Japanese Chef's Knives

What is the Global G-2 Chef's Knife?

The Global G-2 is a Japanese chef’s knife designed for everyday kitchen tasks such as slicing, chopping, and dicing. Featuring a thin blade, ultra sharp 15° edge angle, and lightweight stainless steel construction making it easier to handle than most Western chef's knives. Loved by professional chefs around the world, the award-winning G-2 is the best-selling Japanese kitchen knife ever made!

What makes the G-2 Chef's Knife a cut above the rest?

• High-carbon Cromova 18 stainless steel for corrosion resistance, durability and easy sharpening
• Hollow, sand-filed handle for perfect balance and control
• Ultra sharp 15° blade edge for smooth, effortless cutting
• Winner of Which Best Knife and the Housewares ICON awards

The name 'UKON' has many positive connotations in Japanese legend. Our favourite use of the word lies in the expression 'Tachibana No Ukon' referring to the Mandarin Tree that was symbolically planted on the right-hand side of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. It was said to balance the Cherry Blossom Tree on the left-hand side, known as the 'Sakura No Sakon'. Together they replaced the Samurai Guards who had until then protected the Emperor, but who were deemed no longer necessary during times of peace.

In true GLOBAL tradition, the knife is constructed from the best Stainless Steel material and the UKON series features thicker blades to enhance performance. UKON knives are subject to even more precise grinding and finishing work, making them 10 percent sharper out of the box. The knives are designed with an ambidextrous thumb rest that sits closer to the blade for added control and efficiency. The underside of the handle features GLOBAL's trademark indentations, making UKON knives extremely comfortable to hold.

The Global Ukon GU-01 Chef’s Knife is a versatile all-purpose blade that excels at every cutting task you can think of in the kitchen. The GU-01 is great for chopping vegetables, meat and fish, and it can also be used to finely chop herbs or peel garlic. Whatever the task, slicing, dicing, chopping or mincing, you can rely on this chef’ knife to perform every time.

The G-77 Global Fluted 20cm Chef's Knife is a medium-sized cook's knife that will perform a variety of kitchen tasks. It has a nice sized blade good for chopping, slicing and dicing and is useful whether you want to cut up vegetables or slice meat. It features improved flutes to the blade to prevent sticking.

The Global Ni Oriental Fluted Cook's Knife is one of the few fluted blades within the Global Ni range. The blade is Orientally styled which means the top of the tip of the blade is slightly raised which enables you to use a rock n' chop method. Secondly the size, 20cm makes it a knife for all medium to hard tasks in the kitchen so it becomes the go-to knife of choice due to its range of uses. Finally, the blade comes with flutes that helps stop food from sticking to the blades which makes it very efficient when doing repetitive kitchen task saving you time and energy. Global Ni handles retain Global’s famous dimples to provide grip and with a seamless join between the handle and blade retain Global’s distinctive look and design. The cook's knife is the multipurpose workhorse of the kitchen. Perfect for mincing, cutting, chopping, slicing and prep work.

There are 3 different sizes of Global Ni cook's knives. The GN-009 is the most popular size with a good 20cm blade. It is the Global Ni equivelent to the best selling and award winning Global Classic G-2. If you are looking for one good knife, or one knife to start off your Global Ni collection, the GN-009 is probably where you should start. As cook's knives, they can be used for most kitchen tasks, slicing, chopping and cutting and are the 'go to' knives in the Global Ni range. The Global Ni cook's knife additionally comes in a 16cm size as the GN-008 and 26cm as the GN-010. The two smaller sizes also come in fluted versions as the GN-001 and GN-002.

The G-78 is a cook's knife that will perform a variety of kitchen tasks. The blade good for chopping, slicing and dicing and is useful whether you want to cut up vegetables or slice meat. It features improved flutes to the blade to prevent sticking.

The SAI-01 is the leading knife in the Global SAI range. As the 19cm chef's knife it can perform any kitchen task and is the perfect all round knife including mincing, dicing, chopping and slicing. The handle design incorporates an ergonomic thumb rest which helps set the right grip for the best cutting technique. The 19cm chef's knife is a good size and is equivalent in the SAI range to the best selling knife in the classic range the G-2. Enjoy slicing through veg like butter with this massively over spec'd knife. The cook's knife comes in two further sizes. The SAI-06, a 25cm chef's knife will be more suited towards professional chefs, the SAI-M01 at 14cm is the smaller version of the chef's knife.

