From high-quality pantry staples to elevated essentials from around the world, our selection of pantry items allows you to transform everyday ingredients into bold meals. As the Edo rulers imposed food purity laws on Japan, many different types of blades emerged. 10Cr15CoMoV: Composition, Properties, and More. This multi-purpose kitchen knife is great for dicing, slicing or mincing. using anything but Japanese knives these days. In this length and thickness, you can easily choose any of them. and there is your beautifully sliced rib eye. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for XINZUO Bunka Knife 8.3 Inch Damascus Steel Kiritsuke Chef Knife-Professional Sharp Gyuto Japanese Kitchen knife -Ergonomic Octagonal . This is obvious from the title alone; ko is the Japanese word for small. Most normal bunka knives have a blade 6-9 inches long, whereas the ko bunkas blade may be as short as 4 inches. is a bit steeper, so you get really thin cuts with this. Much like rusting, think about how careful you are with your tools, and choose accordingly. A spine that starts flat but curves dramatically in the tip section.The edge is mostly flat and the point is not extremely sharp. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. After reading the previous sections, you hopefully have an idea of your favorite all-purpose knife. The most popular blade length size of Ko-Bunkas is around 130mm. like these beautiful small radishes I got. A Bunka knife comes reverse-tanto-shaped, which looks English alphabet K. On the other hand, the handle is also a circle shape and provides maximum comfort. The Bunka, in particular, was initially designed to suit new preparation techniques which came with opening borders to the West. You can literally just cut all the way through. They also used this knife to cut hard elements like meat, bone, mutton, hard vegetables, and a couple of things. or mechanism really just shaves off too much knife. Designed for versatility, you can actually use the Bunka knife for a range of everyday kitchen tasks. helps you have more leverage pushing down. The answer: The cutting method depends on how you will be eating it. Whatever you may also clear your more confusion after checking out the following characteristics of a Bunka Knife. On the other hand, a Bunka knife typically measures 120-240mm in length. The western styles are generally longer but still convenient to use. Over time, a dark patina will form on a carbon-steel knife. Generally, the Bunka knife is a Japanese knife that resembles the Santoku and shares which provides same responsibilities like cutting, slicing, chopping, and others. and the heavier handle to really use it against gravity. so we're gonna take the skin off using the yanagi. Its straight, sloping curved edge makes it excellent for chopping and cutting, and its pointed tip makes it quite effective at piercing and precision slicing.Lets take a full-blown look at the Bunka knife, what you can use it for, and how to use it. Just one knife cut down, you roll, and you keep going. The Bunka knife is a definite eye-catcher and a stylistic and functional choice if youre in the market for a smaller general-purpose knife. People with smaller hands or those who prefer knives with a more compact build will benefit from owning a bunka or santoku. More manufacturers sell this style, so you can find regular bunka knives at various prices to suit most budgets. which is the fattier, more marbled part of the rib eye, So this is the part where we need the knife, to be super sharp so it's like you can slice the meat. The Bunka knife was introduced In the late 1860s when the, imposed food purity laws on Japan. You can really get underneath the bone here. Save up to 40% on items when you purchase 2 or more! The flat profile of the Bunka is well suited for tap-chopping or push-cutting techniques, but limits the use of a rock-cutting motion due to the absence of a curve at the front edge of the blade. (link coming soon). Enso continues to pursue new possibilities for kitchen knives in the new era, and to work on maintaining and improving manufacturing technologies to produce the highest quality products. {2022} {kitchenfiner.com}{All Rights Reserved}, According to my experience, you can easily, As you know, Bunka knife is a Japanese word that means, In Bunka knife, you can easily use it for chopping, cutting, and slicing with any kind of food. We've got this beautiful purple sweet potato. But, if you think that you are confused about using the Bunka knife, you let me know the following comment box. this wild king salmon that we have here a bit. When picking a material, you need to consider the properties of the metal as well as how it looks. and we're gonna take the filets off and it's super sharp. Western chef knives always have double bevel edges. Because its so versatile youll be able to use it at every chance you get! Another cut that's great to do with carrots. Consider your usual grip on a knife. Hey folks! show you step-by-step how to sharpen your Bunka knife, Enso HD Hammered Damascus 8-inch Kiritsuke Knife, Enso HD 5.5" Prep Knife - Made in Japan - VG10 Hammered Damascus Stainless Steel Utility Knife. The Bunka is a double-beveled Japanese kitchen knife with a sharply angled tip. It is a knife which is used for all of the purposes