Japanese Knife Buying Guide for Beginners
Japanese kitchen knives have earned a worldwide reputation for precision, sharpness and craftmanship, but knowing which type of Japanese knife to buy can be difficult. This guide focuses on beginner-friendly options, helping you choose the right Japanese knife to elevate your cooking.
Why choose Japanese Knives?
Japanese knives differ from Western knives in a few key ways:
|
|
Japanese Knives |
Western Knives |
|
Blade |
Thinner & Lighter |
Thicker & Heavier |
|
Edge |
Thinner ~15° angle for clean, precise cuts with minimal pressure |
Thicker ~20° angle for power & durability |
|
Steel |
Harder steel for razor-sharp edges that last longer |
Softer, tougher steel but lose their edge faster |
|
Weight |
Lightweight |
Heavier |
|
Cooking style |
Precision, fine slicing & minimal effort |
Durable, versatile knives for heavy-duty chopping |
For beginners, this means Japanese knives offer cleaner cuts, improved control and more enjoyable cooking.
What is the best type of steel for Japanese knives?
When buying your first Japanese knife, understanding steel types is essential. The type of steel affects how sharp your knife gets, how long it stays sharp, how much maintenance it requires and how rust resistant it is.
Global Knives are made from Cromova 18 stainless steel, a high carbon stainless steel so that GLOBAL knives achieve the sharpness of carbon knives but with the low maintenance and corrosion resistance of stainless steel knives.
|
Steel Type |
What is it? |
Sharpness |
Maintenance |
Rust Resistance |
Best For |
|
Carbon Steel |
Pure steel with high carbon content |
***** |
*** |
*** |
Precision cutting, experienced users |
|
Stainless Steel |
Steel with chromium for corrosion resistance |
**** |
**** |
***** |
Everyday chef’s knives, beginners |
|
Damascus Steel |
Layered steel with patterned finish |
***** |
** |
** |
Premium chef’s knives, style |
Why are Global Knives Ideal for Beginners?
GLOBAL Knives are one of the most accessible Japanese knife brands worldwide. They’re especially beginner friendly because:
- Cromova 18 stainless steel for rust resistance
- More durable than Damascus steel
- Seamless, hygienic design
- Lightweight, balanced design that reduces hand fatigue
- Ergonomic handle for a secure grip
What Types of Japanese Knives are Beginner Friendly?
1. Chef’s Knife (Gyuto Knife)
The Gyuto is the Japanese equivalent of a Western chef’s knife and the best starting point for an all-round kitchen knife. If you only buy one type of Japanese knife, it should be a Japanese chef’s knife.
Recommended:
· Global G-2 Chef’s Knife 20cm - Our most popular knife in professional kitchens around the world & one of the best selling Japanese knives ever made!
2. Santoku Knife
An all-round kitchen knife, santoku means “three virtues” (meat, fish and vegetables). The blade is shorter and flatter than a chef’s knife for greater control and precision.
Recommended:
· Global G-80 Fluted Santoku Knife 18cm - Fluted blades provide improved food release.
3. Utility Knife (Petty Knife)
A smaller knife for precision work, perfect for peeling fruit, trimming meat and small, detailed tasks in any cuisine.
Recommended:
· Global GSF-22 Utility Knife 11cm - Our bestselling utility knife.
4. Vegetable Knife (Nakiri Knife)
Nakiri knives feature thin, straight edged blades for clean, precise cuts without the need for rocking and safer and easier handling, perfect for beginners.
Recommended
· Global G-5 Vegetable Chopping Knife 18cm - Larger cutting surface for larger vegetables
· Global GS-5 Vegetable Chopping Knife 14cm - Smaller blade for better control and precision
5. Bread Knife
Japanese bread knives feature ultra sharp serrated blades, excellent for crusty, sourdough bread and artisan loaves.
Recommended
· Global G-9 Bread Knife 22cm - Our most popular, award-winning bread knife.
Japanese Knife Maintenance Tips for Beginners:
· Handwash only (no dishwasher)
· Use a wood or plastic chopping board
· Store safely
· Sharpen using recommended sharpening tools
For more knife maintenance tips, see the GLOBAL Knife Sharpening Guide and Knife Care Guide.
