Kiritsuke: The Prestigious Knife of Skill, Status, and Unmatched Versatility

Once reserved for Japan’s top kitchen masters, The Kiritsuke is a traditional Japanese knife that holds a great deal of history and honor. Pre-dating the Meiji-era and western influence, this knife is unlike any other in the time period.

Long before there were a vast array of sushi bars dotting every major city in the world, the essence of Japanese cuisine was blooming in the quiet kitchens of late Edo-era Japan. As Japan grew more peaceful, there wasn't much of a need for swords. Families had more time to settle down, cook, and enjoy a meal, and with the decline in war, sword makers needed another outlet for profit. Hence, the art of knife making started to flourish. Knife makers produced specialized knives designed for specific tasks such as Yanagiba for precise fish slices and the Usuba for clean vegetable cuts. 

In this world, the Kiritsuke was born. It was made to be a hybrid of the Yanagiba and the Usuba, making it versatile and suitable for preparing a diverse array of ingredients found in traditional Japanese cooking including vegetables and fish. Kiritsuke knives have what we call a ‘reverse tanto’ shape, which means it has a prominent, pointed tip and a spine that slopes downwards towards the end of the knife. Traditionally a Kiritsuke would be single beveled for precise slices, but to adapt to modern cuisine, nowadays Kiritsuke knives are typically double beveled.

With its versatility came responsibility. Traditionally the Kiritsuke would only be used by the Executive Chef. It was seen as a symbol of status and mastery in the Japanese culinary world. It was said that only a true master could wield a Kiritsuke with the grace and precision it demanded.

Nowadays, you don't need to be an executive chef or “true master” to own a Kiritsuke. We have Kiritsuke-style knives from several knife producers, most notably Shun and Cangshan (that happens to be on sale), and are happy to help you find the best one to carry that tradition into your home kitchen.