Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Classic Gold Daruma Doll

Saturday, June 5th, 2010
A Daruma is a traditional Japanese wishing doll that helps us to achieve our dreams and aspirations.
Here’s how it works: First, think of something special you wish to achieve. Next, draw or paint one of your Daruma doll’s blank eyes. Place Daruma someplace visible, so that while he focuses on your objective, you’ll be reminded to do the same. Once your goal is realized, signify your accomplishment by drawing Daruma’s other eye. Congratulations!
A gold Daruma doll symbolizes wealth and prosperity. A gold Daruma is a superb motivational tool for business owners and those starting new ventures to stay focused on business objectives and targets. A gold Daruma can also be used as a fun and fitting way to kick off a funding drive, or to raise money for charity.
For each Classic Daruma Doll sold, Unique Japan will proudly donate one dollar ($1USD) to the Children’s HeartLink. The Children’s HeartLink is a non-profit organization that helps enhance existing pediatric cardiac programs to support life-saving treatments for needy children.
Product details:

  • 12cm/4.7″ (height) /9cm/3.54″ (width)
  • Individually handcrafted and hand-painted in Takasaki, Japan
  • Painted gold for wealth and prosperity
  • Our Daruma dolls are eco-friendly, made with recycled paper and only water-based paints
  • A trademark heart is painted on the back of each Daruma, giving the owner the option of writing down his or her wish (before or after it comes true!)
  • Individually packaged in a box with instructions on how to use the doll
  • One dollar ($1USD) from each Classic Daruma Doll sold will benefit the Children’s HeartLink
  • All of our Daruma dolls are express shipped direct from Japan
  • Shipping is just $9.99 for each Classic Daruma Doll ordered
  • If you are interested in purchasing large quantities of this item, please visit https://www.welovedaruma.com
Daruma is closely associated with a beloved Japanese proverb, nana korobi yaoki, which states, “Fall down seven times, get up eight”. The Daruma doll’s unique rounded shape allows it to return to its original position even if knocked over, representing such persistence. Daruma reminds us all to never give up on our dreams.

Classic White Daruma Doll

Saturday, June 5th, 2010
A Daruma is a traditional Japanese wishing doll that helps us to achieve our dreams and aspirations.
Here’s how it works: First, think of something special you wish to achieve. Next, draw or paint one of your Daruma doll’s blank eyes. Place Daruma someplace visible, so that while he focuses on your objective, you’ll be reminded to do the same. Once your goal is realized, signify your accomplishment by drawing Daruma’s other eye. Congratulations!
White is the color of love, peace, and harmony. A white Daruma is an ideal wedding gift, articulating your wish for the new couple to find happiness, and reminding us all of the importance of kindness and understanding in our relationships. We would all do well to adopt some of white Daruma’s quiet and positive strength.
For each Classic Daruma Doll sold, Unique Japan will proudly donate one dollar ($1USD) to the Children’s HeartLink. The Children’s HeartLink is a non-profit organization that helps enhance existing pediatric cardiac programs to support life-saving treatments for needy children.
Product details:

  • 12cm/4.7″ (height) /9cm/3.54″ (width)
  • Individually handcrafted and hand-painted in Takasaki, Japan
  • Painted white for love and harmony
  • Our Daruma dolls are eco-friendly, made with recycled paper and only water-based paints
  • A trademark heart is painted on the back of each Daruma, giving the owner the option of writing down his or her wish (before or after it comes true!)
  • Individually packaged in a box with instructions on how to use the doll
  • One dollar ($1USD) from each Classic Daruma Doll sold will benefit the Children’s HeartLink
  • All of our Daruma dolls are express shipped direct from Japan
  • Shipping is just $9.99 for each Classic Daruma Doll ordered
  • If you are interested in purchasing large quantities of this item, please visit https://www.welovedaruma.com
Daruma is closely associated with a beloved Japanese proverb, nana korobi yaoki, which states, “Fall down seven times, get up eight”. The Daruma doll’s unique rounded shape allows it to return to its original position even if knocked over, representing such persistence. Daruma reminds us all to never give up on our dreams.

Classic Purple Daruma Doll

Saturday, June 5th, 2010
A Daruma is a traditional Japanese wishing doll that helps us to achieve our dreams and aspirations.
Here’s how it works: First, think of something special you wish to achieve. Next, draw or paint one of your Daruma doll’s blank eyes. Place Daruma someplace visible, so that while he focuses on your objective, you’ll be reminded to do the same. Once your goal is realized, signify your accomplishment by drawing Daruma’s other eye. Congratulations!
The Japanese people are well known for their longevity and good health, and the color purple represents just that. A purple Daruma inspires dedication to an exercise regime, stands as a silent but persuasive partner in a weight loss challenge, and reminds us of the pleasure of feeling healthy. A purple Daruma is also a thoughtful gift for someone who may be in ill health, perhaps in the hospital, giving extra encouragement to get well soon.
For each Classic Daruma Doll sold, Unique Japan will proudly donate one dollar ($1USD) to the Children’s HeartLink. The Children’s HeartLink is a non-profit organization that helps enhance existing pediatric cardiac programs to support life-saving treatments for needy children.
Product details:

  • 12cm/4.7″ (height) /9cm/3.54″ (width)
  • Individually handcrafted and hand-painted in Takasaki, Japan
  • Painted purple for health and longevity
  • Our Daruma dolls are eco-friendly, made with recycled paper and only water-based paints
  • A trademark heart is painted on the back of each Daruma, giving the owner the option of writing down his or her wish (before or after it comes true!)
  • Individually packaged in a box with instructions on how to use the doll
  • One dollar ($1USD) from each Classic Daruma Doll sold will benefit the Children’s HeartLink
  • All of our Daruma dolls are express shipped direct from Japan
  • Shipping is just $9.99 for each Classic Daruma Doll ordered
Daruma is closely associated with a beloved Japanese proverb, nana korobi yaoki, which states, “Fall down seven times, get up eight”. The Daruma doll’s unique rounded shape allows it to return to its original position even if knocked over, representing such persistence. Daruma reminds us all to never give up on our dreams.

