About Masashi Shiroshu - 

Look at this knife! It’s so pretty. I’ve always referred to blades this good-looking as functional art pieces because they’re still tools meant to be used. The simple, elegant handle perfectly contrasts the stunning blade and keeps the knife lightweight yet confident, exactly how I like my kitchen knives.

Masashi-san made this knife from a phenomenal steel called SLD, which he can push to the absolute limits of hardness due entirely to his knifemaking genius and a few top-secret techniques. He sharpens this knife with his unique trademark edge, making the back end a little tougher for chopping and the tip finer for delicate work.

First training with his brother at Yoshikane, then striking out on his own, Masashi Yamamoto relentlessly pursues the creation of a perfect knife using the traditional techniques passed down in his family and augmented by a modern understanding of metallurgy. He’s also a certified badass, forging in flip-flops and lighting cigarettes off red-hot steel like an 80’s action hero.

About the Shape - The Bunka is a bonafide badass, like a kitchen knife in a leather jacket. It is a multi-purpose knife akin to the Santoku. “Bunka” translates to “culture". This multi-purpose kitchen knife is great for dicing, slicing or mincing. Like a santoku, it's a cross between the nakiri and a gyuto, just a little more badass looking.