Good tools. The people behind them. What I learn along the way.
Explore the blacksmiths, sharpeners and workshops behind Japanese kitchen knives.
Explore the maker map →Start cookingCompare a short list of knives and stones, with care requirements and optional accessories.
Open Tool Finder →
Guide · 4 min readThree options with different priorities: initial cost, a first Japanese gyuto, or a very thin edge. Here is what I know and what I have not tested.
Ownership notes + researched comparisonA Victorinox or Tojiro, a useful board and one sharpening stone. A small starting kit you can grow with.
Research-led buying guide
Start with one 1000-grit stone. King is my value choice; Shapton is my convenience choice. Here is what actually changes.
Research-led guideI spent a couple of years as a line cook. My Tojiro DP stayed with me, and learning about sharpening and makers became a lasting interest. This is where I share that learning, with personal experience and research clearly labelled.
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