Knifewear’s Top 5 Gyutos of 2025

Haruyuki Nagisa is an awesome knife for someone totally new to Japanese Knives, and it even makes a great gift! The blade has a super shiny tsuchime (hammered) finish that is handy if you want a little more food separation. However, the real show-stopper of this knife is the damascus pattern towards the edge. “Nagisa” means “Edge of the Wave”  because the damascus literally looks like waves crashing against the knife's edge. Poetic, eh? The AUS-10 stainless steel is both sharp and not too delicate. With the finish and steel combined, this knife is a perfect way to start your knife collection.

A new addition to our line up at Knifewear, the Ichigo SLD Migaki line is a great knife that sits in a sweet spot in terms of size.  At 195mm, it takes it’s place right between a classic 165mm santoku, and 210mm gyuto, making it phenomenal for the home chef who wants something nimble but still wants to cut larger veggies too!  Don’t let the understated looks fool you, in the parlance of the youth, this knife slaps!

When I started working as a line cook way back when, the knives I was using weren’t san-mai (knives made of 3 layers of steel), Japanese handled, carbon steel knives, they were European, utilitarian and sturdy.  Imagine that, but now add in a good dollop of Japanese finesse and harder steel.  This knife is thin, precise and more rugged than you’d expect from a Japanese knife.  A perfect choice for your first Japanese knife for home or behind the line!

Masashi-san rarely misses, and this is a definite hit.  Beautifully folded damascus enclosing some of the best SLD semi-stainless steel available. Whether you’re after a new tool to make your carrots quiver in fear, or a piece of art to hang in the kitchen, this is the answer. I mean, look at it, do I need to say anymore?  

Mcusta are a Seki-based knife making company who go to great lengths to prove that knives don’t need to be handmade to be great, and the Beyond is the latest in their line up to showcase their beauty and craftsmanship.  It has a carbon steel core, which means it’ll usually stay sharp longer than a lot of stainless steel, but it can also rust.  Keeping it clean and dry is vital! The stainless cladding, however, means you only need to worry about the core steel, and not the full blade.  Its twisted octagon handle and steel cap on the handle really makes this a unique piece to add to, or begin, your collection.