As a chef's knife the G-4 is suitable for most kitchen tasks, slicing, dicing and chopping. There is very little difference in performance between the G-4 and the classic chef knife, the G-2. The difference is cosmetic, i.e. the kink in the blade. This gives the knife an 'oriental' styling, but it bears no meaning to the function of the knife. It is not designed specifically for oriental food, or oriental ways of using a knife, it is just a different shape of cook's knife. It does have a nice upward curve to the blade, which when cutting with the knife allows it to rock up and down on the chopping board, a bit like a mezzaluna.

The shape has been so popular that the second new series of Global knives, the Global NI series, has been based on this knife design. The G-4 also comes in a fluted version as the G-66 and in a smaller size as the GS-58.

If you needed just one knife for your kitchen go for a quality chefs knife and if you are going for Global buy the G-2. The G-2 is the best-selling Japanese kitchen knife ever made! It can slice, dice, chop, and really do anything that you need. A multi-purpose all round blade that is included in virtually every knife set produced. It has won dozens of awards over the years testifying to the popularity of the blade. Global (represented by the G-2) has won the Which? Best Knife category 3 times in a row.

Further it has won the Restaurant Magazines Readers Choice Award 8 years in a row. Sharpest Knife by A La Carte Magazine, Design Plus in Frankfurt, Tried and Tested by Good Housekeeping Magazine, Best Kitchen Gadget by GQ, and the list is endless. After 25 years of its existence, it still stands out as the benchmark in the Global range to which all other Global knives and to which all other upmarket kitchen knife brands are compared. By owning a Global chefs knife you are joining the ranks of thousands of delighted home cooks and professional chefs.

The G-2 is available in many alternative sizes, bigger and small. The G-55 is 18cm and the G-58 is 16cm. They are the same knives in slightly smaller sizes and come with the large G series handle, meaning that the blade is a little shorter. This gives you more control or might feel less overwhelming if you are a smaller person, all these knives will do the same task in the kitchen, the size is just a matter of preference.

The G-16 and G-17 are the two biggest brothers of the Global cook's/chef's line at 24cm and 27cm respectively. These are typical chef's knives, good for any use in the kitchen. The size of these knives means that they are more suited for professional chefs in working kitchens. For home use we would recommend anything from the G-2 and downwards. Aside from the blade length, these knives have bigger more cylindrical handles and a more pronounced bolster to offer added protection.

The GS-100 is great for the most challenging kitchen tasks. This seamlessly designed knife can handle your fruits, vegetables, and meats with ease. And with its superior sharpness, cooking your stir-fries, sauces, and stews with beautifully sliced ingredients is a pleasure.

The G-57 is a chef's knife and like the standard Global chef's knives can perform most roles in kitchen. The G-57 is set apart from the other chef's knives by its deeper blade. So the knife is more predisposed towards chopping vegetables. If you just needed one knife for the kitchen, but that vast majority of what you are doing is cutting vegetables, we would recommend this blade. It is quite similar to a Santoku knife, in fact it's halfway between a classic chef's knife shape and a santoku. Having actually laid the G-46 Santoku knife next to this blade, the difference between the knives is minimal, the difference being the slight absence of a Santoku's lambs foot ending. So this knife could also be described as a 16cm Santoku knife.

Consider as an alternative to a G-2, or a vegetable chopper. The G-64 is also offered as the same blade with fluting.

The G-84 is the fluted version of the G-57 chef's knife and like the standard Global chef's knives can perform most roles in kitchen.

Like it's brother it is set apart from the standard chef's knives by its shorted fatter blade. So the knife is more predisposed towards chopping vegetables. The profile of the knife is similar to a Santoku knife and the knife could be described as a 16cm fluted Santoku Knife.

This is the Global NI Series 16cm Oriental Cooks Knife. The Ni range features all of the things we have come to expect from Global knives; the unrivalled cutting edge, sleek distinctive design and impeccable balancing. But it is in the improvements in the Ni, designed by the original Global visionary Komin Yamada that make it truly one of the best range of knives around.