Classic Red Daruma Doll

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

A Daruma is a traditional Japanese wishing doll that helps us to achieve our dreams and aspirations.
Here’s how it works: First, think of something special you wish to achieve. Next, draw or paint one of your Daruma doll’s blank eyes. Place Daruma someplace visible, so that while he focuses on your objective, you’ll be reminded to do the same. Once your goal is realized, signify your accomplishment by drawing Daruma’s other eye. Congratulations!
When it comes to Daruma dolls, it all begins with red. Reminiscent of the rising sun of Japan’s flag, red represents good fortune, happiness, and luck. A red Daruma is an excellent companion for students, to help establish goals and maintain focus throughout a semester or exam period. Job seekers and athletes and sports fans also enjoy having a red Daruma in their corner! For virtually any goal or wish, red is a great choice.
For each Classic Daruma Doll sold, Unique Japan will proudly donate one dollar ($1USD) to the Children’s HeartLink. The Children’s HeartLink is a non-profit organization that helps enhance existing pediatric cardiac programs to support life-saving treatments for needy children.
Product details:

  • 12cm/4.7″ (height) /9cm/3.54″ (width)
  • Individually handcrafted and hand-painted in Takasaki, Japan
  • Painted red for luck and good fortune
  • Our Daruma dolls are eco-friendly, made with recycled paper and only water-based paints
  • A trademark heart is painted on the back of each Daruma, giving the owner the option of writing down his or her wish (before or after it comes true!)
  • Individually packaged in a box with instructions on how to use the doll
  • One dollar ($1USD) from each Classic Daruma Doll sold will benefit the Children’s HeartLink
  • All of our Daruma dolls are express shipped direct from Japan
  • Shipping is just $9.99 for each Classic Daruma Doll ordered
Daruma is closely associated with a beloved Japanese proverb, nana korobi yaoki, which states, “Fall down seven times, get up eight”. The Daruma doll’s unique rounded shape allows it to return to its original position even if knocked over, representing such persistence. Daruma reminds us all to never give up on our dreams.

Oyama 3-Piece Set (Paring, Santoku and Chef’s Knife)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
The set comprises of the following knives:

Oyama Paring Knife

A paring knife is an essential component to any knife collection. This handy stainless steel paring knife is perfect for small slicing and trimming work, especially on fruit. Your culinary horizons expand every time you pick it up.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 130mm (5.1in)
  • 3-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by two layers of soft stainless steels layers – classic samurai sword construction

Oyama Santoku-bocho

The Santoku-bocho is Japan’s universal knife. Santoku means “three virtues” or “three uses”, referring to the three essential cutting tasks this knife performs so well: chopping, dicing, and mincing. This multipurpose knife generally sees the most cutting time in the kitchen given its countless uses.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 165mm (6.5in)
  • 3-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by two layers of soft stainless steels layers – classic samurai sword construction

Oyama Chef’s Knife

Shaped in traditional French Chef fashion, for many trained chefs and cooking enthusiasts this design may be preferred as their multipurpose knife in the kitchen. It is certainly the one to turn to for carving tasks and other tasks that require the extra length. The Oyama 210mm (8.2in) Chef’s Knife (Gyuto) is superb for a great range tasks.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 210mm (8.2in)
  • 3-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by two layers of soft stainless steels layers – classic samurai sword construction

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this UJ Oyama Chef’s knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method. It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

CLEAN MULTI-LAYER PRESSED WOOD HANDLE (Santoku and Chef’s Knife)

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight. Notice that there are no rivets on this full-tang handle – this adds an extra level of cleanliness as rivets can be prone to water seepage after years of use. The handle is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for both right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 3-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by two layers of soft stainless steels layers – classic samurai sword construction
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted UJ Oyama 3-Piece Set (Paring, Santoku-bocho and a 210mm / 8.2 Chef’s Knife from Takefu, Japan)
  • Durable Plastic Sheaths are Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knives
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Gold-Printed Japanese Calligraphy on Cover
  • A Beautiful Kiri Wood Box Makes for Wonderful Presentation and can Conveniently Store the Knives
  • A FREE Kyocera/Fiskars Roll Sharpener is Included with the Set
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Descriptions (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) is currently FREE! Shipments generally leave Japan within 3 weeks and arrive at their destination within 5 days. Tracking code will be provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

Oyama Chef’s Kitchen Knife (210mm / 8.2in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

OVERVIEW

Shaped in traditional French Chef fashion, for many trained chefs and cookiing enthusiasts in Europe and North America this design would be preferred as their multipurpose knife in the kitchen. The Oyama 210mm (8.2in) Chef’s Knife is superb for a great range tasks.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this Oyama Chef’s knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

MULTI-LAYER WATERTIGHT WOOD HANDLE

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 210mm (8.2in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 3-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by two layers of soft stainless steels layers – classic samurai sword construction
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted Oyama Chef’s Knife 210mm / 8.2in Made in Takefu, Japan
  • A Durable Plastic Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.
** If you are interested in purchasing larger quantities of this knife, please contact us directly.

Oyama Santoku-bocho Multipurpose Kitchen Knife (165mm / 6.5in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

OVERVIEW

The Santoku-bocho is Japan’s universal knife. Santoku means “three virtues” or “three uses”, referring to the three essential cutting tasks this knife performs so well: chopping, dicing, and mincing. This multipurpose knife generally sees the most cutting time in the kitchen given its countless uses.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this Oyama Santoku-bocho kitchen knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

MULTI-LAYER WATERTIGHT WOOD HANDLE

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 165mm (6.5in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 3-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by two layers of soft stainless steels layers – classic samurai sword construction
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted Oyama Santoku-bocho from Takefu, Japan
  • A Durable Plastic Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Black Box with Gold Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

Oyama Paring Knife (130mm / 5.1in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

OVERVIEW

A paring knife is an essential component to any knife collection. This handy stainless steel paring knife is perfect for small slicing and trimming work, especially on fruit. Your culinary horizons expand every time you pick it up.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this Oyama Paring knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

MULTI-LAYER WATERTIGHT WOOD HANDLE

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 130mm (5.1in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 3-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by two layers of soft stainless steels layers – classic samurai sword construction
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife!
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted Oyama Paring Knife 130mm / 5.1in from Takefu, Japan
  • A Durable Plastic Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Black Box with Gold Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

R4 Damascus Chef’s Kitchen Knife (210mm / 8.2in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010


Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core

OVERVIEW

Shaped in traditional French Chef fashion, for many trained chefs and cookiing enthusiasts in Europe and North America this design would be preferred as their multipurpose knife in the kitchen. The Damascus 210mm (8.2in) Chef’s Knife (Gyuto) is superb for a great range tasks.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.


Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this R4 Damascus Chef’s knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

OCTAGONAL ‘SMART-CUT’ HARDWOOD HANDLE

The unique octagonal-shaped handle is what really distinguishes this Damascus knife.   It was inspired by the perfectly straight line of Japanese handles found on traditional blades while adding another dimension.   We call the handle ‘smart-cut’ as it helps position your back fingers comfortably at an angle for consistently pitched slices without slippage.  The handle is furthermore joined by a well-balanced bolster and comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic.  It’s a natural fit for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 210mm (8.2in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife.
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted R4 Damascus Chef’s Knife 210mm / 8.2in from Takefu, Japan
  • A Durable Plastic Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

** If you are interested in purchasing larger quantities of this knife, please contact us directly.

R4 Damascus Santoku-bocho Kitchen Knife (165mm / 6.5in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010


Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core

OVERVIEW

The Santoku-bocho is Japan’s multipurpose knife. And the R4 Damascus Santoku on this page is one of the finest in Japan, guaranteed. It is an absolute pleasure to use.
Santoku means “three virtues” or “three uses”, referring to the three essential cutting tasks this knife performs so well: chopping, dicing, and mincing. This multipurpose knife generally sees the most cutting time in the kitchen given its countless uses.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.


Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this R4 Damascus Santoku-bocho knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

OCTAGONAL ‘SMART-CUT’ HARDWOOD HANDLE

The unique octagonal-shaped handle is what really distinguishes this Damascus knife.   It was inspired by the perfectly straight line of Japanese handles found on traditional blades while adding another dimension.   We call the handle ‘smart-cut’ as it helps position your back fingers comfortably at an angle for consistently pitched slices without slippage.  The handle is furthermore joined by a well-balanced bolster and comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic.  It’s a natural fit for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 165mm (6.5in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife.
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted R4 Damascus Santoku-bocho from Takefu, Japan
  • A Durable Plastic Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Absolutely free. Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

R4 Damascus Paring X Knife (150mm / 5.9in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010


Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core

OVERVIEW

A paring knife is an essential component to any knife collection. This handy stainless steel paring knife is perfect for small slicing and trimming work, especially on fruit. Your culinary horizons expand every time you pick it up.

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this UJ Damascus Chef’s knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

OCTAGONAL ‘SMART-CUT’ HARDWOOD HANDLE

The unique octagonal-shaped handle is what really distinguishes this Damascus knife.   It was inspired by the perfectly straight line of Japanese handles found on traditional blades while adding another dimension.   We call the handle ‘smart-cut’ as it helps position your back fingers comfortably at an angle for consistently pitched slices without slippage.  The handle is furthermore joined by a well-balanced bolster and comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic.  It’s a natural fit for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 130mm (5.1in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • UJ Partners receive a 10% Discount on any purchase of a UJ kitchen knife. Eligible partners include students of culinary institutions, professional chefs and major hotel and hospitality organizations and the US Military. Click here for details.
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted UJ Damascus Chef’s Knife 130mm / 5.1in from Takefu, Japan
  • A Durable Plastic Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Domestic & International Express Delivery: ABSOLUTELY FREE! Shipment sent via EMS (Express Mail Service), that’s complete with tracking code. Shipment normally arrives within 4 days once it leaves Japan. Japan domestic deliveries arrive within 1-2 days.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

R4 Damascus Paring Knife (130mm / 5.1in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core

OVERVIEW

A paring knife is an essential component to any knife collection. This remarkable R4 Damascus paring knife is the perfect tool for small slicing and trimming work, especially on fruit and small veggies. Your culinary horizons expand every time you pick it up. And because of it’s octagonal shaped handle, its very easy (and safe) to hand peel at different angles.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

Iron Chef Koumei Nakamura

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this R4 Damascus Paring knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The Unique Japan (UJ) stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

OCTAGONAL ‘SMART-CUT’ HARDWOOD HANDLE

The unique octagonal-shaped handle is what really distinguishes this Damascus knife.   It was inspired by the perfectly straight line of Japanese handles found on traditional blades while adding another dimension.   We call the handle ‘smart-cut’ as it helps position your back fingers comfortably at an angle for consistently pitched slices without slippage.  The handle is furthermore joined by a well-balanced bolster and comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic.  It’s a natural fit for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 130mm (5.1in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife.
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted R4 Damascus Paring Knife (130mm / 5.1in) from Takefu, Japan
  • A Durable Vinyl Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Hard Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page WITHOUT price)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through WorldPay (accepting Visa and MasterCard – place order at bottom of page please)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely Free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

Kyocera/Fiskars Kitchen Knife Roll Sharpener

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Roll sharpener made from fine ceramics
Taking great care of your knives has never been simpler. Kyocera, the Japanese fine ceramics company partnered with Finland’s Fiskars to produce a hand held knife sharpener that works by gripping the non-slip handle with one hand, and sliding the edge of the kitchen knife into the guided groove back and forth about ten times.
Ease of maintenance Both the body and the cover are made from resin and the wheel is made from fine ceramics. The sharpener will never rust even after being washed in water, and it can be air-dried, making the sharpener a very low-maintenance product. It comes highly recommended!

Please note: Not to be used on single-edge knives such as sashimi knives (Yanagi-bocho) or our butcher’s knife (Deba-bocho).

Unsui Japanese Traditional 3-piece Knife Set (Nakiri, Yanagi, Deba)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

FREE Roll Sharpener and Kiri Wood Box!

Explanations for each knife are as follows:

NAKIRI-BOCHO (Vegetable Chopping Knife)

The Nakiri-bocho (literal translation: knife for cutting greens) with its thin straight blade is an excellent tool to chop vegetables. Fast, rythmic and full chopping strokes right down to the board are possible thanks to its lightweight and wide blade design. The Nakiri-bocho is Japan’s oldest knife and a must have in any kitchen worldwide. Several centuries of experience and how-how have gone into perfecting this knife’s design.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 165mm (6.5in)
  • Blade width: 52mm (2.0in)
  • Knife weight: 143g (5.0oz)

YANAGI-BOCHO (Traditional Sashimi Knife)

In Japanese cuisine, it all begins with the pinnacle of the Japanese chef’s craft: sashimi. A delicacy of fresh seafood evenly sliced and plated with wasabi and shoyu (soya sauce), sashimi is served before the main dishes, allowing each and every morsel to be savored and enjoyed to its utmost. The beauty, simplicity and texture of sashimi is unlike anything else.
The Yanagi-bocho (literal translation: willow blade) is the only tool for preparing fresh sashimi. For connoisseurs, this knife, above all others, encapsulates the very essence of Japanese knife design and craftsmanship. The Kuromori Yanagi-bocho’s blade measures 240mm (9.5in), the industry standard length for sushi chefs that allows for extended, single fluid strokes through the fish. This famous Japanese knife’s defining characteristic is its single edge, allowing for greater pitch and, as a result, finer slices of fresh raw fish (sashimi).

