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Japanese Butchery Knives- Shapes and Functions

Hi, my name is Josh Melara. I started working here at JKI back in February. You might have seen me in the back or I might have even helped you out in the shop if you’ve come in since then. I come from a butchering background, having butchered for supermarkets, restaurants, and butcher shops in LA.

 

I’ll be writing the blog entries from time to time. I hope you enjoy them.


Japanese Butchery Knives: Shapes and Functions

 

In the world of Japanese knives, each blade shape fills a specific purpose. Interestingly, many of them revolve around the butchering of either seafood or livestock. Whereas most kitchen knives are made to be thinner in order to achieve higher cutting performance, butchery knives are usually thicker at the spine and behind the edge. This serves the function of making the blades more tough and durable, being that they will be making contact with bone from time to time.

Deba - Exclusively used to fillet fish. Hefty and very thick at the spine, they need to hold up to contact with fish bones. Single bevel.

deba

 

Yanagiba - Used to slice fish.  270mm to 300mm is the usual blade length. The longer the blade, the easier it is to complete a slice in a single stroke. Single bevel.

yanagiba

 

Gyuto - Generally used as a chef’s knife. Some makers use a more tough and durable steel when creating gyuto for butchery series (the can also be called Hirakiri in butchery series). They usually have a taller profile than a sujihiki. Double bevel.

gyuto/hirakiri

 

Sujihiki - General meat slicer.  It has a less tall profile than a gyuto and a shape that is very similar to a yanagiba. Double bevel.

sujihiki

 

Hankotsu - Breaking/boning knife for livestock. The last third of the knife, by the handle, is unsharpened in order to scrape against bone without sacrificing the edge on the sharpened portion. This knife can also be called honesuki maru or Nishigata hankotsu. Double bevel, but highly asymmetrical.

hankotsu

 

Honesuki - Breaking/boning knife specifically for poultry. The triangular shape is tailored to breaking down and deboning an entire chicken carcass. Videos on youtube show just how well designed and effective these knives are. Double bevel, but highly asymmetrical.

honesuki

 

 

 

 

Kawahagi - Skinning knife for larger livestock animals. Double bevel.

kawahagi


Atamatori - Long, curved knife for beheading larger livestock animals (lambs, pigs, cows). Also comes in smaller sizes, sometimes used for chicken.  The smaller one is sometimes called kashiratori. Double bevel.

atamatori


Joshua Melara
Joshua Melara

Author



11 Responses

The Bamboo Guy
The Bamboo Guy

December 22, 2022

Really Appreciated! I enjoy reading your blog posts about knives.
You should go here to get more information. 
https://www.thebambooguy.com/collections/carving-knives

Twain.Bunny
Twain.Bunny

May 23, 2020

Yo

Jim McIntosh
Jim McIntosh

July 16, 2019

Hi, I am cutting for a specialty grocery chain, and was wondering which knife would you suggest for day to day cutting demands in a retail environment?.

Bruce Jackson
Bruce Jackson

April 27, 2019

Is there a Japanese knife for large whole animal (cow, pig, sheep) breaking down? The honkotsu above seems too small for a large cow. Is there anything similar to the western butchers cimitar?

Mathew
Mathew

January 14, 2019

Atamatori – Long, curved knife for beheading larger livestock animals (lambs, pigs, cows). Also comes in smaller sizes, sometimes used for chicken. The smaller one is sometimes called kashiratori. Double bevel.

atamatori

Interested in buying these I’m a meat cutter

Gias Ahammmed
Gias Ahammmed

November 06, 2017

Hi Joshua Melara,
I saw all videos. It’s really cool way of Chicken cutting using Deba Knife. I will definitely try this at my home. By the way, I am great fan o Japanese knife. So keep it UP.
Thanks

lindsey
lindsey

July 30, 2017

I am looking for a skinning knife for small animals, I see the big one for livestock, I am just wondering if there is a make better suited to skinning rabbits?

Matus Kalisky
Matus Kalisky

July 30, 2016

Thank you for the explanation Joshua.

Joseph
Joseph

July 25, 2016

Thanks for the post! Especially liked the linked videos!

Joshua Melara
Joshua Melara

July 25, 2016

Thanks Matus!

The Funayuki is essentially a thinner deba and was traditionally used on fishing boats. It is primarily used on fish with softer/smaller bones and is occasionally used for slicing, though not its primary function. Because it is thinner, you would see less splitting between the layers of the fish muscle.

As for the availability of funayuki, many craftsmen are capable of making them, but the demand for them isn’t high and people aren’t willing to learn how to use them appropriately. Most of the regions that produce funayuki do so for the surrounding communities and not for export. They are commonly used in home kitchens in coastal communities.

Matus Kalisky
Matus Kalisky

July 25, 2016

Nice first post Josh :) I would alike to add a question – where would the traditional single bevel funayuki be used next to a deba? I find the design appealing, but it seems that it gets used much less (there are very few makers doing them).

Thank you, I am looking forward to the future posts of yours

Best, Matus

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