Complete Guide to Japanese Knife Types

For chefs buying their first Japanese knife, navigating the seemingly endless selection of different Japanese knife types can be a daunting task.

There are so many different shapes, sizes, handle types, and materials to wrap your head around, that is is easy to get overwhelmed.   Don’t worry.  After reading this guide, you will be able to distinguish and choose the best Japanese knife types for yourself!

Japanese Knife Types: Traditional Style vs. Western Style

To simplify things, Japanese kitchen knives can be put into two main categories: traditional style knives, and Western style knives.

The two main differences between each type is the intended usage, and the bevel/grind of the blade. 

Western style knives (洋包丁)

Western style knives all have double-bevel blades, which means they are sharpened on both sides. Typically the bevel tapers equally on both sides, although some knives may have a steeper angle on one side.

The original purpose of Western style knives in Japan were to cut meat, and prepare Western cuisines. They were thus built to be sturdier and less delicate that traditional Japanese knives. These days, many Western style knives have all-purpose usage, and are used for a wide range of tasks (i.e. gyuto, santoku).

Traditional Japanese knives (和包丁)

Most — but not all — traditional Japanese knives have single-bevel blades. This means they are sharpened on one side only. The bevel is typically tapered to the right side, making it suitable for right hand use only.  Left-handed Japanese style knives are rare, and must be custom ordered.

A single bevel blade is more suitable for preparing traditional Japanese cuisine (i.e. washoku). The thinner, lighter, sharper blade allows the chef to cut with more precision and detail than a double-bevel blade would. Most traditional Japanese knives are designed for very specific purposes (e.g. yanagiba is for sushi; mukimono is for decorative cutting).

Let’s now take a further look at each style, and list the different knife types of each.

Western-style knife types (洋包丁)

After World War II, Western style foods — especially meat — started to become popular in Japan.  Traditional knives were not as suitable for cutting meat, so Japanese knife producers began to craft double bevel blades based on French and German knife designs.   The Japanese versions were generally thinner, lighter, and sharper than their European counterparts.

Western style knives can feature either a Western-style handle or traditional Japanese handle.  If using a Japanese handle, the prefix “wa-” is sometimes added to the name.  So, a “wa-gyuto” would be a gyuto with a traditional Japanese handle.

Below is a full list and description of commonly found Western style Japanese knife types, as well as typical sizes you will find them in.

Gyuto (牛刀) – Japanese Chef’s Knife

An all-rounder, the Japanese equivalent of the classic French chef’s knife.  Recommended for all chefs to have.  Can be used for meat, vegetables and fish.  The pointed tip also makes it useful for detailed work.  The name gyuto literally means “beef-sword”, as it was originally designed for cutting chunks of meat.

Size: 210–270 mm.

Check out my list of the Best Gyutos under $100

Santoku (三徳包丁) – Home Chef’s Knife

True to its name that means “three-uses”, the santoku is an all-around knife that can be used for meat, vegetables and fish.  The design is sort of a mix between a gyuto and nakiri.   Traditionally has a very flat blade profile, although recently some companies have begun making more curved blades to cater to Western habits.  Its convenient size and versatility makes it the most common knife found in Japanese households.  Sometimes also known as “bunka-bochou“, which literally means “culture knife”.

Size: 150–200 mm.

Petty (ペティナイフ) – Japanese Utility Knife

Japanese version of a paring or utility knife.  Good for peeling and slicing fruit, smaller vegetables, and chopping herbs.  Sort of shaped like a small gyuto.  

Size: around 150 mm.

Paring Knife (ペティナイフ)

Very small knife for peeling and carving fruits and vegetables.  Unlike Petty knife, it is meant to use in hand, not on the cutting board.  Many different types of blade shapes  can be found depending on intended usage.

Size: 50–130 mm.

Chukabocho (中華包丁) – Chinese Cleaver  

The Chinese chef’s knife adopted by Japanese chefs for making Chinese cuisine.  With its rectangular blade and robust handle, it’s another great all-around knife for chopping, crushing, mincing all types of ingredients.  Some heavier blade versions can be used to chop bone, and protein.   

Size: 180–220 mm.

Nakiri (菜切り）- Home chef’s Vegetable Knife

Popular knife with a thin rectangular blade, used for chopping and mincing vegetables and fruit. Quick and efficient.  This is a lightweight knife and not to be used for heavy duty chopping (despite its resemblance to cleaver).  Flat blade profile makes it perfect for push-cutting technique. 

Size: various, 165–180 mm.