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 240mm (9.5in), Japanese industry standard
  • Knife weight: 140g (4.9oz)
  • Japanese shitan (rosewood) handle with its teardrop-shape and distinct ridge makes it very comfortable to hold (right-handed only). For left-handed users, please contact us for options.

DEBA-BOCHO (Traditional Japanese Cleaver)

The Deba-bocho (literal translation: pointed carving knife) is the the preferred fillet tool for traders working at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market. It’s built strong to cut through the toughest food material such as poultry bone, lobster shells, frozen fish, and pumpkin. The UJ Kuromori Yanagi-bocho’s blade measures 165mm and weighs an impressive 315g (11.1oz).
This famous Japanese knife’s defining characteristic is its single edge, allowing for greater pitch and, as a result, effortlessly tear through intended tasks. Keep in mind that the part of the blade nearest the handle is meant to cut thorugh bones, not the tip of the knife. Chefs need not be concerned about chipping with this incredibly durable knife.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 165mm (6.5in)
  • Knife weight: 315g (11.1oz)

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.


Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

SHARPNESS MATTERS

This knife is created with handcrafted construction techniques used when forging a traditional Japanese samurai sword (katana). The blade is hand-forged of both high-carbon and low-carbon steel. The result is an impeccably sharp and lightweight knife that performs its intended purpose with incredible precision.
There is no need to sharpen the knife for the first 6 months of regular usage. It stays VERY sharp. Eventually it will need to be sharpened and we recommend using the Suehiro Roll Sharpener that can sharpen all types of kitchen knives safely and without damage.

THE PRIDE OF ECHIZEN

The knives in our Unsui collection feature a unique hammertone pattern, designed to allow cut food to slide easily from the knife’s surface. The pattern is inspired in part by the exquisite beauty of Echizen Japanese washi paper. In addition, the hammering process allows the molecule mixture to become more compact at the microscopic level, giving the knife its strength, sharpness and longevity. Each knife is a true work of art, with no two knives the same. The superior quality and craftsmanship is strikingly evident.

DEDICATION & DEVOTION

The Japanese kanji stamped on the knife reads Unsui, which means “flowing clouds and water”. This is a term to describe the dedicated spiritual training of Zen Buddhist monks who have achieved enlightenment after an initial period of training under their first master, take to the road in search of other masters. This is a knife meant for someone who is devoted to perfecting his or her craft. The UJ stamp gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

SAKURA (CHERRY) HANDLES

The Yanagi-bocho features a teardrop-shaped sakura (cherry) handle has a well-defined ridge along its side that fits perfectly in hand, as well stabilizes the blade, preventing it from turning and twisting mid-stroke. The Nakiri-bocho’s and Deba-bocho’s handle features a traditional oval shape. All knives are extremely comfortable and natural to hold. The Nakiri-bocho can be used by right or left-handed individuals, the Yanagi-bocho and Deba-bocho are shaped for use by right-handed individuals. For left-handed users, please contact us for options.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques
  • Produced from extremely high quality VG-1 and VG-10 stainless steel
  • Blades contain high levels of Carbon (1%) for strength and Chromium (5%-15%) that gives it strong stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 60-61 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted Unsui Nakiri-bocho, Yanagi-bocho and Deba-bocho from Takefu, Japan
  • Individual Plastic Sheaths to Protect the Blades and Keep Safe from Children
  • One Suehiro Roll Sharpener (For Use on Single AND Double-Edge Blades)
  • All 3 Knives Securely Packaged in a Kiri Wood Box
  • Printed Best Care Instructions
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Warranty: Limited Lifetime
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $39.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

Unsui Nakiri-bocho (Vegetable Chopping Knife, Handmade in Japan)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010


The Ultimate Vegetable Chopping Knife

OVERVIEW

The Nakiri-bocho (literal translation: knife for cutting greens) with its thin straight blade is an excellent tool to chop vegetables. Fast, rythmic and full chopping strokes right down to the board are possible thanks to its lightweight and wide blade design. The Nakiri-bocho is Japan’s oldest knife and a must have in any kitchen worldwide. Several centuries of experience and how-how have gone into perfecting this knife’s design.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.


Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

SHARPNESS MATTERS

This knife is created with handcrafted construction techniques used when forging a traditional Japanese samurai sword (katana). The blade is hand-forged of both high-carbon and low-carbon steel. The result is an impeccably sharp and lightweight knife that performs its intended purpose with incredible precision.
There is no need to sharpen the knife for the first 6 months of regular usage. It stays VERY sharp. Eventually it will need to be sharpened and we recommend using the Suehiro Roll Sharpener that can sharpen all types of kitchen knives safely and without damage.

THE PRIDE OF ECHIZEN

The knives in our Unsui collection feature a unique hammertone pattern, designed to allow cut food to slide easily from the knife’s surface. The pattern is inspired in part by the exquisite beauty of Echizen Japanese washi paper. In addition, the hammering process allows the molecule mixture to become more compact at the microscopic level, giving the knife its strength, sharpness and longevity. Each knife is a true work of art, with no two knives the same. The superior quality and craftsmanship is strikingly evident.

DEDICATION & DEVOTION

The Japanese kanji stamped on the knife reads Unsui, which means “flowing clouds and water”. This is a term to describe the dedicated spiritual training of Zen Buddhist monks who have achieved enlightenment after an initial period of training under their first master, take to the road in search of other masters. This is a knife meant for someone who is devoted to perfecting his or her craft. The UJ stamp gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

SAKURA HANDLE

The sakura (Japanese cherry tree) handle is extremely comfortable and natural to hold and work with for left or right-handed individuals. For an extra $20, this handle can be substituted for a Rosewood handle (as seen on the Kuromori Nakiri-bocho).

