What is a Nakiri used for?

["Vegetable"] It is a foundational profile in Japanese kitchens and a popular pick at Knives and Stones for both home cooks and professionals.

What size Nakiri should I choose?

165mm is the standard home size and handles most vegetable prep. 180mm gives more reach for larger produce like cabbage or watermelon.

How do I care for a Nakiri knife?

Hand-wash with warm water and mild detergent, then dry immediately — never leave a Japanese knife soaking or air-drying on a rack. Avoid the dishwasher entirely. Use a wood or soft-plastic cutting board (not glass, ceramic, or stone) to preserve the edge. For sharpening, use whetstones in the 1000-grit range for maintenance and 3000–6000 grit for finishing. Carbon-steel blades benefit from a thin coat of food-safe camellia or mineral oil between uses to prevent oxidation.

Nakiri

Q: What is a Nakiri?

A Nakiri (菜切) is The Nakiri(菜切) knife is a distinctive tool in the Japanese kitchen, resembling a slender, shorter variant of a Chinese cleaver and serving as the household counterpart to the professional-grade Usuba. It is characterised by its relatively flat edge profile, emphasising straight, clean push cuts through vegetables without the need for rocking. This flat edge makes a full contact with chopping board when pushed down and it means there will be little to no chance of food still connect after the cut - a common problem with blade with very curved profile. Unlike Usuba, the thin and double bevel Nakiri is much better at penetrating dense and tough roots and tubers, Although sacrifices the ability to do delicate pinpoint slice, the rounded tip can give you a bit more sense of safety in operation.. The nakiri is the double-bevel vegetable knife — rectangular profile, 165–180mm, used for push cuts and chopping rather than rocking.

菜切

Japanese Vegetable Knife Vegetable 3D Model

The Nakiri(菜切) knife is a distinctive tool in the Japanese kitchen, resembling a slender, shorter variant of a Chinese cleaver and serving as the household counterpart to the professional-grade Usuba. It is characterised by its relatively flat edge profile, emphasising straight, clean push cuts through vegetables without the need for rocking. This flat edge makes a full contact with chopping board when pushed down and it means there will be little to no chance of food still connect after the cut - a common problem with blade with very curved profile. Unlike Usuba, the thin and double bevel Nakiri is much better at penetrating dense and tough roots and tubers, Although sacrifices the ability to do delicate pinpoint slice, the rounded tip can give you a bit more sense of safety in operation.

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Nakiri

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Shop Nakiri Knives

Nakagawa Ginsan Kasumi Wide Bevel Nakiri 165mm

Motokyuuichi Kurosagi AS KU Nakiri 165mm Kurouchi by Hatsukokoro Black Chacate

Hatsukokoro Kurogane Blue 2 Kurouchi Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate

Masutani Kokuryu VG10 Damascus Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate Handle

Masutani VG1 Tsuchime Nakiri 165mm Slim

Hatsukokoro Hikari SLD Damascus Nakiri 170mm

Takeshi Saji STRIX Tsuchime 165mm Nakiri Olivewood Handle

Masutani Kokuryu VG10 Damascus Slim Nakiri 165mm Western Handle

Kurosaki Kokusen Ei AS Nakiri 170mm - Turquoise Ferrule

Yu Kurosaki Shizuku SG2 Nakiri 165mm

Shibata Koutetsu Chromax Boss Nakiri 175mm, Ebony White Ring Handle

Shibata Koutetsu Chromax Boss Nakiri 175mm, Ebony Black Ring Handle

Tsunehisa Ginsan Nawame Nakiri 165mm

Hatsukokoro Ginrei Ginsan Nakiri 165mm Nashiji Ebony

Nigara SG2 K-tip Nakiri 170mm with Kurouchi Tsuchime Finish Ebony

Mazaki White 2 Kurouchi Nakiri 180mm

Matsubara Blue 2 Nakiri 165mm Nashiji Burnt Kashi

K&S VG10 Tsuchime Damascus Nakiri 180mm

Takeshi Saji SG2 Black Damascus Nakiri 180mm Ironwood Handle Wenge Saya

Takeshi Saji VG10 Rainbow Damascus Nakiri 165mm Ebony Handle Mosaic Pin

Tsunehisa Ginsan Nashiji Nakiri 165mm Ebony Handle

Tetsujin Ginsan Ukiba Nakiri 180mm Ebony Handle

Katsushige Anryu Blue 2 Tsuchime Nakiri 170mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle

Yoshikane White 2 KU Nashiji Nakiri 165mm Stainless Clad Ebony by Hatsukokoro

Ono Suzukaze SG2 Damascus Nakiri 165mm Tsuchime

Masakage Koishi AS Nakiri 165mm, Aogami Super Kurouchi Tsuchime K&S Hearted-shaped Ironwood Handle

Hatsukokoro Hikari SLD Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate

Nigara SG2 Tsuchime K-tip Nakiri 165mm Kurouchi Western Ironwood

Masakage Yuki White2 Stainless Clad Nakiri 165mm

Kei Kobayashi SG2 Nakiri 165mm

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Stainless Clad Nakiri 165mm Ebony Handle

Nigara SG2 Tsuchime Matt Migaki K-tip Nakiri 180mm Western Ironwood

Takeshi Saji SG2 Black Damascus Nakiri 175mm Stag Handle

Nakagawa Ginsan Kasumi Wide Bevel Nakiri 210mm

Nakagawa Ginsan Kasumi Wide Bevel Nakiri 180mm

Nigara SG2 Tsuchime Matt Migaki K tip Nakiri 180mm Ebony Handle

Myojin Riki Seisakusho SG2 Kasumi Nakiri 180mm Ebony Handle

Anryu Aogami Super Hammered Kurouchi Nakiri 165mm Ebony Handle

Hatsukokoro Aosagi Blue 2 Kurouchi Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate

Nigara Aogami (Blue) Super K-tip Nakiri 165mm Matt Migaki Tsuchime Finished Black Chacate

Takeshi Saji SRS13 Nakiri 165mm Western Amboyna Handle

Yoshimi Kato Kintaro Minamo SG2 Nakiri 165mm Ebony

Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Nakiri 180mm Ebony Handle

Takeshi Saji SG2 Black Damascus Nakiri 175mm Ironwood

Shiro Kamo Kurokumo SG2 Black Damascus Nakiri 180mm Ebony

Kurosaki Senko Ei SG2 Nakiri 165mm Ebony

Hatsukokoro Shinkiro Aogami Super Kurouchi Damascus Nakiri 165mm

Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate

Hatsukokoro Hayabusa VG10 Tsuchime Sanmai Nakiri 180mm Ebony

Masutani VG1 Tsuchime Nakiri 165mm Black Chacate Handle

Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS34 Damascus Nakiri 165mm

Tojiro DP3 Nakiri 165mm F-502

Hatsukokoro Hayabusa Aogami Super K-tip Nakiri 180mm

Yoshikane SKD Nashiji Nakiri 165mm Stainless Clad Ebony Handle

Masutani Kokuryu VG10 Damascus Nakiri 165mm Western Handle

Nigara VG10 Damascus Tsuchime Nakiri 165mm

Tanaka R2 Etched Black Damascus Nakiri 165mm Ironwood Handle

Kurosaki Gekko VG XEOS Nakiri 165mm

Tetsujin Blue 2 Kasumi Nakiri 180mm

Hatsukokoro Hayabusa HAP-40 Damascus Nakiri 165 mm with Western Handle

Nigara Anmon SG2 Damascus Nakiri 180mm Birch (暗紋)

Yoshikane White 2 Nashiji Stainless Clad Nakiri 165mm

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