Check out this article: 10 of the best Nakiri knives

Sujihiki (筋引き) – Carving / Slicing Knife

The ultimate slicing knife.  Its long, narrow blade makes it good for slicing fish and meats, as it can cut smoothly without sawing and damaging fibers.  Sort of a double beveled version of the traditional Japanese style sushi knife, yanagiba.  

Size: 230–300 mm.

Learn the differences between sujihiki and yanagiba

Honesuki (骨スキ)  / Sabaki (サバキ)  – Boning Knife

Distinguished by the pointed tip, this knife was specifically made for taking apart poultry by cutting through the joints (not breaking through bone).  Sometimes used for filleting fish.  Can also be found as single-bevel version.

Size: 140–150 mm.

Garasuki (がら空き) – Bigger Boning Knife

Bulkier version of the Honesuki.  Used to break down larger poultry and cuts of meat.

Size: 175–190 mm.

Bread knife (パン切り包丁)

Recognized by its long, serrated blade.  Originally created to cut bread and baked goods without crushing them.  They are also very useful for cutting things like large melons, and cooked meat.

Size: 200–360 mm.

Hankotsu (反骨）- Meat Trimming Knife

A shorter, stockier knife with very pointed tip.  Designed for cutting chops and other butchery tasks but not for cutting through bone.  Best used for cutting apart hanging meats.

Size: ~ 150 mm.

Western Deba / Yo-Deba (洋出刃) – Butchering Knife

Heavier, western-style version of the traditional Japanese-style deba.  The more durable edge and heavier weight makes it suitable for heavier tasks like butchering chicken, fish, shrimp, lobster, and crabs.

Size: 165–240 mm.

Fillet Knife (フィレナイフ)

For separating fish flesh from bones (i.e. filleting).  Japanese fillet knives come in a huge variety of blade designs which vary in flexibility, thickness, length, profile, grind, and materials.  Alternative to more traditional debas, which are also used for filleting fish.

Size: 150–280 mm.

Reito (冷凍切り包丁) – Frozen Foods Knife

Sturdy blade, specifically designed for cutting frozen foods.  Most versions have a serrated edge which can be used to saw through foods.  Others have flat edge, and are more like a sturdier, thicker gyuto.

Size: 200–350 mm.

Traditional Japanese knife types (和包丁)

Before the influence of Western culture and foods, Japanese diet consisted mainly of fish and vegetables.  Traditional Japanese knife types were specifically designed to prepare these ingredients.

Traditional knives are mainly found with single-bevel blades, although a few have double-bevel. Each knife type is meant for a very specific task. There are also slight differences in design by regions in Japan.  As a result, there is a HUGE variety of traditional Japanese knife types. 

Below is a list and quick description of traditional Japanese knife types. The three most essential types to know are yanagiba, deba, and usuba. 

Yanagiba (柳刃包丁) – Sushi / Sashimi Knife

Yanagiba is the most popular, and commonly found, sashimi-bocho (i.e.  sashimi knife).   Its long, slender blade is perfect for making the necessary fine, clean, and precise cuts across the fish fillet. The thin blade also helps to preserve the texture, and flavor of the fish, while maintaining its beautiful appearance. 

It is typically used with pull-cut technique to make a single clean cut through a fish fillet.   The name yanagiba literally means “willow leaf blade” in English.  Part of the essential kit of a Japanese chef.  

Size: 210–360 mm.

Check out my list of the best yanagiba knives

Deba (出刃) – Fish Fillet Knife

Thick, more robust knife that is traditionally used for filleting whole fish.  Some users have adapted it to taking apart poultry. Its weight allows it to chop through thin bones.  Thin pointed tip allows for more delicate work, and perfect for filleting.  Comes in a very large range of sizes and variations, to be used depending on size of the fish. 

Very small versions (100-120mm) are known as ko-deba (i.e small deba) or aji-deba/aji-kiri (aji is type of small fish in Japan).

Size: 100-330mm.

Usuba (薄刃包丁) – Professional’s Vegetable Knife

Professional chef’s version of the nakiri.  Very thin, rectangular shaped blade makes it perfect for preparing thinly sliced vegetables.  The extremely flat blade profile means that it should be used with push-cut technique (not rocking).  The tall blade is great for preparing larger vegetables (e.g. cabbages), and also allows the chef to places his knuckles against it as a guide.  Usuba is used to perform the katsuramuki peeling technique.

Size: 180-240 mm

Kama Usuba （鎌形薄刃包丁) – Kansai’s Vegetable Knife

Kama-usuba or Kamagata Usuba is the Kansai (Osaka) variation of the Usuba.  Distinguished from the more common usuba (from Kanto/Tokyo) by its sickle-shaped tip, which is more useful for decorative and precision cutting techniques.

