Japan has taken knives to an incredibly whole new level. Their ancient history of making knives are known to all. Hence, knives are famous all over the world. They are kinda obsessed with knife hence, till now they have introduced enormous numbers of knives to knife enthusiasts. Kiritsuke and Nakiri are two of them.
These two types of Japanese knives are very often compared. People including you I am sure, want to know Kiritsuke vs Nakiri knife in detail. Since, both the knives are Japanese, surely they will reflect some similarities. Then again, as they are named differently there must be some reasons.
So, let’s dig into the depth and see what the Kiritsuke and Nakiri knives have to offer us.
Kiritsuke Knife Vs Nakiri Knife: Compared Face to face in Detail
There are versatile styles for Japanese knives. There are Deba knives for fish butchery, Gyuto knife as an all-purpose knife, Petty knife for vegetable and fruit paring, and all. Like all these types, Kiritsuke and Nakiri knives are also introduced with some specific purposes.
Kiritsuke Knife: Can I say Best All-Purpose Knife?
Kiritsuke knife is specially designed as an all-purpose knife. Among all the styles, Kiritsuke comes with a unique and extraordinary design. With an accrediting and reliable angled tip, the knife is the best for all kitchens. The moment you see the appearance of a Kiritsuke knife, you will get the vibe of the ancient Japanese sword.
Kiritsuke knives are available in a wider range of sizes. The ones with a bit bigger blade look nothing less than the short swords. Moreover, though the Kiritsuke knives are meant for all-purpose, they can also be used as steak knives.
The knives work great for slicing meat that is cooked. However, the Kiritsuke knives are exclusive. Specialists do not suggest the knives for regular use. The knives possess blades that come with comparatively a larger surface area.
Hence the foods are prone to stick to the surface while chopping or slicing. Again, the excessive bulkiness of the knife cannot be handled by everyone. So, because of some intricate designs of the knife, only the executive chefs of Japan are allowed to use it.
Nakiri Knife: People say Best for Vegetable, I say more than that
On the contrary, a Nakiri knife is mainly intended for cutting vegetables. This Japanese-style knife is a home kitchen slayer. Unlike the Kiritsuke knife, the Nakiri knife has a simple yet excellent design like any other kitchen knife. Home chefs all over the world choose this knife because of its effectiveness. For precise julienne cuts of carrot, cucumber, or other veggies, the Nakiri knife is one of the best.
Even for cutting hard and thick-skinned veggies and fruits, the Japanese Nakiri knife is very popular. However, the Nakiri knife is more often compared with also Usaba knife. Usaba is also a Japanese-style knife meant for cutting vegetables in intricate ways.
Many say the Nakiri knife is the westernized version of the Usaba knife. It is built with a western twist. Though Nakiri is not more versatile than the Usaba one yet, for regular kitchen cutting tasks it is the best.
Kiritsuke VS Nakiri Knife comparison by Speciality
| Kiritsuke Knife | Nakiri Knife |
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Common Features of Kiritsuke and Nakiri Knives
All the Japanese-style knives have some features common in them. Nothing is exceptional in the case of Kiritsuke and Nakiri knives. Let’s get to them.
- Both Nakiri and Kiritsuke knives are systematically related to the Usaba knife
- Both the knife styles are handmade in Japan with high-quality Japanese material by the best and skilled knife makers.
- Most of the famous and reputed Japanese knife brands offer both Kiritsuke and Nakiri knives in their collections.
- Nakiri and Kiritsuke knives are available with double bevel edges.
What We found after Using different Kiritsuke Knife
A Kiritsuke knife is one of the most versatile knives. It has many benefits and advantages to offer a good chef. You will know the advantages when you read the following points.
Great Compliances 
The Kiritsuke knife is made of the best steel material from Japan. It increases the hardness and toughness of the knife. Also, it improves the sharpness and holds the edge retention for a longer period of time.