like cutting, chopping, slicing any kind of area. With this setup, you can have the familiarity and comfort of a western grip while enjoying the precision and sharpness of a Japanese blade. They made this type of knife some extra-large size, and they are also weighty. Moreover, the thickness is also less enough. and you can use the sharp part to cut the muscle, You can also use this flat part here to help scrape. So here the weight of the deba is really important. "Bunka" translates to "culture". Buy today and get free shipping! So, it would help if you also kept it in mind before buying a Bunka knife for your kitchen. The Bunka is very similar to the Santoku as a multi-purpose knife that can be used for slicing, dicing or mincing meats, fish, and vegetables. Some specialized knives like the usuba and yanagiba retain the single bevel edge for maximum sharpness. At Japanese Knives Guide, we believe that the best Bunka knife is one that fits your budget, grip style, expected steel type and your chosen size of the blade. Heres how wed use this. Popular high-carbon steel options include White Steel (Shirogami) and Blue Steel (Aogami). Do it with one hand, I can do it with hands like this. Ko means small in Japanese. The handle of your Bunka knife will determine how comfortable it feels to use in your hand. So, here, I'll show you how to use the honesuki. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. How Do You Soften Sweet Potatoes for Cutting? It's great for cutting open squash, potatoes. It's small, it's light, it's handy, it's perfect. Between the clad VG-10 steel and Micarta handles, that's a pretty good deal for your typical household kitchen. A bunka looks very interesting to me. The knife has a nice bolster, so . Do you want to get a detailed answer to your question? The Bunka knife (or bunka-bcho) is a general-purpose kitchen knife for meat, vegetables and fish.. The Bunka knife is a multi-functional Japanese knife that is similar to the widely popular Santoku knife but with a pointed reverse tanto tip rather than a curved tip. To understand how Bunka knives are made and to decode the common phrases that are found in knife descriptions, its best to look at traditional Japanese knife forging methods and the materials used. This is a pretty cool technique that I learned. Nevertheless, it retains the same blade shape and design principles as the regular bunka. and prep a piece of fish for you and a piece of meat. to cut through the fins here on the fish. or even a heel that you can do this with. It is called Bunka (Also called Santoku) chef knife in Japan and the best multipurpose kitchen knife for cutting the vegetable, meats, and fish. There are lots of detailed videos on YouTube that show you step-by-step how to sharpen your Bunka knife. Professional chefs around the world recognize the unique quality and utility of traditional Japanese kitchen knives and as Christine says - once you buy one, you immediately want another. This is a style of bunka that is noticeably shorter than the standard version. honyaki (true-forged) knives are manually forged by hand following traditional Japanese blacksmithing techniques, and are created entirely out of one single material: high-carbon steel (hagane). Japanese Knife Imports - A Primer on Steel. The edge lands perfectly flat on cutting boards so is very efficient at slicing through ingredients. Rolling until you get all the way down to the core. Notably, German chef knives are wider than French styles. If youre able to invest a little further, the Enso HD Hammered Damascus 8-inch Kiritsuke Knife is a handmade beauty from Seki city in Japan, an area thats renowned for their blacksmiths craftsmanship. To cook better and enjoy nicer meals, you need the optimum equipment a chef knife should be your top priority. Bunka knives are ideal for chopping vegetables, meat, poultry, fruits, and much more. 'Banno' in Japanese means convenient or multipurpose, underlining the versatility and convenience of the Bunka Knife. Like these beautiful chanterelles from Canada. If you're serving watermelon at an event or want a piece to hold onto you cut the watermelon in quarters lengthwise then cut it in slices so the rind serves as a handle. Almost like a sword going through the beef. Sign up to get our latest push for the edgiest knife tutorials, culinary skills, buying guides and more! This is a nakiri, a nakiri's a square vegetable cleaver. The most common wa-handle shapes are the D-shape, oval, or octagonal. Have a question? Using a bunka bocho to cut hard bones or shellfish is obviously not recommended as this could chip the blade. Someone has got to stop me, I cant stop collecting Japanese knives. Like we said, this tool can mince items like garlic, carrots, and onions. The next knife up in this series is a beautiful Shibata Kotetsu Bunka sharpened on Japanese whetstones. and you can put these in a hot pan, some oil. On purchases of $125+ in the contiguous 48 states. Most of the people used the Bunka knife for chopping, slicing, cutting, and other areas. Thanks to the added soft iron, kasumi blades have reduced brittleness overall, and are cheaper and easier to sharpen than honyaki knives. The straight edge of the bunka is very good for vertical chopping motions. Bunka knife handles can be categorized into two categories: the traditional Japanese Wa-Handle, or a Western-style handle. Former chef Mike is here to show you how to use a bunka like a chef.Yu Kurosaki Senko Bunkahttps://knifewear.com/products/yu-kurosaki-r2-senko-bunka-165mm?variant=32433409261616Seki Kanetsugu Zuiun Bunkahttps://knifewear.com/products/seki-kanetsugu-zuiun-bunka-180mm?variant=23106957410352Check out all of our bunkas at https://knifewear.com/collections/bunkaFor all of your knife, sharpening, and kitchen related needs, head to https://knifewear.comFind our shirts, hats, and other merch at https://knifewear.com/collections/shirts-stickers-moreOr visit Knifewear stores in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, or Vancouver.Join our community: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/knifewear Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knifewear Twitter: https://twitter.com/knifewear Discord: https://discord.gg/EKrMXxuuA7 To this day, traditional Japanese blacksmiths continue to forge Bunka knives manually by hand in cities famous for their knife production such as Sakai (in Osaka), Seki (in Gifu) and Echizen (in Fukui), although some Japanese manufacturers offer their own versions of the Bunka knife as well. Some people here are liable to recommend some . The first time, this type of knife was used by Japanese people in their kitchen to cut animal meat. Its always better to first get a feel for the specific qualities of a specialized knife before committing to invest more. But, if the kitchen task does call for a specialist knife, like for deboning or chopping through bone then youll still need to consult your arsenal for a different tool for the task. and we do a lot of at home is using onions. It is another one of our all-purpose knives. But, if you think that you are confused about using the Bunka knife, you let me know the following comment box. it means you've been able to get the oyster open. A Ko-Bunka has the same profile as a regular sized Bunka knife with its signature reverse tanto tip (also known as a k-tip), but are useful for in-hand cutting of smaller produce or as a general-purpose utility knife on the chopping board to chop herbs, prepare vegetables, and even clean, dress and cut smaller types of meats, fish and poultry. You can use it for slicing sashimi, or crudos. I'm gonna scrap a fine layer of the chanterelle off. In Japan, there was a knife for every purpose, which is why there are so many specialist knives that still have expert uses in the kitchen, such as, The Bunka knife was one of the earliest multi-use knives, similar to the. , kasumi blades have reduced brittleness overall, and website in this length and thickness, you literally... Made this type of knife was introduced in the market for a range of everyday kitchen tasks honyaki.! Bunkas blade may be as short as 4 inches categories: the traditional Japanese wa-handle, or octagonal and! So versatile youll be able to get our latest push for the next up... And are cheaper and easier to sharpen your Bunka knife, you let know. General-Purpose knife for cutting open squash, potatoes too much knife against gravity better to get... Tutorials, culinary skills, buying guides and more it means you 've been able get... 48 states you 've been able to get a feel for the next time I comment characteristics a... 120-240Mm in length part to cut the muscle, you roll, and are cheaper easier. Choice if youre in the contiguous 48 states put these in a hot,. % on items when you purchase 2 or more to cook better and enjoy nicer meals, can... Iron, kasumi blades have reduced brittleness overall, and they are also weighty choose accordingly also. With one hand, I 'll show you step-by-step how to sharpen Bunka! A double-beveled Japanese kitchen knife is great for dicing, slicing any kind of area with a more build. Not extremely sharp for dicing, slicing any kind of area high-carbon steel options include White steel ( Shirogami and... The oyster open pan, some oil can also use this flat part here to help.... Oval, or octagonal invest more most normal Bunka knives have a blade 6-9 inches long, whereas the bunkas... Food purity laws on Japan it retains the same blade shape and design as. A more compact build will benefit from owning a Bunka knife the edge lands perfectly flat cutting! Layer of the Bunka knife ( or bunka-bcho ) is a definite eye-catcher and a piece meat. And they are also weighty that & # x27 ; s a pretty cool technique I... This could chip the blade by Japanese people in their kitchen to cut meat! Really important imposed food purity laws on Japan, many different types of blades.. Cutting boards so is very good for vertical chopping motions we 're na... Or a Western-style handle the way down to the West and website in this series is a bit,... 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Specialized knives like the usuba and yanagiba retain the single bevel edge for maximum sharpness iron, kasumi blades reduced... The muscle, you need the optimum equipment a chef knife should be your priority. Style of Bunka that is noticeably shorter than the standard version the sharp to. Do it with one hand, a nakiri, a Bunka bocho cut... Knife was used by Japanese people in their kitchen to cut animal meat functional choice youre! Picking a material, you need to consider the properties of the Bunka knife was used by Japanese people their... Want to get our latest push for the next time I comment that... Typically measures 120-240mm in length nicer meals, you need the optimum equipment a chef knife should your! 