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 175mm (6.9in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Extremely sharp and lightweight
  • Produced from extremely high quality V-1 stainless steel
  • Blade contains high levels of Carbon (1%) for strength and Chromium (5%) that gives it adequate stain resistance (must keep dry after use). Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 60-61 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Traditional oval-shaped sakura (Japanese cherry tree) handle allows the knife to chop at any angle required. Comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted Unsui Nakiri-bocho from Takefu, Japan
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

Unsui Deba-bocho (Japanese Cleaver)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Sturdy traditional cleaver designed for tough tasks and fillet fish

OVERVIEW

The Deba-bocho (literal translation: pointed carving knife) is the preferred fillet tool for traders working at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market. It’s built strong to cut through the toughest food material such as poultry bone, lobster shells, frozen fish, and pumpkin. The UJ Unsui Deba-bocho’s blade measures 150mm.
This famous Japanese knife’s defining characteristic is its single edge, allowing for greater pitch and, as a result, effortlessly tear through intended tasks. Keep in mind that the part of the blade nearest the handle is meant to cut thorugh bones, not the tip of the knife. Chefs need not be concerned about chipping with this very durable knife.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

SHARPNESS MATTERS

This knife is created with handcrafted construction techniques used when forging a traditional Japanese samurai sword (katana). The blade is hand-forged of both high-carbon and low-carbon steel. The result is an impeccably sharp and lightweight knife that performs its intended purpose with incredible precision.
There is no need to sharpen the knife for the first 6 months of regular usage. It stays VERY sharp. Eventually it will need to be sharpened and we recommend using the Suehiro Roll Sharpener that can sharpen all types of kitchen knives safely and without damage.

THE PRIDE OF ECHIZEN

The knives in our Unsui collection feature a unique hammertone pattern, designed to allow cut food to slide easily from the knife’s surface. The pattern is inspired in part by the exquisite beauty of Echizen Japanese washi paper. In addition, the hammering process allows the molecule mixture to become more compact at the microscopic level, giving the knife its strength, sharpness and longevity. Each knife is a true work of art, with no two knives the same. The superior quality and craftsmanship is strikingly evident.

DEDICATION & DEVOTION

The Japanese kanji stamped on the knife reads Unsui, which means “flowing clouds and water”. This is a term to describe the dedicated spiritual training of Zen Buddhist monks who have achieved enlightenment after an initial period of training under their first master, take to the road in search of other masters. This is a knife meant for someone who is devoted to perfecting his or her craft. The UJ stamp gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

SAKURA HANDLE

The sakura (Japanese cherry tree) handle is extremely comfortable and natural to hold and work with for left or right-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 150mm (5.9in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Extremely sharp and lightweight
  • Produced from extremely high quality VG-10 stainless steel
  • Blade contains high levels of Carbon (1%) for strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel formulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 60-61 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Traditional oval-shaped sakura (Japanese cherry tree) handle allows the knife to chop at any angle required. Comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed individuals. For left-handed users, please contact us for options.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife!
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted Unsui Deba-bocho from Takefu, Japan
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A UJ knife is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

Unsui Yanagi-bocho (Japanese Sashimi Knife)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

For slicing delicate sashimi (raw fish)

OVERVIEW

In Japanese cuisine, it all begins with the pinnacle of the Japanese chef’s craft: sashimi. A delicacy of fresh seafood evenly sliced and plated with wasabi and shoyu (soya sauce), sashimi is served before the main dishes, allowing each and every morsel to be savored and enjoyed to its utmost. The beauty, simplicity and texture of sashimi is unlike anything else.
The Yanagi-bocho (literal translation: willow blade) is the only tool for preparing fresh sashimi. For connoisseurs, this knife, above all others, encapsulates the very essence of Japanese knife design and craftsmanship. The Unsui Yanagi-bocho’s blade measures 210mm (8.2in), which allows for single fluid strokes through the fish. This famous Japanese knife’s defining characteristic is its single edge, allowing for greater pitch and, as a result, finer slices of fresh raw fish (sashimi).

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife from Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

SHARPNESS MATTERS

This knife is created with handcrafted construction techniques used when forging a traditional Japanese samurai sword (katana). The blade is hand-forged of both high-carbon and low-carbon steel. The result is an impeccably sharp and lightweight knife that performs its intended purpose with incredible precision.
A very sharp sashimi knife is absolutely necessary, and the implications are significant. When slicing fish with a sharp knife you are first and foremost minimizing the cell damage done to the fish. This directly helps to keep the fish fresher, tastier and maintains its colour and presentation. It’s a joy to use and with this knife you can now buy fresh sashimi from your trusted fish source in larger quantities and prepare the slices at home. It’s incredibly inspirational and will save you some money too – sushi restaurants can get expensive if you frequent them often.
There is no need to sharpen the knife for the first 6 months of regular usage. It stays VERY sharp. Eventually it will need to be sharpened and we recommend using the Suehiro Roll Sharpener that can sharpen all types of kitchen knives safely and without damage.

THE PRIDE OF ECHIZEN

The knives in our Unsui collection feature a unique hammertone pattern, designed to allow cut food to slide easily from the knife’s surface. The pattern is inspired in part by the exquisite beauty of Echizen Japanese washi paper. In addition, the hammering process allows the molecule mixture to become more compact at the microscopic level, giving the knife its strength, sharpness and longevity. Each knife is a true work of art, with no two knives the same. The superior quality and craftsmanship is strikingly evident.

DEDICATION & DEVOTION

The Japanese kanji stamped on the knife reads Unsui, which means “flowing clouds and water”. This is a term to describe the dedicated spiritual training of Zen Buddhist monks who have achieved enlightenment after an initial period of training under their first master, take to the road in search of other masters. This is a knife meant for someone who is devoted to perfecting his or her craft. The UJ stamp gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

SAKURA TEARDROP HANDLE

The teardrop-shaped sakura (Japanese cherry tree) handle has a well-defined ridge along its side that fits perfectly in hand, as well stabilizes the blade, preventing it from turning and twisting mid-stroke. It is extremely comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed individuals. For left-handed users, please contact us for options.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 210mm (8.2in)
  • Knife weight: 140g (4.9oz)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Extremely sharp and lightweight
  • Produced from extremely high quality VG-10 stainless steel
  • Blade contains high levels of Carbon (1%) for strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel formulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 60-61 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Japanese sakura handle with its teardrop-shape makes it very comfortable to hold (right-handed only). For left-handed users, please contact us for options.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife!
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted Unsui Yanagi-bocho from Takefu, Japan
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

Shikibu Damascus Utility Knife with Stainless Steel Handle (180mm / 7.1in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

An Incredibly Sharp Knife that Pays Tribute to Lady Murasaki

OVERVIEW

This splendid stainless steel Gyuto (Utility knife) is ideal for slicing roast beef, turkey, ham, and vegetables. Not only handy for the holidays, this is a knife that simplifies kitchen tasks all year round. It is also one of the sharpest knives in our collection. It cuts through food like butter.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife for Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

33 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 33 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

VG-10 STEEL HAGANE

The core of this Shikibu Damascus Gyuto knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of VG-10 Stainless Steel.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality.

