SharpEdge blog
Japanese knives are more than just kitchen tools. They are a heritage with a tradition spanning thousands of years.
Our articles and guides will help you understand why these blades are so special – and how to choose the right one for you.
Quiz
QUIZ: WHICH KITCHEN KNIFE IS THE BEST FOR ME?
Solve this short quiz to find out which knife is the best one for you!
9 sharpening sets to explore
Sharpening sets for every skill level and budget
Japanese blacksmiths sharpen their knives with the same care as they forge them—by hand, by eye, and never in a hurry. Experience the zen of whetstone sharpening and cancel that subscription to the meditation app you never use.
WHY IS A JAPANESE KNIFE A GREAT GIFT?
Today we cannot imagine any work done in the kitchen – be it home or professional – without proper tools. Cooking is no longer seen as only necessary labour of preparing food for the family, but as a fun and social activity. Those who are truly in love with cooking (and those who wish to be) insist on using the best tool.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT KNIFE FOR THE RIGHT PROSCIUTTO
BURJA
A superb prosciutto requires a precise cutting tool and a certain amount of theatricality in slicing and serving, so a long, thin slicer, resembling a real Japanese katana, is the right tool for the job.
Based on extensive testing and feedback from professional ham manufacturers and cutters, we eventually developed three different Burja knives.
Why own a Japanese knife?
Japanese knives are kitchen knives that originated in Japan and are renowned for their superior quality, exceptional sharpness, and rich tradition of craftsmanship. Their history goes far back, to the times of the samurai, and is rooted in the design and forging of the legendary Japanese swords - katanas!
[VIDEO GUIDE]
A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO KNIFE SHARPENING
After some time, every knife (no matter how good or expensive it is) will become dull and will need to be sharpened. The knife sharpening process might seem intimidating and difficult at first, but it's not. All it takes is a little bit of practice and some patience.
[VIDEO GUIDE]
SHARPENING SINGLE BEVEL KNIVES
An advanced sharpening tutorial to guide you through the world of single bevel knife maintenance.
![BLACKSMITH: TOMOO MATSUMURA [TOJIRO]](http://sharpedgeshop.com/cdn/shop/files/tojiro_fe0080fa-624b-4030-a537-2d9a06b87cc0_540x.png?v=1669971476)
SMITHIES IN JAPAN
Japan is divided in regions and prefectures, each of them famous for its craft, but there are several key centers of metallurgical and forging industry where the knowledge has been passed on to younger generations for centuries.
JAPANESE BLACKSMITHS, SUPERIOR SHARPNESS, MYSTERIOUS STEEL AND SUPERB SUSHI
japan: our travel guide
Japan is famous for producing quality steel since the times of the samurai. The country is divided into 47 prefectures in eight regions and has one metropolis – Tokyo. Shimane Prefecture with the capital Matsue located in the south-west of the main and most populous Japanese island Honshu has been the centre of steel production in the country since ancient times.