🔪 🇯🇵Yanagiba Shirogami knife with a 21cm blade is a long and slender traditional Japanese knife. Yanagiba knives were designed for slicing raw fish into thin slices (perfect for sushi enthusiasts), as well as for slicing large pieces of meat (such as steaks). This is a single-beveled knife, which means they can only be used by right-handed people. Although we usually see Yanagiba knives used only in sushi and Japanese restaurants, there is a growing trend among home cooks to own these beauties for sushi or barbecue parties on weekends. ⚡️

The blade of this knife is made from Hitachi White Steel 2 (white paper), also known as Shirogami 2, which is hardened to about 61-62 HRC.

❗ Since the steel does not contain chromium, patina may form on the blade during use. However, the main advantage of this steel is that it has a very thin, soft sharpness, is easily sharpened, and stays sharp for a very long time. Ballistol oil is recommended for maintaining such blades.

🚩 The blade is protected by a thin anti-corrosion oil coating, which protects it from rust and scratches even before it reaches the hands of its owner. Therefore, wash the knife carefully before first use to remove this thin protective layer.

The craftsmen at Osaka Hamono equipped the Japanese (wa) handle with a plastic ferrule. The handle is made from the most commonly used wood for traditional Japanese knives handles - magnolia wood. Magnolia wood is a soft, light-colored wood that requires extra care because it easily gets stained, so we recommend having clean hands before using the knife. Japanese sushi chefs prefer this wood for its antiseptic properties, as well as its easy and inexpensive processing, as there are many magnolia handle options available on the market.

Suitable for those who are buying a Japanese kitchen knife for the first time. It can also be a great gift!

Usage and care:

⚡️Hand wash in warm water and dry with a towel.

⚡️Use a sharpening stone (not a honing steel!) to sharpen the knife.

⚡️Do not cut frozen products and meat bones.

⚡️Do not wash the knife in the dishwasher.

⚡️Check out our detailed guide on how to properly care for kitchen knives.

Still unsure which type of Japanese knife is best for you? We have created a quick 5-step quiz that will help you find the perfect knife based on your culinary skills and the types of products you cook.