How do you know if a Japanese knife is really made in Japan?
To help spot fake Japanese knives, look for the following signs:
· No obvious country of origin on the website or packaging
· Deceptive branding e.g. ‘Japanese inspired…’
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6 products
6 products
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
| Feature | G-2 Japanese Chef's Knife | Western Chef's Knife |
| Edge Angle | ~15° | ~20° |
| Blade Thickness | Thin ~2mm | Thicker ~2.5-4mm |
| Weight | Lightweight ~190g | Heavier |
| Cutting Style | Precision slicing | Rock chopping |
GLOBAL’s award-winning, serrated Bread Knife designed for effortless slicing of crusty sourdough, soft loaves and delicate pastries. The perfect gift for home bakers, bread lovers and professional chefs.
- Winner of Which Best Buy Award
- Innovative blade design
- Engineered for even slices of bread
- Ergonomic handle
- Corrosion resistant
Designed with serrated teeth with built in chambers, the G-9 clears crumbs easily, helping guide the blade to cut clean, straight and even slices without tearing or crushing the bread.
The GSF-22 GLOBAL Utility Knife is the perfect all-purpose kitchen knife for precision cutting, slicing, trimming and peeling. Designed for versatility, this Japanese utility knife bridges the gap between a paring knife and a chef’s knife, making it ideal for everyday food preparation in both professional and home kitchens.
- Fully forged, durable knife
- High-quality Japanese stainless steel
- Extremely versatile, all-round blade
- Ultra sharp 15° cutting edge
- Ergonomic design
With its razor-sharp edge and lightweight balance, the GSF-22 offers exceptional control and sharpness for detailed prep work.
The GS-5 Vegetable Chopper makes chopping, slicing and prepping vegetables effortless. Taking inspiration from Japanese Usuba (Vegetable Knives), the relatively flat part of the blade is designed to effortlessly chop through fruit and vegetables by coming into full contact with the chopping board for a clean cut. The front of the blade is more curved so the knife can be rocked gently forward after each cut and encourage good technique.
- GLOBAL’s most popular vegetable knife
- 14cm Flat blade with curved front
- Weighted hollow handle
- Ultra sharp 15° cutting edge
- Ergonomic design
The GS-5 is the little brother of the G-5 18cm Vegetable Chopper, with the same shape of blade in a smaller proportion.
The G-80 GLOBAL Santoku Knife is a premium Japanese santoku knife designed for effortless slicing, dicing and chopping. Featuring a fluted blade that creates air pockets to aid with food release for smoother, cleaner cuts, this Japanese kitchen knife excels at everyday food prep. Crafted in Japan from Cromova 18 stainless steel, the G-80 delivers exceptional sharpness, balance and durability for professional chefs and home cooks.
- Extremely versatile Japanese chef’s knife
- Fluted blade for reduced food adhesion
- Ultra sharp 15° cutting edge
- Perfectly balanced ergonomic design
- Made in Japan
Santoku means ‘three virtues” or “three uses” in Japanese which refers to the santoku knife’s ability in slicing, dicing and chopping and its design which handles meat fish and vegetables. That’s why a santoku knife it is considered an all-purpose Japanese kitchen knife.
The G-5 Vegetable Chopper has been a long-time customer favourite as it makes chopping, slicing and prepping vegetables effortless. Taking inspiration from Japanese Usuba (Vegetable Knives), the relatively flat part of the blade is designed to effortlessly chop through fruit and vegetables by coming into full contact with the chopping board for a clean cut. The front of the blade is more curved so the knife can be rocked gently forward after each cut and encourage good technique.
- GLOBAL’s best selling vegetable knife
- 18cm Flat blade with curved front
- Weighted hollow handle
- Ultra sharp 15° cutting edge
- Ergonomic design
Because of its popularity, there are quite a few variations of this knife. The equally popular GLOBAL GS-5 is the small version, the G-81 is the fluted version and there is a fully forged GF-36 for professional chefs as well.