About Mikuri Ume - This is exactly the kind of knife that first made me fall in love with Japanese steel in the early 2000s: thin, light, and lightsaber sharp. The moment you pick them up, they feel like an extension of your hand. The curved cutout where handle meets blade is the perfect spot for your index or middle finger to sit when you pinch the blade, the way every chef does. The traditional European handle gives this knife the confident weight that many chefs prefer.

First and foremost, Mikuri knives are designed for chefs. Our friends in Seki have brilliantly designed this line so that each knife shape is made with a steel type that best suits its intended purpose. Workhorse blades are made from sturdy VG5 stainless steel that keeps a great edge but isn’t too delicate or tricky to sharpen. Precision blades, such as the slicer and 150mm petty are crafted from a single piece of DSR1K6. While this steel gets beautifully sharp, it possesses a little give that makes skinning fish fillets and trimming briskets a breeze! 

Mikuri is a collaboration between dozens of skilled craftspeople in Seki. With each specializing in a particular aspect of the knife-making process, they can craft blades that punch well above their weight while being affordable on a line-cook salary.

About the Shape - Inspired by the profile of a traditional European chef knife, Gyutos are a multi-purpose knife with a slight meat cutting bias. “Gyuto” translates to “cow sword.” If you want one knife to do it all, This is it. Starting at 180mm, Gyutos can reach the ridiculously long (and awesome) 370mm. For the at-home or professional cook, we recommend a Gyuto which measures between 210mm and 270mm long.