The Global Ni Oriental Fluted Cook's Knife is one of the few fluted blades within the Global Ni range. The blade is Orientally styled which means the top of the tip of the blade is slightly raised which enables you to use a rock n' chop method. Secondly the size, 16cm makes it a knife for all medium to easy tasks in the kitchen so it becomes the go-to knife of choice due to its range of uses. Finally, the blade comes with flutes that helps stop food from sticking to the blades which makes it very efficient when doing repetitive kitchen task saving you time and energy. Global Ni handles retain Global’s famous dimples to provide grip and with a seamless join between the handle and blade retain Global’s distinctive look and design. The cook's knife is the multipurpose workhorse of the kitchen. Perfect for mincing, cutting, chopping, slicing and prep work.

What is the G-58 Cook's Knife?
The G-58 is a 16cm Japanese Chef's Knife. This blade is slightly shorter than the standard 20cm G-2 but with the same larger G Series handle for more control.

What is a Japanese Cook's Knife used for?

A cook's knife or chef's knife is a versatile, all-purpose tool designed for chopping, slicing and mincing vegetables, meats and herbs.

What size chef knife to get?

All chefs knives are multipurpose kitchen knives, the size is just a matter of preference.

Larger chef's knives like the 24cm G-16 and 27cm G-17 are more suited for larger tasks and higher volumes, perfect for professional chefs in working kitchens. 

For home use we recommend anything from the 20cm G-2 or 18cm G-55 downwards. These knives are suitable for most users, offering the best versatility for slicing, dicing and chopping.

For more intricate tasks and smaller hands, opt for smaller blades like the 16cm G-58 or 13cm GS-3.

Global produce 3 of the standard fluted cook's knives in 20cm (G-61), 18cm (G-62) and 16cm (G-63) size blades.The G-61 is the fluted version of the best selling G-2 20cm cook's knife. The cook's knives are in the classic shape of the Western style cook's knife and so can perform any kitchen task, whether you need to slice, dice or chop. If you can only afford to get one knife, always buy one good chef's knife. These knives are represented by their non fluted equivalents the G-2, G-55 and G-58.

The main advantage to owning the fluted knife over the standard knives is the non stick properties of these blades. If you cut a lot of starchy vegetables, these knives are quite good as the veg is less likely to stick like glue onto the knives and get in the way of cutting things up.

The main downside to fluted blades is that the lifespa

The SAI-01 is the leading knife in the Global SAI range. As the 19cm chef's knife it can perform any kitchen task and is the perfect all round knife including mincing, dicing, chopping and slicing. The handle design incorporates an ergonomic thumb rest which helps set the right grip for the best cutting technique. The 19cm chef's knife is a good size and is equivalent in the SAI range to the best selling knife in the classic range the G-2. Enjoy slicing through veg like butter with this massicely over spec'd knife. The cook's knife comes in two further sizes. The SAI-06, a 25cm chef's knife will be more suited towards professional chefs, the SAI-M01 at 14cm is the smaller version of the chef's knife.

One of the best selling knives in the GS range, the GS-3 is a medium sized cook's knife that will perform a variety of kitchen tasks. It has a nice medium sized blade good for chopping, slicing and dicing and is useful whether you want to cut up vegetables or slice meat. It is really the smallest chef's knife notwithstanding the GS-1 which has a slightly different shape of blade. The GS-3 is also available as a fluted version, the GS-51.

The GS-89 Cook's Knife 13cm blade is part of the Little Essential range of knives. This collection features a selection of 12 small and medium knives from the Global GS Series that work together to form a comprehensive range of kitchen knives that cover all areas of food preparation.

This cook's knife features a superior razor-sharp edge ground steeply to a point on an acute angle which means it will hold a sharper edge for longer. The knife is precisely balanced with the traditional hollow sand filled handle.

Perfect for a variety of kitchen tasks, the GS-89 is ideal for finely slicing and dicing vegetables or meat. It offers excellent stain resistance and edge retention.