Size: 180-240 mm.

Fuguhiki (河豚引き） – Puffer Fish Sashimi Knife

In Japanese fugu means “blowfish / puffer fish”.  The lean long blade of the fuguhiki knife was designed specifically for making sashimi slices out of the delicate fugu.　Narrower and thinner than the yanagiba sashimi knife.

Size: 240–330 mm.

Funayuki （舟行出刃）ー Fisherman’s Knife

Funayuki literally means “going on boat”.  It is a very versatile knife, that was traditionally used by Japanese fishermen to clean and fillet fish.  Also suitable for cutting meat, and vegetables as fishermen would often use it to prepare their meals on board. 　

Can be considered a variation of a deba knife, but with a thinner blade.

Size: 120-195 mm.

Kiritsuke（切付） – Yanagiba / Usuba Hybrid Knife

Length of a yanagiba, and height of a usuba.  A general purpose knife for preparing traditional Japanese cuisine.  As essentially a hybrid of two knives that have very different purposes, it requires great skill to use.   Can also be found in double bevel versions, known as kiritsuke gyuto.

Size: 210–270 mm.

Mioroshi Deba（身おろし） – Deba/Yanagiba Hybrid

With its thin, slender blade it’s perfect for filleting fish but can also be used for cutting sashimi. It is considered a hybrid between a deba and yanagiba, as it can perform both knife’s tasks, though not quite as well as each individual knives.  The blade is thinner than the classic deba, but thicker and shorter than a yanagiba.

Size: 165 to 330 mm.

Mukimono （むきもの）- Decorative Knife

Named after the Japanese art of creating artistic garnishes, this knife has an angled tip which can be used to make decorative incisions in vegetables.  Also sometimes used for general purpose peeling and cutting of fruits and vegetables.

Size: 75–210 mm.

Takohiki (蛸引き） – Octopus Sashimi Knife

Long and straight with a distinctive squared off tip, this sashimi knife specializes in preparing octopus (“tako” means octopus in Japanese).   Originally from the Kanto/Tokyo region (yanagiba is from Kansai/Osaka region).

Size: 210–330 mm.

Sakimaru Takohiki – Hybrid Sashimi Knife

Combination design of yanagiba and takohiki sashimi knives, that can be used for the same purposes.  Easily identified by its unique samurai sword like blade tip. 

Size: 270-300 mm.

Unagisaki bocho (鰻割き包丁) – Eel Knife

Filleting knife for preparing eel. The very sharp pointed tip is able to penetrate tough eel skin.  Many different variations in design depending on region (Kanto, Kyoto, Nagoya, Kyushuu).  The name “unagi” means eel in Japanese.

Size: 150—210 mm.

Maguro bocho (鮪包丁) – Tuna Knife

A knife with an extremely long blade, used for cutting tuna and other very large fish. Its flexible blade can adapt to the curve of the spine of the fish, thus avoiding waste.  Usually only found in wholesale fish markets, not in restaurants.  Its extremely long length often requires two people to use at once.

Size: 400–1500 mm.

Menkiri  (麺切包丁) / Udon kiri (うどん切) / Soba kiri (そば切) – Noodle Knives

Knives specially made for cutting noodles like udon and soba.  Very unique shape, with a tall, completely flat blade extending all the way beneath handle.  Front of blade is meant for scooping up noodles once cut.

Size: 200 – 300 mm.

Mochikiri (餅切り包丁) – Mochi Knife

A knife specifically made for preparation of mochi (traditional Japanese rice cake). It can be found in single handle, as well as double handle versions (see image above). There are also versions that look like paper cutters. The long, tall blade helps cut cleanly through large mochi dough blocks.

Summary

Japanese knife types can be generally split into two categories: Traditional style, and Western style.

Traditional style knives like yanagiba and usuba usually feature single bevel blades, and have a specialized purpose in preparing Japanese cuisine (e.g. slicing sashimi). Western style knives like the gyuto and santoku have double bevel blades, and are typically more general purpose.

As you can see from this list, there is basically a Japanese knife for everything. There are even more than I have listed here like tofu knives, jelly cutting knives, sushi-roll (maki-sushi) knives , and more!  I may continue adding to this list in the future.

What to read next

Ready to buy your first Japanese kitchen knife?  Check out the beginner knife buying guide,.

For those on a budget, check out the best gyutos under $100.

Learn more about Japanese knife steel types here.

Or just browse all Japanese knife related articles.

Sources:

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8C%85%E4%B8%81
https://www.kai-group.com/products/special/hocho
https://www.echefknife.com