Love love love this knife. Two years ago I received the same brand knife, but the santoku blade, and I’ve used it for absolutely everything. This utility knife that I recently got is much more nimble, which is a refreshing change when cutting up smaller items requiring a bit more precision. Beautifully sharp, well balanced, a distinct pleasure to work with.

Authentic Japanese Knife

The prep knife is perfect for smaller cutting but is a go-to knife for a lot of people because of the shorter, curved blade. It also has that true Asian edge making it razor sharp.Kaizen II is an authentic Japanese knife; much of the process is by hand. It is made from FC61 steel which is very hard (think great edge retention) but also extremely durable (very chip resistant). I don't believe anyone else is using this type of steel. The beautiful 64 layerDamascus design protects the core of the knife as well. The handle is authentic to Japanese heritage also, with its D shape design. It is extremely comfortable in your hand and is made of micarta which is a linen and resin mixture. It has the look and feel of wood, with the durability of a synthetic ... MoreThe prep knife is perfect for smaller cutting but is a go-to knife for a lot of people because of the shorter, curved blade. It also has that true Asian edge making it razor sharp.Kaizen II is an authentic Japanese knife; much of the process is by hand. It is made from FC61 steel which is very hard (think great edge retention) but also extremely durable (very chip resistant). I don't believe anyone else is using this type of steel. The beautiful 64 layerDamascus design protects the core of the knife as well. The handle is authentic to Japanese heritage also, with its D shape design. It is extremely comfortable in your hand and is made of micarta which is a linen and resin mixture. It has the look and feel of wood, with the durability of a synthetic material.Miyabi knives are made and sold in Japan as premium knives.

Beautiful, any way you slice it.

The balance and weight of this prep knife is perfect. It's a joy to hold and to behold. Beautiful Damascus pattern, gorgeous solid wood, excellent attention to detail. Japanese aesthetic and craftsmanship, German engineering... If history has taught us anything, for better or worse, these cultures know how to create beautifully efficient weaponry... Er... Cutlery. It's an excellent knife.

Excellent Miyabi knife with amazing craftsmanship

Simply a phenomenal knife. I first owned the birchwood chef’s knife and it’s a workhorse. Although more delicate in feel than western knives, it’s very easy to develop a preference for Japanese knives. The sharper steel requires a bit more care than other knives, but is worth it for the performance you get.The packaging is as nice as it is for every Miyabi knife. Beautiful black magnetic flap box. The birchwood handle is elegant and soft but grips well. I always like to condition the handle with a little mineral oil to give it some shine and keep the handle from drying out. The length is perfect for delicate activities such as paring and design, but is perfect for some heftier activities like vegetables and fish.Excellent! Highly recommend.

Great prepping knife

Love the look and feel. Handle is a little short for my average size hand. With positioning of my grip, not really an issue. Depth of the blade is perfect to allow for slicing and maneuvering sliced or diced food around the prep surface. Will likely be the last knife for prep that I’ll ever need to buy.

Great quality, if a little expensive

Great balance and edge suited for more delicate work, and the size makes it ideally suited for prep tasks like peeling potatoes. Definitely a fancy way to peel potatoes but the quality is there. Makes a beautiful gift and is more art than knife, yet still useful in the kitchen.

Hands Down the Best

As a professional chef, I own several lines of the Miyabi knives. This birchwood utility is a work of art among art. Photos do no justice for how this wood looks in person. Very light and balanced. When trimming whole beef tenderloin, the blade slices effortlessly. When you work with this knife, you can feel and see the level of expertise that goes into making this knife and know without a doubt this was crafted by passionate hands.

My Go-To Knife!

In a very short time, this knife has become the household go-to knife! The balance is perfect for me and makes it easy to handle. I have never had a sharper knife...or more beautiful. Completely, totally, and extremely happy with my purchase.These knives require a little more care and consideration than your average kitchen knife, but I plan on keeping mine for a lifetime.

Precision cutting at your fingers

The tip of this blade follows the exact line you trace. This straight paring knife, like all Kaizen paring knives, is both elegant to use and beautiful to look at. The slim D-shaped handle tucks into the fingers confidently. The blade is both hard and light at the same time, making it glide through delicate fruits and hearty peels effortlessly. That's because the 64 layers of molten steel applied over the VG10 steel core hold a tight edge. Less work for more precise cuts.Adding to the enjoyment of this phenomenal cutting tool is its beauty. The Damascus-style polishing showing the layers and, the linen Micarta handle with finishing details combine to make using and owning this knife a joy. Hone regularly. Hand wash. This knife will be sharp and beautiful for a ... MoreThe tip of this blade follows the exact line you trace. This straight paring knife, like all Kaizen paring knives, is both elegant to use and beautiful to look at. The slim D-shaped handle tucks into the fingers confidently. The blade is both hard and light at the same time, making it glide through delicate fruits and hearty peels effortlessly. That's because the 64 layers of molten steel applied over the VG10 steel core hold a tight edge. Less work for more precise cuts.Adding to the enjoyment of this phenomenal cutting tool is its beauty. The Damascus-style polishing showing the layers and, the linen Micarta handle with finishing details combine to make using and owning this knife a joy. Hone regularly. Hand wash. This knife will be sharp and beautiful for a lifetime.

Valuable Addition

This utility knife is a great addition to any home. Its shorter blade length makes it extremely versatile. Many people end up preferring it over the traditional chef knife.The birchwood handle is so unique. It is very comfortable with its traditional Asian D shape plus the birchwood material makes it very slip resistant. I love how the handle will become very personal as it absorbs oils from your hands and develops its own personality.The 100 layer damascus blade is made from a very sharp SG2 steel core that not only makes it very durable but incredibly beautiful.If you want an authentic Japanese knife, end your search with Miyabi. They are made and sold in Japan as the premium knife.