If vegetables make up most of your prep, this is the shape designed for exactly that. The nakiri is Japan's traditional vegetable knife: a straight, flat edge that meets the board along its full length, so every chop cuts clean through — no accordion-cut onions, no half-attached herbs. It's a workhorse in professional prep kitchens, and increasingly the favourite knife of home cooks who eat mostly plants.

TOJIRO's DP Hammered line pairs their proven VG-10 steel with a rustic kuro-uchi look at a price that makes it one of the best value entries into Japanese knives.

Why this knife works the way it does:

• VG-10 core at 60 HRC — Hard enough to stay sharp for weeks of home use, yet tough enough to forgive the occasional careless moment. The sweet spot for a first Japanese knife: real edge retention without the chip-anxiety of harder steels.
• Stainless cladding — The cutting core is wrapped in softer stainless steel, so day-to-day care is simple: wash, dry, done. No patina, no rust worry.
• Hammered kuro-uchi finish — The unpolished hammer dents aren't just beautiful — they create air pockets that help slices fall away from the blade instead of sticking. Every knife's pattern is slightly different.
• Magnolia D-handle — Light, traditional, and comfortable in the pinch grip. It keeps the knife nimble and shifts the balance toward the blade, where the work happens. (The ferrule is plastic — honest at this price point, and one reason the knife stays affordable.)

Good to know before buying

• A nakiri is for vegetables: push cuts and chopping. Don't use it on bones, frozen food, or hard squash stems, and never twist the edge in the cut.
• The kuro-uchi finish will wear and fade slightly with use and washing — this is normal and part of the look, not a defect.
• Hand wash and dry. The cladding is stainless, but the exposed VG-10 edge appreciates a quick wipe.
• Sharp out of the box and ready to use; like all Japanese knives it reaches its full potential after the first sharpening on a whetstone.

ABOUT TOJIRO:

TOJIRO is one of the top 5 largest Japanese kitchen knife manufacturers. They are renowned across Japan and internationally for their top-quality knives for a reasonable price. TOJIRO's focus on advanced technologies, together with their insatiable dedication for constant improvements of their knives and materials, makes TOJIRO's knives a must-have in any kitchen. TOJIRO's main focus? Sharpness!

A big bonus is their great team which we are always very eager to meet and talk to! 😊