Very nice knife. I took the thin blade. The knife therefore is very light and handy. You kann feel the the dozen years of knowledge that went into this knife. It's meant as workhorse and not as collectors knife.
Great service and a very well crafted knife.
Herzlichen Dank für ihre sehr gute Arbeit. Ich erfreue mich jeden Tag an ihrem Messer. Es macht Spaß damit zu arbeiten.
Bald werde ich das nächste kaufen.
Ich freue mich dass ihre perfekte Organisation dafür gesorgt hat dass das Messer einen so weiten Weg bis in meine Hände gemacht hat.
this knife is a piece of art. I am reluctant to use it and get it dirty. a beautiful work or art.
I recently purchased a kitchen knife, and I'm impressed with its great quality and sharpness. It slices through ingredients effortlessly, making meal prep a breeze. The build feels sturdy and well-balanced in my hand. It's quickly become an essential tool in my kitchen. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to upgrade their kitchen essentials..
Hi Juan, we're thrilled to hear you're enjoying the Nakamura Blacksmith Gyuto! Thank you for the wonderful feedback and for recommending us. Please feel free to reach out anytime if you have any questions about your knife! Greetings from Japan, The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Purchased this knife after watching Japanese Craftsman You Tube channel of the knife smith. I liked his philosophy and technique: knives for every day use, not works of art. The blade is especially thin, making the edge especially delicate but that's an expected tradeoff with such a thin blade. I was so impressed that I will be ordering his 220 mm kiritsuke gyuto (currently out of stock). Highly recommended 5 out of 5 stars.
Hi Brian, thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you appreciate the craftsmanship and philosophy behind your Kyohei Shindo Nakiri! We hope to serve you again in the future. Greetings from Japan, The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
The only word that comes into mind is WOW. I own quite a few Japanese knives, but Nakamura Blacksmith's knife is very different from many aspects.
The parcel I received was very well packed, well thought so special thanks for that! It felt like opening a gift as a child.
I opted for the thick blade, it's still really light weight, still thinner than most of my knives, but it's just beautifully perfect. At first glance, it's clearly visible this knife made by people, not relying on mass manufacturing, on places the hammering is visible, that's makes it a real beauty. The Shirogami n2 steel does it's job and it's instantly started to build up a nice patina as I started to use it to work.
I wish I found Japanese Food Craftsman Shop a lot earlier.
From every aspect, my experience is superb. Excellent customer service, and excellent knife.
Many thanks again!
Probably the best knife I've ever owned. It's incredibly sharp and holds its edge exceptionally well. At this price point, I don't think you'll find a better Bunka knife.
I've used Shun knives in the past and always considered them excellent, but this knife is on another level. The delivery was fast, hassle-free, and exceeded my expectations.
I'm so impressed that I'm already looking to complement it with a smaller utility knife. Highly recommended.
Hi Barthez, thank you so much for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear you're enjoying the Nakamura Hamono Bunka knife and that it surpassed your expectations. We look forward to helping you find your next perfect knife. Please do reach out and let us know if you ever need anything - we're happy to help! Thank you for supporting Japanese craftsmanship!
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
The handle was not impregnated at all, it had already absorbed itself when I removed the labels and washed off the remaining glue. It had to be sanded again and then oiled.
Although it was sharp, it was far from a Japanese quality edge. It was sharpened to around 1000 grit. The stone that came with it is 1000 grit in the description but in reality it came to 500-800 which is not suitable for sharpening this knife, only for repairing edge defects or it might chip.
Hi Csaba, thank you for your detailed feedback. We appreciate your insights and send your feedback over to the craftsman about the handle. Regarding the included whetstone, it is a #500-800 grit natural whetstone recommended by the craftsmen we work with. We recommend watching this video for a tutorial on how to use it to sharpen your knife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-OzjOaqMPM
If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out!
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Very satisfied with the item. Knife was very sharp and a new cutting experience for me. Sales team was responsive and shipping was very fast. Thank you for the great item and purchase experience.
Hi Lee, thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you're enjoying your Shirou Kunimitsu knife and had a great experience with us. Thank you for your continued support!
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Ive just received mine. Lovely piece of art work with a totally practical function: Looked after, I'll never need to buy another 7" knife. Beautifully finished. I'm going to buy a meat paring knife and a larger 210 mil Principal knife. It's all I'll ever need, possibly a bread knife. I'll be able to ditch my knife Block and cheap knives..
Hi Stuart, we're thrilled to hear you love the Nakamura Hamono Bunka Kitchen Knife! It’s wonderful to know it has become a practical and beautiful addition to your kitchen. We look forward to serving you again in the future! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Just the best kitchen blade I have ever purchased AND I HAVE BOUGHT MANY.
Hi Felipe, thank you for your kind words and for supporting Japanese craftsmanship with your purchase! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you ever have any questions.
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
First of all i love the KISEKI:
It's very well balanced very sharp and it's fun to cut your veggie or meat:
But the slightest "knock" with the blade to anything hard, like a fork or the edge of a plate leaves a visible dent in the cutting edge.
You can only see it, because the knife is so shiny and the the light is reflecting different where the dent is. You can't feel it.
I thought it is more tough !
Hi Marco, thank you for sharing your experience with the KISEKI Santoku Knife. We're glad you enjoy its balance and sharpness! The denting you mentioned can sometimes happen with delicate blades, especially ultra hard blades like the KISEKI. While small cosmetic issues shouldn't affect performance, it is important to take very good care of a knife this hard just to keep it in top shape. If you have any issues with its performance, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Great knife for it's price. Good health to the creator and thanks for the good delivery service to Ukraine
Hi Rostyslav, thank you for your kind words! We're glad you're happy with the Nakamura Blacksmith Kurouchi Santoku and our delivery service. Enjoy your new knife, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Hi AnKo, we're thrilled to hear you love the Kajihara Hamono Kiritsuke! Thanks for sharing your experience, and for supporting traditional Japanese craftsmanship! We hope it serves you well for years to come!
