Masutani Kokuryu VG10 Damascus Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate Handle

At a modest price for every model in the range, the Kokuryu (刻流, Engraved Flow) line from Masutani is one of those knives that's genuinely hard to argue with. Hand sharpened in Echizen with a VG10 core, it delivers a cutting smoothness that most knives at this price simply can't match — and that gap becomes obvious the first time you run it through something dense.

The geometry is the real story here. The concave grind comes down from the Shinogi line to a very low thickness behind the edge, a level of refinement that you'd typically only find on significantly more expensive knives. This kind of sharpening is achieved on an Ento — a round grinding stone — and requires a level of skill that most budget production lines don't invest in. The result is a blade that enters food cleanly and releases it well, without the resistance and drag that plagues many knives in this price bracket. It's a geometry that also holds up well over repeated sharpenings, which means the performance you get out of the box isn't a one-time experience.

The cladding is a stainless Damascus with a light Tsuchime pattern over it — subtle rather than showy, which suits the knife's character. The focus here is clearly on what the knife does rather than how it looks, though the Damascus texture gives it enough visual interest to feel like a proper Japanese knife rather than a generic budget option. VG10 keeps maintenance simple and the edge retention honest, which makes this a particularly sensible first Japanese knife for anyone not ready to commit to carbon steel.

The one genuine limitation worth knowing is that Masutani doesn't produce this line beyond 185mm — a deliberate decision by the family business rather than an oversight. For home cooks and students who don't need the reach of a 210mm or 240mm, that's a non-issue. The spine and choil can feel a little sharp out of the box, which is easy enough to address with some sandpaper. For first-timers, gift buyers and anyone looking for an honest, high-performing entry point into Japanese kitchen knives, the Kokuryu is a very easy recommendation.