Name: Sakai Kyuba x Japana Vegetable Knife 16cm - The Nakiri
Brand: Sakai Kyuba 堺久馬
SKU: KI_KN_KYUBANAKIRI
Price: 325 EUR
Availability: InStock

Product Description

About the nakiri

Japanese Nakiri knives are mostly used for cutting vegetables. They feature a thin and wide blade and squared off tips. As it is designed for chopping veggies, the knife has a straight blade that can cut through long items (think eggplants, carrots) as well as make super thin slices out of cucumber, bitter gourd, tomatoes and the likes. Its double bevel makes it perfect for both left and right-handed use.

Thanks to their straight blade, Nakiri are ideal for julienne, brunoise allumette and other precision knife cuts for vegetables. Also a great tool for cutting into very hard skinned produce like pumpkins and squash.

About the handle

The beautiful handles are made with extremely limited European Maple Burl dyed in Olive Green, Mediterranean Blue or available in a Natural Brown colour. The wood is dried for two years before it undergoes the process of stabilisation and colour dying. This ensures the wood is completely waterproof to avoid bacteria growth and is able to last generations. The stabilised premium-cut maple burl is cut into the octagonal shaped ambidextrous handle, giving you a firm grip on the knife. Not only are the handles aesthetically pleasing, they are also perfectly balanced and light. This allows for maximum precision and more controlled movements during use. After all, maple wood is known for being a strong and durable wood with good resistance to decay.

Timeless

Nothing about Sakai Kyuba is left to chance. It has been designed, forged and rigorously tested to serve your family for generations. Made from the highest quality V10 46-layer Damascus Hammered Stainless steel – sturdier and sharper than anything you have experienced before. Presented in a natural-coloured ash box for safe storage and keeping. Wrapped in a beautiful Japana illustration strip styled on ancient Japanese paintings. Backed by a lifetime guarantee.

Craftsmanship

Although inspired by over 600 years of tradition, each of the Sakai Kyuba 堺久馬 blades is absolutely unique. Every single one has been meticulously handmade and perfected in Japan by Sakai’s (堺市) master blacksmith. Forged with Damascus steel – legendary for its plasticity, hardness and distinctive patterns. Handle and blade satin-finished to a subtle, yet stunning lustre. Crafted, not manufactured. No handle pattern is the same, guaranteeing you a unique piece of craftsmanship.

Technical Spec

Color	Mediterranean Blue, Natural Brown, Olive Green
Maker	Sakai Kyuba 堺久馬, Japana
HRC	62
Steel Type	46 Layer, Damascus, VG10: High-Carbon Stainless Steel
Knife Handle Material	Stabilised Maple Burl
Blade Length	160mm
Knife Type	Nakiri
Handle Waterproof	Yes
Knife Bevel	Double
Knife Purpose	Veggies
Made in	Japan
Hand Feature	Ambidextrous

Who is Sakai Kyuba and how can your knives be as good as other high-end knives if they cost less?

Under the Sakai Kyuba 堺久馬 brand lies the artistry of one of the most famous blade masters in Sakai (Osaka Perfecture), Japan, drawing from over 600 years old blacksmithing tradition. As a result, you’re getting the high-end craftsmanship masterpiece at the fraction of the price.
Most knives cost so much because of traditional retail markups, branding and other fees. You’d be shocked to know how little many well-known premium knives actually cost to make. Another factor of driving the price to an unhealthy size is the limited supply and controlled market channels. By partnering closely with our blacksmiths and selling directly to you online, we’re able to offer incredible knives at pricing with zero artificially pumped markups. You get better materials at the lower price. Simple.

What are Sakai Kyuba 堺久馬 blades made from?

Our knives are handcrafted with the premium Japanese VG10 high-carbon stainless steel by skilled Japanese blacksmiths in Sakai, a small village in Osaka. VG10 steel offers an excellent balance between toughness, durability, and razor sharpness. It has higher carbon content than some other premium brands, which helps the edge stay noticeably sharper for a longer time. Our blades are 46 layers Damascus steel. To form pattern at least two difference steels are forge welded together (hammered together at forging temperatures) and then folded multiple times to produce layers.

Does it make sense to buy one knife first, and not a set?

If you can’t afford or do not want to commit to buying a set immediately, the single most important tool in your kitchen is The Gyuto – The Chef’s Knife. It’s the workhorse you reach for most often. Investing in one great knife now will change your cooking for life and make it a pleasure rather than a chore. Our Sakai Kyuba Gyuto can do 99% of your kitchen cutting. Another option for a daily knife is Santoku knife. However, if you’re looking for an ultimate experience, you should consider investing in a 3-pieces set; including The Petty (Paring/Utility Knife), Nakiri (Veggie/Fruit Knife) in addition to The Gyuto (The Chef’s Knife).

Do these knives require special care?

Sakai Kyuba high-end knives are extremely durable and easy to care for. However, any knife, even the premium one needs sharpening at some point. As a good custom, you should sharpen them regularly and dry them immediately after use. These are 3 general rules you should follow:

Don’t put your knife in a dishwasher.
Store your knives either on the magnetic knife strip, knife stand, or sheathed in the utensil drawer.
Don’t slide your knife, blade down, across the cutting board to clear away what you just chopped.

Also, check our full guide how to properly maintain the knife and sharpen it.

How long will this knife stay sharp?

It really depends on how often you use the knife, how do you care for it and what items you’re cutting but for a person cooking 5 times a week, it would be around 4-8 months. When tested in the rigours of a professional kitchen, the Sakai Kyuba x Japana knives outperformed brands that cost much more. However, no knife — including ours — will stay sharp forever. Which is why we provide all-you-need sharpening stones – that is King 1000/6000 combo and a King G-1 #8000. When the blade starts to dull, you can sharpen it easily at your home in 5-10 minutes.

How does your lifetime warranty and trial work?

We’re 100% confident you’ll love your Japana knives. Here at Japana we make sure that the products we send to you are checked for exceptional quality and that the packaging is always secure and sturdy, so that you receive undamaged, high quality goods which will last a lifetime. We believe our customers should not worry about buying premium products online, this is why our Sakai Kyuba x Japana range comes with a lifetime guarantee. We’re also giving our customers 45-day in-home trial. If for any reason you’re not satisfied, just send it back for a full refund. No questions asked.

Here at Japana we make sure that the products we send to you are checked for exceptional quality and that the packaging is always secure and sturdy, so that you receive undamaged, high quality goods which will last a lifetime. We believe our customers should not worry about buying premium products online, this is why our Sakai Kyuba x Japana range comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The lifetime guarantee covers any defects in manufacturing and materials that functionally impair the knife. Japana will repair or replace any of the Sakai Kyuba x Japana products free of charge. Please note that in the case of a set, only the faulty item will be replaced.

Our lifetime guarantee does not cover:

Damage caused by normal wear and tear, accident or negligence.
Damage caused by improper use (knocks, dents, crushing, drops, etc.).
Damage due to loss, theft, fire or other causes beyond our control.
Damage caused by commercial, professional, or workplace use.
Damage due to improper storage.

All returned items will be posted at the buyers expense other than where it’s a manufacturers fault. In this instance we will be happy to refund any postage costs along with arranging a replacement. You will need to send us a copy of your postage receipt in order to receive a refund. If you have any quality concerns, please contact us at info@japanahome.com.