The GS-92 is a medium sized cook's knife that will perform a variety of kitchen tasks. It has a nice medium-sized blade good for chopping, slicing and dicing and is useful whether you want to cut up vegetables or slice meat. This is the fluted version of the popular GS-3.

The fluted blade will help to stop food sticking to the blade.

The chef's knife is an absolute essential for any kitchen. This GS-58 Oriental Cook's Knife 11cm blade has a smaller blade for more precision and is suitable for most slicing, dicing and chopping kitchen tasks. The attractive kink in the blade gives the knife an 'oriental' styling, but it bears no meaning to the function of the knife. It is not designed specifically for oriental food, or oriental ways of using a knife, it is just a different shape of chef's knife. It does have a beautiful upward curve to the blade, which when cutting allows the knife to rock up and down on the chopping board, a bit like a mezzaluna.

This knife forms part of our Little Essentials range of small and medium knives that create a comprehensive knife collection to perform a large variety of kitchen tasks. These kitchen knives have the G-88/4444 dock that has been specifically designed to house this range.

The shape has been so popular that the second series of Global knives, the Global NI series, has been based on this knife design. There is a larger version of this knife available, the G-4 Oriental Chef's Knife and it also comes in a fluted version as the GS-59 Fluted Kitchen Knife 11cm.

This fluted kitchen knife is a really good all round all purpose knife to have in your kitchen.

Makes little tasks a pleasure!

The smallest of the Global Ni cook's knives, a pretty little knife suitable for lots of little kitchen tasks.

The Global Oriental Cook's Knife definitely suits a wide range of kitchen tasks. With the combined functionality of your chef's and vegetable knives, this sharp yet balanced blade lets you make perfect cuts out of smaller and more delicate produce like tomatoes. The rigid blade can rough chop anything, from your soft dried fruits to hard nuts.

This stunning GF-99 Fluted Cook's Knife 20.5cm is part of our fully forged range of chef knives. It is a fantastic multi-purpose kitchen knife that is capable of performing a variety of kitchen tasks. Additionally the fluted blade keeps food from sticking to the knife as you are dicing and slicing.

Our fully forged range are heavier but more robust than the standard G series knives and so they make great professional chef's knives. This GF range is ideal if the knife is being used on a regular basis in a commercial kitchen as retains it's incredible sharpness alongside providing the weight and power to chopping that is often required.

The GF-98 Global Forged Cook's Knife 20.5cm Blade is one of Global's fully forged chef's knives. An incredibly versatile knife, it is ideal for preparing meat or vegetables. As a chef's knife it can be used to perform most kitchen tasks and is particularly suited to a commercial kitchen. Additionally the GF-98 Global Forged Cook's Knife 20.5cm offers a smaller blade than some of the other knives in this series so can be used for slightly more intricate kitchen tasks.

The full forged knives are heavier and more robust than the standard G series knives and so they make great professional chef's knives.

The Global GF-33, GF-34 and GF-35 are Global's fully forged chef's knives. As chef's knives they can perform any kitchen task. They can slice dice and chop and are generally all round multi-purpose knives. The GF series of chefs knives come in three sizes, a GF 33 is 21cm, GF 34 27cm and GF 35 30cm and the vegetable chopper GF 36 is 20cm

The full forged knives are heavier and more robust than the standard G series knives and so they make great professional chef's knives. The 27cm is a particular favourite among professional chefs and found throughout restaurant kitchens all around the world.

We understand why there would be a decision to make between getting the cheaper G series knives like the G-2 or paying more for the pricier forged series. Both series of knives have the same blade, the same blade thickness and ultimately the same edge. The forged series however is likely to be a better option if the knife is being used every day is a commercial kitchen. It is a lot stronger than the G-2, but also consider the weight of the knife, as some chefs prefer to have a heavier blade in the hand.

The GLOBAL G-16 Large Chef’s Knife with a 24cm blade is designed for heavy duty-tasks, batch cooking and preparation for large gatherings. It is well suited for professional chefs in commercial kitchens thanks to its heavier weight, larger cylindrical handle and pronounced bolster for added protection. Improve meal prep speed and efficiency with this Japanese chef’s knife.

