magrack - and it can occasionally wedge in denser product. I’ll forgive it that given the heft, for no 280g+ plus blade should feel like a laser, and both marginal shortcomings are avoided easily enough with a slight change in technique. I’ll make the effort, for this thing is authoritatIve fun when motoring through piles of veg.
This nakiri’s going nowhere and I’m increasingly tempted by Jiro‘s gyutos. Think the compromises may be more obvious there (and competition fiercer), but I can utterly understand your ’whoa’ moment.