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Fantastic knife, the best short knife in my small collection, very hard, easy to keep sharp with a diamond sharpening steel. Be sure to dry it immediately after washing, otherwise it can start to oxidize.
Hi Franz, we're thrilled to hear you're loving your Nishida Hamono Kurouchi Petty Knife! Thanks for sharing your experience and tips. We hope you enjoy cooking with it!
Greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Die Verarbeitung ( aussehen) der Klinge könnte bessersein. Ansonsten ein sehr gutes Messer.
Vielen Dank.
Lieber Adam Dec,
vielen Dank für Ihre Bewertung und dafür, dass Sie Nakamura Blacksmith mit Ihrer Bestellung unterstützt haben! Wir bedanken uns auch für Ihr Feedback – wir werden es auf jeden Fall an den Handwerker weiterleiten.
Viele Grüße aus Japan,
das Team von Japanese Food Craftsman
Thank you for supporting Seki Kikusui and Japanese craftsmanship with your purchase! We are very sorry to hear about your experience with US customs - due to experiences such as yours, we are now shipping all US orders DDP (delivered duties paid), including customs duties in the final amount due up front to prevent potential surprises. We are very sorry for your negative experience, but we sincerely thank you for sharing. Hearing customer experiences such as yours has encouraged us to change our shipping policies and improve the customer experience.
Warm greetings from Japan,
The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
Just purchased a 180mm santoku.
I want to thank the Japanese Food Craftsman team, personally Kei-san, and, of course, master Nakamura-san.
The knife feels perfectly balanced, incredibly light, and has a beautifully raw, traditional look with a touch of rugged brutality. It feels like more than just a tool — it’s a piece of living history.
I’ve already coated the handle with linseed oil and sealed the gap between the bolster and the knife tang with a mixture of beeswax and linseed oil.
I’m sure this artisan knife will serve for decades.
Thank you so much!
Hi Maxim Gusev, thank you so much for your heartfelt review! We're thrilled to hear you appreciate the craftsmanship and feel the knife is a piece of living history. Wishing you many wonderful years of use with your Nakamura santoku! Best regards, Japanese Food Craftsman Shop
Hi Samir Akhtar, thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear you're happy with the Shirou Kunimitsu Funayuki Knife. Enjoy your cooking!
Hi Abel, thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you're happy with the Shirou Kunimitsu Funayuki Knife. We truly hope you enjoy cooking with it! Greetings from Japan, The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
We love our knife from Nakamura Hamono. So lightweight and laser cutting tool. It's art as much as functional.
Hi David, we're thrilled to hear you love your Nakamura Hamono knife! It's wonderful to know it feels both like art and a functional tool. Thanks for sharing your positive experience! Greetings from Japan, The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
I placed my order on a Sunday here in Germany, and just 10 days later I was already holding the knife in my hands. I was genuinely surprised by the fast delivery.
The knife itself is a true piece of craftsmanship. Visually, it’s a real eye‑catcher, and the first impression in hand is excellent: light, well‑balanced, and very comfortable to hold. Since it’s meant to be a gift, I can’t comment on long‑term durability or edge retention yet, but the initial quality feels outstanding.
For anyone interested: customs fees were €25.14 plus a €7.50 handling charge (Germany)
Overall, I’m very satisfied and happy to be gifting such a beautifully handcrafted item.
Hi elmofant, thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you're pleased with your knife and the quick shipping. It's great to know it will make a special gift. We will be sure to send over the positive feedback to Nakamura Blacksmith! If you have any questions in the future, feel free to reach out. Greetings from Japan, The Japanese Food Craftsman Team
After watching the video about this Blacksmith, I was impressed and placed my order, at £177.00.
I waited for some time for my knife to arrive, held at customs.
In the end I ended up paying £245.00 after customs fees, VAT & further postage fees in the UK.
So this turned into quite an expensive knife!
After opening the box, I tried to remove the knife from the plastic sleeve, the sleeve was stuck tight to the knife and had to be ripped away?
It seems that the excessive amount of varnish or lacquer had adhered to the plastic?
The wooden handle has dye coming off on my hand and to make things worse, the ferrule is plastic? there is quite a step between the ferrule and handle, which is not comfortable.
The applyed varnish needed to be removed, I used acetone to the varnish and adhered plastic, doing so completely removed the kurouchi finish?
I also needed to pack the gaps between handle steel tang with Beeswax?
This could be a great knife!
I feel very disappointed.
Les couteaux de la forge Shirou Kunimitsu sont exceptionnels. La finition Kurouchi est vraiment agréable à voir/toucher, la légèreté des couteaux est surprenante et l'équilibre parfait. Je découvre le simple biseau avec joie et j'apprécie la qualité de sa coupe. Pour finir le tranchant est parfait.
Merci et bonne continuation à cette forge qui produit des pièces de caractères.
Benjamin
Bonjour Benjamin,
Un grand merci pour votre magnifique retour! Nous sommes ravis d'apprendre que le couteau Shirou Kunimitsu vous satisfait pleinement et que la finition Kurouchi, ainsi que son équilibre, vous ont impressionné. Votre satisfaction est notre plus belle récompense.
Au plaisir de vous servir à nouveau. Salutations du Japon, l'équipe du Japanese Food Craftsman Shop.