• Large chef’s knife with 24cm Blade
• Larger handle & pronounced bolster
• Extremely versatile kitchen knife
• Ultra sharp 15° cutting edge
• Ergonomic design

The SAI-01 is the leading knife in the Global SAI range. As the 19cm chef's knife it can perform any kitchen task and is the perfect all round knife including mincing, dicing, chopping and slicing. The handle design incorporates an ergonomic thumb rest which helps set the right grip for the best cutting technique. The 19cm chef's knife is a good size and is equivalent in the SAI range to the best selling knife in the classic range the G-2. Enjoy slicing through veg like butter with this massicely over spec'd knife. The cook's knife comes in two further sizes. The SAI-06, a 25cm chef's knife will be more suited towards professional chefs, the SAI-M01 at 14cm is the smaller version of the chef's knife.

This is the Global NI Series 26cm Oriental Knife. The Ni range features all of the things we have come to expect from Global knives; the unrivalled cutting edge, sleek distinctive design and impeccable balancing. But it is in the improvements in the Ni, designed by the original Global visionary Komin Yamada that make it truly one of the best range of knives around.

If you needed just one knife for your kitchen go for a quality chefs knife and if you are going for Global buy the G-2. The G-2 is the best-selling Japanese kitchen knife ever made! It can slice, dice, chop, and really do anything that you need. A multi-purpose all round blade that is included in virtually every knife set produced. It has won dozens of awards over the years testifying to the popularity of the blade. Global (represented by the G-2) has won the Which? Best Knife category 3 times in a row.

Further it has won the Restaurant Magazines Readers Choice Award 8 years in a row. Sharpest Knife by A La Carte Magazine, Design Plus in Frankfurt, Tried and Tested by Good Housekeeping Magazine, Best Kitchen Gadget by GQ, and the list is endless. After 25 years of its existence, it still stands out as the benchmark in the Global range to which all other Global knives and to which all other upmarket kitchen knife brands are compared. By owning a Global chefs knife you are joining the ranks of thousands of delighted home cooks and professional chefs.

The G-2 is available in many alternative sizes, bigger and small. The G-55 is 18cm and the G-58 is 16cm. They are the same knives in slightly smaller sizes and come with the large G series handle, meaning that the blade is a little shorter. This gives you more control or might feel less overwhelming if you are a smaller person, all these knives will do the same task in the kitchen, the size is just a matter of preference.

The G-16 and G-17 are the two biggest brothers of the Global cook's/chef's line at 24cm and 27cm respectively. These are typical chef's knives, good for any use in the kitchen. The size of these knives means that they are more suited for professional chefs in working kitchens. For home use we would recommend anything from the G-2 and downwards. Aside from the blade length, these knives have bigger more cylindrical handles and a more pronounced bolster to offer added protection.

This chef's knife can be used for any purpose. It is a really good tough medium-sized chef's knife capable of performing a variety of kitchen tasks. It is built in the shape of Gyuto, a Japanese style knife, these knives generally have a flat part of the blade towards the heel for chopping, whilst the front half of the blade is curved for slicing and more precision work. The knife has a slightly kicked forward heel to it which provides a semi bolster for a bit of added protection. As a fully forged knife, it is stronger than the standard G series of knives and lends itself well for use in professional kitchen settings. A great knife if you are looking for one knife for all tasks. If however, you want something a little smaller, consider the GF-32 or GF-33.

The Global GF-33, GF-34 and GF-35 are Global's fully forged chef's knives. As chef's knives they can perform any kitchen task. They can slice dice and chop and are generally all round multi-purpose knives. The GF series of chefs knives come in three sizes, a GF 33 is 21cm, GF 34 27cm and GF 35 30cm and the vegetable chopper GF 36 is 20cm

The full forged knives are heavier and more robust than the standard G series knives and so they make great professional chef's knives. The 27cm is a particular favorite among professional chefs and found throughout restaurant kitchens all around the world.

We understand why there would be a decision to make between getting the cheaper G series knives like the G-2 or paying more for the pricier forged series. Both series of knives have the same blade, the same blade thickness and ultimately the same edge. The forged series however is likely to be a better option if the knife is being used every day is a commercial kitchen. It is a lot stronger than the G-2, but also consider the weight of the knife, as some chefs prefer to have a heavier blade in the hand.