MURASAKI SHIKIBU TRIBUTE

Each piece is a true work of art, each with its own unique character. The knife is engraved with the kanji characters “Shikibu Atsurai”, which is a tribute to Murasaki Shikibu. Lady Murasaki as she is often known in English, was a Japanese novelist, poet, and a maid of honor of the imperial court during the Heian period (794-1185 AD). She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1008, one of the earliest novels in human history.
Murasaki Shikibu spent one year of her life in Takefu in Echizen, and there is now a beautiful park built in her honor. Her father, Fujiwara Tametoki, was appointed provincial overseer of Echizen Province and Lady Murasaki came with him. Her experiences in Echizen are said to have had a major influence on her writing The Tale of Genji, and many place names from Echizen appear in the story.
The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

STAINLESS STEEL HANDLE

This knife features a lightweight and easy-to-clean stainless steel dimple-grip handle with well-balanced bolster that’s watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 180mm (7.1in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 33-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by 30 layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two additional decarbonization prevention layers
  • The VG-10 Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.0%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 60-61 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Lightweight and easy-to-clean stainless steel dimple-grip handle. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted Shikibu Damascus Gyuto from Takefu, Japan
  • A Durable Plastic Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with an Elegant Painting of Murasaki Shikibu Printed on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $19.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

R2 Damascus 3-piece Knife Set (Paring, Santoku, Chef’s Knife)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core. FREE Roll Sharpener and Kiri Wood Box Included.
This is, in our opinion, the finest 3-piece Damascus Knife Set made in Japan. The set comprises of the following knives: DAMASCUS PARING KNIFE A paring knife is an essential component to any knife collection. This handy stainless steel paring knife is perfect for small slicing and trimming work, especially on fruit. Your culinary horizons expand every time you pick it up.
  • Blade length: 130mm (5.1in)
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two additional decarbonization prevention layers

UJ DAMASCUS SANTOKU-BOCHO

The Santoku-bocho is Japan’s universal knife. Santoku means “three virtues” or “three uses”, referring to the three essential cutting tasks this knife performs so well: chopping, dicing, and mincing. This multipurpose knife generally sees the most cutting time in the kitchen given its countless uses.
  • Blade length: 170mm (6.7in)
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two additional decarbonization prevention layers

UJ DAMASCUS CHEF’S KNIFE

Shaped in traditional French Chef fashion, for many trained chefs and cooking enthusiasts this design may be preferred as their multipurpose knife in the kitchen. It is certainly the one to turn to for carving tasks and other tasks that require the extra length. The Damascus 210mm (8.2in) Chef’s Knife (Gyuto) is superb for a great range tasks.
  • Blade length: 210mm (8.2in)
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two additional decarbonization prevention layers

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife for Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of these R2 Damascus knives, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

MULTI-LAYER WATERTIGHT WOOD HANDLES

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

WOODEN SHEATH FOR PROTECTION

A beautiful tailor-made black wooden sheath handcrafted in Japan is included to protect and safeguard the knife.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two additional decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted R2 Damascus 3-Piece Set (Paring, Santoku-bocho and a 210mm / 8.2 Chef’s Knife from Takefu, Japan)
  • A Beautiful Black Wooden Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knives
  • A Kiri Wood Box is also Included to Transport the Knives
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Descriptions (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Domestic & International Express Delivery: ABSOLUTELY FREE! Shipment sent via EMS (Express Mail Service), that’s complete with tracking code. Shipment normally arrives within 4 days once it leaves Japan. Japan domestic deliveries arrive within 1-2 days.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

R2 Damascus Chef’s Kitchen Knife (240mm / 9.5in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core

OVERVIEW

This is one impressive knife.
Shaped in traditional French Chef fashion, for many professionally trained chefs this blade length is just what the doctor ordered. The Damascus 240mm (9.5in) Chef’s Knife (Gyuto) will be the delight of professionals from all walks of life.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife for Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this R2 Damascus Chef’s knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

MULTI-LAYER WATERTIGHT WOOD HANDLE

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

WOODEN SHEATH FOR PROTECTION

A beautiful tailor-made black wooden sheath handcrafted in Japan is included to protect and safeguard the knife.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 240mm (9.5in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife.
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted R2 Damascus Chef’s Knife 240mm / 9.5in from Takefu, Japan
  • A Beautiful Black Wooden Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Domestic & International Express Delivery: ABSOLUTELY FREE! Shipment sent via EMS (Express Mail Service), that’s complete with tracking code. Shipment normally arrives within 4 days once it leaves Japan. Japan domestic deliveries arrive within 1-2 days.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

R2 Damascus Chef’s Kitchen Knife (210mm / 8.2in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core

OVERVIEW

Shaped in traditional French Chef fashion, for many trained chefs and cookiing enthusiasts in Europe and North America this design would be preferred as their multipurpose knife in the kitchen. The Damascus 210mm (8.2in) Chef’s Knife (Gyuto) is superb for a great range tasks.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife for Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this R2 Damascus Chef’s knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

MULTI-LAYER WATERTIGHT WOOD HANDLE

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

WOODEN SHEATH FOR PROTECTION

A beautiful tailor-made black wooden sheath handcrafted in Japan is included to protect and safeguard the knife.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 210mm (8.2in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife.
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted R2 Damascus Chef’s Knife 210mm / 8.2in from Takefu, Japan
  • A Beautiful Black Wooden Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Domestic & International Express Delivery: ABSOLUTELY FREE! Shipment sent via EMS (Express Mail Service), that’s complete with tracking code. Shipment normally arrives within 4 days once it leaves Japan. Japan domestic deliveries arrive within 1-2 days.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

** If you are interested in purchasing larger quantities of this knife, please contact us directly.

R2 Damascus Santoku-bocho (Japanese Multipurpose Kitchen Knife)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core

OVERVIEW

The Santoku-bocho is Japan’s multipurpose knife. And the Damascus Santoku on this page is the finest in Japan, guaranteed.
Santoku means “three virtues” or “three uses”, referring to the three essential cutting tasks this knife performs so well: chopping, dicing, and mincing. This multipurpose knife generally sees the most cutting time in the kitchen given its countless uses.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife for Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this R2 Damascus Santoku-bocho knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

MULTI-LAYER WATERTIGHT WOOD HANDLE

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

WOODEN SHEATH FOR PROTECTION

A beautiful tailor-made black wooden sheath handcrafted in Japan is included to protect and safeguard the knife.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 165mm (6.5in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted R2 Damascus Santoku-bocho from Takefu, Japan
  • A Beautiful Black Wooden Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Domestic & International Express Delivery: ABSOLUTELY FREE! Shipment sent via EMS (Express Mail Service), that’s complete with tracking code. Shipment normally arrives within 4 days once it leaves Japan. Japan domestic deliveries arrive within 1-2 days.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

R2 Damascus Paring Kitchen Knife (130mm / 5.1in)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Featuring 69 layers of Stainless Steel with a Powdered Steel Hagane Core

OVERVIEW

A paring knife is an essential component to any knife collection. This handy stainless steel paring knife is perfect for small slicing and trimming work, especially on fruit. Your culinary horizons expand every time you pick it up.

