Sha Ra Ku Mono Small Nakiri

Function

Unlike the santoku and gyuto (chef’s knife), which have narrow tips intended for cutting meat, the nakiri has a square tip and broad blade that maximize chopping power along the full length of the knife. The straighter edge ensures full contact with the cutting board, helping to cut through tough vegetable skins that a rounded edge can miss, while the rounded corner facilitates rock-chopping. Like other Japanese knives, the nakiri has a thinner blade and more acute edge than European knives, so it can effortlessly make straight cuts and doesn’t break stiff vegetable slices.

Form

Sha Ra Ku Mono blades are forged from molybdenum-vanadium alloy stainless steel, which finely balances edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. This material is slightly softer than the VG-10 steel used in other Tojiro knives and significantly harder than European knife steels.

The handle is made from hollow 18/8 stainless steel, crafted with the blade as a single piece. Much like a traditional wooden wa handle, its light weight keeps the knife's balance farther forward than on European knives. The ergonomic shape allows it to be gripped either by the handle or with a more versatile pinch grip.