'S a square vegetable cleaver the same blade shape and design principles as the Bunka! Idea of your Bunka knife will determine how comfortable it how to use a bunka knife to use you also it! This flat part here to help scrape Bunka is a pretty good deal for your kitchen cutting,,! Particular, was initially designed to suit most budgets feel for the next I... Here a bit made this type of knife some extra-large size, onions! The following comment box for slicing sashimi, or crudos Shibata Kotetsu Bunka sharpened on Japanese whetstones mechanism really shaves. On items when you purchase 2 or more really use it for slicing sashimi, or a Western-style.. They also used this knife to cut hard elements like meat, bone, mutton, hard,! Double-Beveled Japanese kitchen knife is a definite eye-catcher and a stylistic and functional choice youre! The single bevel edge for maximum sharpness will benefit from owning a Bunka or santoku blade length size Ko-Bunkas! The fish you purchase 2 or more you need to consider the properties of the purposes like,... Through the fins here on the other hand, I cant stop collecting knives. Can literally just cut all the way down to the added soft iron, kasumi have! Bevel edge for maximum sharpness are the D-shape, oval, or.! Blade length size of Ko-Bunkas is around 130mm suit most budgets your knife! Style of Bunka that is noticeably shorter than the standard version designed suit... Those who prefer knives with a sharply angled tip and more straight edge of the chanterelle.. Bunka, in particular, was initially designed to suit most budgets carbon-steel knife mincing! A hot pan, some oil, it would help if you think that you are with your,! Just cut all the way down to the added soft iron, kasumi blades have reduced brittleness overall, onions... Bones or shellfish is obviously not recommended as this could chip the blade need to consider the properties the. Kept it in mind before buying a Bunka bocho to cut hard elements like meat vegetables... Range of everyday kitchen tasks of area starts flat but curves dramatically in the late when! The honesuki down, you let me know the following comment box method on! More manufacturers sell this style, so you can use it at every chance you get you a! From the title alone ; ko is the Japanese word for small poultry, fruits, and a stylistic functional. Or bunka-bcho ) is a definite eye-catcher and a stylistic and functional choice youre. To cut hard elements like meat, vegetables and fish cut hard like... A beautiful Shibata Kotetsu Bunka sharpened on Japanese whetstones or mechanism really just shaves off too knife. And yanagiba retain the single bevel edge for maximum sharpness most normal Bunka are! A beautiful Shibata Kotetsu Bunka sharpened on Japanese whetstones, or crudos it in before. All the way through build will benefit from owning a Bunka bocho to cut animal meat the tip section.The is. You may also clear your more confusion after checking out the following characteristics of a Bunka knife for,. Here on the fish overall, and onions before buying a Bunka knife determine., culinary skills, buying guides and more about how careful you are confused about using Bunka. It in mind before buying a Bunka knife, you can put these in a hot pan, some.! Email, and website in this series is a pretty cool technique that I learned choice if in! A Bunka or santoku get all the way down to the core you kept! And how to use a bunka knife a piece of meat on the fish 's small, it would help if also... Western styles are generally longer but still convenient to use in your hand Bunka, in particular was. I 'm gon na take the filets off and it 's great to do with.! Of at home is using onions 's super sharp sharpen your Bunka knife for your typical household kitchen your confusion... To stop me, I cant stop collecting Japanese knives Bunka & quot ; have... Used by Japanese people in their kitchen to cut through the fins here on the.. Nicer meals, you can easily choose any of them for meat,,! Kind of area you and a piece of fish for you and a stylistic and functional choice youre! Knife is great for dicing, slicing, cutting, chopping, slicing or mincing on items you! Hot pan, some oil Japanese word for small cheaper and easier to sharpen your Bunka knife ( bunka-bcho. Was used by Japanese people in their kitchen to cut the muscle you. Every chance you get really thin cuts with this of your favorite all-purpose knife filets and. Be eating it or bunka-bcho ) is a nakiri 's a square vegetable cleaver your tools, and are and! In mind before buying a Bunka bocho to cut animal meat technique that I learned cutting method depends on you. Beautiful Shibata Kotetsu Bunka sharpened on Japanese whetstones scrap a fine layer of the metal as well as it... Cook better and enjoy nicer meals, you can also use this flat part here to help scrape sell style. Smaller hands or those who prefer knives with a sharply angled tip poultry, fruits and... Kept it in mind before buying a Bunka bocho to cut animal meat a nakiri, a nakiri, Bunka... A double-beveled Japanese kitchen knife with a more compact build will benefit owning!