Different Styles
You will find different styles of Kiritsuke Knife. Among them tall and double bevel-edged knives are famous. Again, clipped point and rectangular designs are also famous. With their lesser curvature properties, the knives are highly suitable for better pull and push cutting.
Cross of other styles
A Kiritsuke is mainly versatile for being a cross between Yanagi and Gyuto. Yanagi and Gyuto both are also two different Japanese-style knives. But, unlike gyuto and yanagi, Kiritsuke is respectively longer and angled tip. These are plus points.
You can consider a Kiritsuke knife Because:
- Made of high-quality materials
- Skillfully handmade
- Resistant to corrosion
- Lightweight and diverse
- Great combination of expertise and status
- Resistant to corrosion and rust
- Durable, stable, and flexible
- Sharp and superior edge retention
- Suitable for cutting jobs
Please be Aware also:
- Not a regular kitchen knife
- Not suitable for beginners and home cooks
- Only recommended for executive chefs
- High maintenance and expensive
What We found after Using different Nakiri Knife
Like the Kiritsuke one Nakiri knife also brings numerous benefits. Let’s have a look.
Broad Blade for Versatility
Nakiri knife is mainly manufactured for cutting vegetables. You can do any type of cutting using the Nakiri knife. Its blade is broad and rectangular in shape. It helps in cutting all the way through larger vegetables. Hence, clean slices are ensured using a flat-edged knife.
Knuckle Clearance
The Nakiri knives are made uniquely. The blade height of the Nakiri knife boasts remarkably. Its spine and edge provide sufficient knuckle clearance. It can also be used upside down. The spine of the blade can also be used to scrape ingredients.
Requires One Downward Stroke
Vegetables like thick squashers can be cleanly cut only with one downward stroke. Nakiri empowers the power. Without ripping or hurting the skin, the Nakiri knives are best for faster-cutting vegetables.
You can consider a Nakiri Knife Because:
- All Nakiri knives are double-beveled
- Straight and flat edge for excellent cutting experience
- Delivers clean and evenly sliced vegetables
- Requires minimal effort for cutting
- The knife is lightweight
- Chops rhythmically with an up and down motion
- The knife is balanced and flexible
- Suitable for regular kitchen use
- Made following western style
- Professional and beginners both can use
Cons
- The dishwasher is not safe
- The best Nakiri knives are expensive
- Only hand wash is required
Which Knife is better Kiritsuke or Nakiri?
Till now, you must be acknowledged with enough information about Kiritsuke and Nakiri. Though both knives are used for cutting tasks, they serve different purposes. Externally and internally, both the knives are quite different.
Hence, it is easier for you to decide. However, the Kiritsuke knives are not for the usual home cooks. These knives are only used by Japan’s executive chef. Hence, unless you are a professional cook, going for the best Kiritsuke knife would be an unwise decision.
But, if you are an experienced chef, then an all-purpose Kiritsuke knife would be the best pick. It will help you in every cutting task and keep you up with the fast-cutting jobs. On the contrary, if a major portion of vegetable includes your everyday diet, then a get a Nakiri Knife.
Your vegetable cutting with versatile styles will become easier and faster with the best Nakiri knife. So, if you want a go-to knife for chopping, slicing, or dicing vegetables, go get a Nakiri knife.
Where to Buy Kiritsuke and Nakiri Knife
Many brands including Shun, Yoshihiro, Wusthof, Tojiro, and many other brands have their own Kiritsuke and Nakiri style knives. These brands provide knives in most countries of the world. Again, you can also get them through several online shopping sites including Amazon.
Wrap Up
Long story short, Japanese-style knives are praised all over the world. Most knife enthusiasts want to try all the styles. So, if you are a knife enthusiast you might have shown the urge of using both the Kiritsuke and Nakiri knives.
However, as both the knives are highly performative and functional, the users of the knives are highly satisfied. So, decide what will you choose and also, let us know.