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

These kitchen knives were produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife for Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.
Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

69 LAYERS OF DAMASCUS DURABILITY

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

POWDERED STEEL HAGANE

The core of this R2 Damascus Paring knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.
It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

MULTI-LAYER WATERTIGHT WOOD HANDLE

The laminated black handle, joined by a well-balanced bolster, is comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

WOODEN SHEATH FOR PROTECTION

A beautiful tailor-made black wooden sheath handcrafted in Japan is included to protect and safeguard the knife.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 130mm (5.1in)
  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Fabulously sharp and lightweight
  • 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
  • The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 per knife.
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted R2 Damascus Paring Knife 130mm / 5.1in from Takefu, Japan
  • A Beautiful Black Wooden Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
  • Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Domestic & International Express Delivery: ABSOLUTELY FREE! Shipment sent via EMS (Express Mail Service), that’s complete with tracking code. Shipment normally arrives within 4 days once it leaves Japan. Japan domestic deliveries arrive within 1-2 days.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.

Kuromori 3-piece Kitchen Knife Set (Nakiri, Yanagi, Deba)

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

From top: Nakiri-bocho (for chopping), Yanagi-bocho (for slicing), Deba-bocho (for carving)

Behold UJ’s finest 3-piece traditional Japanese knife set.

Explanations for each knife follow.

NAKIRI-BOCHO (Traditional Vegetable Chopping Knife)

The Nakiri-bocho (literal translation: knife for cutting greens) with its thin straight blade is an excellent tool to chop vegetables. Fast, rythmic and full chopping strokes right down to the board are possible thanks to its lightweight and wide blade design. The Nakiri-bocho is Japan’s oldest knife design and a must have in any kitchen worldwide. Several centuries of experience and how-how have gone into perfecting this knife.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 165mm (6.5in)
  • Blade width: 52mm (2.0in)
  • Knife weight: 143g (5.0oz)

YANAGI-BOCHO (Traditional Sashimi Knife)

In Japanese cuisine, it all begins with the pinnacle of the Japanese chef’s craft: sashimi. A delicacy of fresh seafood evenly sliced and plated with wasabi and shoyu (soya sauce), sashimi is served before the main dishes, allowing each and every morsel to be savored and enjoyed to its utmost. The beauty, simplicity and texture of sashimi is unlike anything else.
The Yanagi-bocho (literal translation: willow blade) is the only tool for preparing fresh sashimi. For connoisseurs, this knife, above all others, encapsulates the very essence of Japanese knife design and craftsmanship. The Kuromori Yanagi-bocho’s blade measures 240mm (9.5in), the industry standard length for sushi chefs that allows for extended, single fluid strokes through the fish. This famous Japanese knife’s defining characteristic is its single edge, allowing for greater pitch and, as a result, finer slices of fresh raw fish (sashimi).

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 240mm (9.5in), Japanese industry standard
  • Knife weight: 140g (4.9oz)
  • Japanese shitan (rosewood) handle with its teardrop-shape and distinct ridge makes it very comfortable to hold (right-handed only). For left-handed users, please contact us for options.

DEBA-BOCHO (Traditional Japanese Cleaver)

The Deba-bocho (literal translation: pointed carving knife) is the the preferred fillet tool for traders working at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market. It’s built strong to cut through the toughest food material such as poultry bone, lobster shells, frozen fish, and pumpkin. The UJ Kuromori Yanagi-bocho’s blade measures 165mm and weighs an impressive 315g (11.1oz).
This famous Japanese knife’s defining characteristic is its single edge, allowing for greater pitch and, as a result, effortlessly tear through intended tasks. Keep in mind that the part of the blade nearest the handle is meant to cut thorugh bones, not the tip of the knife. Chefs need not be concerned about chipping with this incredibly durable knife.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade length: 165mm (6.5in)
  • Knife weight: 315g (11.1oz)

KIRIN HAMONO & UNIQUE JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

This kitchen knife was produced by Kirin Hamono exclusively for Unique Japan. Kirin Hamono has been crafting quality kitchen knives in Japan for more than 130 years – having established their guild just after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This is a significant time in Japanese history as it marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and with it Japanese swords (katana) were no longer permitted to be worn in public by Samurai.
These knives are born by swordsmiths who simply channeled their katana expertise towards cutlery production to meet a new set of timely demands. Craftsmen working at Kirin Hamono STILL USE sword-making techniques to this day to forge kitchen knives, and are one of the last remaining workshops in Japan proudly doing so.
Kirin knives have been used by many top chefs in Japan that include Nobuo Murakami, the former head chef at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel and Komei Nakamura who was a champion Iron Chef. A “Kirin” is Japan’s most powerful fire-breathing mythical creature that is said to bring a good omen.

YOUR KITCHEN FILLED WITH ENERGY

In today’s day and age, we at Unique Japan feel it’s increasingly important to support the men and women who continue to give their personal heart and soul into quality handcrafted products. Each purchase of a Kirin-made kitchen knife for Unique Japan directly supports these modern-day masters.

Your kitchen will in turn be filled with the human energy that went into crafting each and every knife. We absolutely promise you’ll feel the difference. Not only is it safer to use a sharp knife, your food will taste better. And most importantly, you’ll be noticeably inspired to eat healthy and enjoy the foods of life!

SAMURAI CODE, SAMURAI SHARP

The name Kuromori means “Black Forest” and was inspired by the classic samurai code of ethics and conduct known as Hagakure – which translates to “Hidden among the Leaves”. Each knife is created with handcrafted construction techniques used when forging a traditional Japanese samurai sword (katana). The result are impeccably sharp and lightweight knives that performs its intended purpose with incredible precision.

PAYING RESPECT

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

ROSEWOOD HANDLES

The Yanagi-bocho and the Nakiri-bocho both feature a teardrop-shaped rosewood handle has a well-defined ridge along its side that fits perfectly in hand, as well stabilizes the blade, preventing it from turning and twisting mid-stroke. The Deba-bocho’s handle features a traditional oval shape. All knives are extremely comfortable and natural to hold and meant to use by right-handed individuals. For left-handed users, we can produce this set for no additional cost. Please contact us to order.

SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADITION

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

  • Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
  • Produced from extremely high quality VG-10 stainless steel
  • Blade contains high levels of Carbon (1%) for strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
  • Hardened to HRC 60-61 (Rockwell Scale)
  • Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters). Just $10 for the set!
  • Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike.
  • Each knife holds the soul and energy of the men and women who personally handcrafted it.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Genuine Handcrafted UJ Kuromori Nakiri-bocho, Yanagi-bocho and Deba-bocho from Takefu, Japan
  • Plastic Sheaths to Keep Each Blade Safe
  • All three knives Beautifully and Securely Packaged in a Wood Box
  • One Suehiro Roll Sharpener (For Single and Double-edge Blades) Absolutely Free
  • Securely Packaged in Boxs with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
  • Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
  • Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • 110% Money Back Guarantee
  • Payments: Fully Secure through PayPal (accepting all major credit cards and debit cards)
  • Deliveries within Japan: Absolutely free. Shipments generally arrive within 1-2 days once dispatched.
  • International Express Delivery: Shipment is sent via EMS (Express Mail Service) for only $59.99 from Japan. Normally arrives within 4 days once dispatched. Track and trace code provided.
  • Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment. These knives are simply the best Japan has to offer.

One more

Monday, April 5th, 2010

One More

Steam

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Steam

Slow cooker

Monday, April 5th, 2010
Slow cooker

Make rice

Monday, April 5th, 2010

David Stones – Woodblock Artist Miso Vats

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
David Stones - Woodblock Artist Miso Vats - Hacho Company
Artist’s notes:

Miso, a staple food and seasoning, is fermented in massive Cedar vats. After 30 months or so, these are emptied, repaired and left on their sides throughout the plant before re-use. An unusual location to record home-town Okazaki’s Hacho Miso factory… providing the printer can withstand the strong, yet not unpleasant, smell of Miso from inside the vat he’s standing in…

Japanese woodblock printing carries a long, rich history that reached its heights in the Edo period (1603 to 1867). Traditionally the art of creating a woodblock print was broken down into the following specialties*:

  1. First, an artist would create a design.
  2. From that drawing, a block copyist would create a very fine black-and-white drawing on paper.
  3. The print would be passed on to blockcarvers who, using chisels, would carve a series of woodblocks—first, a “key block” showing the outlines of the print, and then one block for each color to be printed – often 15 or more blocks were required.
  4. When the blocks were complete, printers would apply ink using brushes. Laying a sheet of paper face down on top of the block, the printer rubbed the ink onto [handmade] paper using a round, flat pad, called a “baren”.
David Stones applies these same techniques, with one great exception: all work is completely designed, hand-carved and hand printed by the artist himself with absolutely no machinery involved in the process. David uses aged cherry wood and a soft magnolia wood that helps deliver a natural and desired finish.

Print details:

  • Hand-carved and hand printed from 14 blocks of wood
  • Printed on beautiful Echizen hand-made paper. (Echizen is a small city near the Sea of Japan with a long tradition of paper making. Papermakers there were once given the honour of creating Japan’s paper currency from the start of the Meiji Restoration in 1868.)
  • Individually stamped and signed by the artist
  • Limited edition first printing, with only 200 prints made
  • 23cm diameter (9″ approx.)
  • All prints come complete with a complimentary pre-cut mat border.
  • For this print a circular cream mat border with a thickness of 2mm will be included in the shipment (frame not included).
Artist profile

Born in England, David Stones attended Lincoln College of Art studying printing and design. First visiting Japan in 1971, he returned in 1972 and discovered the world of woodblock prints.

With guidance from long-established print-maker Tomikichiro Tokuriki, of Kyoto, he began to produce his own small prints in Nagoya. Trial and error gave much experience. In 1983, his first solo show opened in the small city of Okazaki, near to where he had moved after renovating an abandoned farmhouse in the countryside where he still lives today with his wife Akiko.
*source: pbs.org

David Stones – Woodblock Artist Cormorant Fishing

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
David Stones - Woodblock Artist Cormorant Fishing
Artist’s notes:

Fishing with Cormorants is an ancient art of the evening on the Nagara River, Gifu. Large braziers, with wood blazing and sparks flying, hang over the prow lighting the river to attract fish… the Cormorants, and their master fisherman, go to work…. This is the view of that fisherman, one of three men in your rolling, pitching, longboat…

Japanese woodblock printing carries a long, rich history that reached its heights in the Edo period (1603 to 1867). Traditionally the art of creating a woodblock print was broken down into the following specialties*:

  1. First, an artist would create a design.
  2. From that drawing, a block copyist would create a very fine black-and-white drawing on paper.
  3. The print would be passed on to blockcarvers who, using chisels, would carve a series of woodblocks—first, a “key block” showing the outlines of the print, and then one block for each color to be printed – often 15 or more blocks were required.
  4. When the blocks were complete, printers would apply ink using brushes. Laying a sheet of paper face down on top of the block, the printer rubbed the ink onto [handmade] paper using a round, flat pad, called a “baren”.
David Stones applies these same techniques, with one great exception: all work is completely designed, hand-carved and hand printed by the artist himself with absolutely no machinery involved in the process. David uses aged cherry wood and a soft magnolia wood that helps deliver a natural and desired finish.

Print details:

  • Hand-carved and hand printed from 20 blocks of wood
  • Printed on beautiful Echizen hand-made paper. (Echizen is a small city near the Sea of Japan with a long tradition of paper making. Papermakers there were once given the honour of creating Japan’s paper currency from the start of the Meiji Restoration in 1868.)
  • Individually stamped and signed by the artist
  • Limited edition first printing, with only 200 prints made
  • 19.8cm x 19.8cm (7.75″ x 7.75″ approx.)
  • All prints come complete with a complimentary pre-cut mat border.
  • For this print a dark blue mat border with a thickness of 2mm and a width of 41mm will be included in the shipment (frame not included).
Artist profile

Born in England, David Stones attended Lincoln College of Art studying printing and design. First visiting Japan in 1971, he returned in 1972 and discovered the world of woodblock prints.

With guidance from long-established print-maker Tomikichiro Tokuriki, of Kyoto, he began to produce his own small prints in Nagoya. Trial and error gave much experience. In 1983, his first solo show opened in the small city of Okazaki, near to where he had moved after renovating an abandoned farmhouse in the countryside where he still lives today with his wife Akiko.
*source: pbs.org