Not only for veggies: Nakiri
The Seki Kyuba NIJI Nakiri, with its specialised 18cm blade, is the vegetable preparation specialist of this stunning collection. The term “Nakiri” roughly translates to “leaf cutter”, aptly describing its primary function of efficient vegetable cutting.
Featuring a core of premium 12Cr18MoV steel artfully sandwiched between 37 layers of stainless steel, brass, and copper, the NIJI Nakiri creates captivating rainbow-like patterns that make each knife truly unique. Like a rainbow appearing after rain, the blade reveals stunning, one-of-a-kind patterns that catch the light differently with every angle.
With a Rockwell Hardness of 62-63 HRC, this Nakiri provides exceptional edge retention and durability whilst maintaining good chip resistance. The blade’s hammered finish not only adds to its visual splendour but also creates tiny air pockets that prevent vegetables from sticking to the blade during cutting.
The 18cm blade length and tall profile provide ample knuckle clearance and cutting surface, allowing for comfortable, repetitive chopping motions without fatigue. The straight edge is designed for efficient push-cutting through vegetables, and the square tip assists in scooping up chopped ingredients, streamlining your prep work.
Perfect for those who view cooking as both a culinary and visual art form, the NIJI Nakiri isn’t just a high-performance tool – it’s a conversation piece that transforms your kitchen into a gallery while delivering incredible cutting performance, particularly for vegetable preparation.
The Blade
The blade in the NIJI line is designed to make cooking more enjoyable as cutting through produce will become an effortless task. The blade is handcrafted by skilled Japanese blacksmiths in Seki, Gifu village in Japan with premium 12Cr18MoV steel core, artfully sandwiched between 37 layers of stainless steel, brass, and copper, creating mesmerising rainbow patterns that make each knife truly unique. The 12Cr18MoV steel is specifically chosen for its excellent balance of sharpness, durability and corrosion resistance.
The sharp blade is set in a premium-cut, waterproof stabilised maple burl wood available in Mediterranean Blue, Olive Green, or Natural Brown. The knife comes in a handcrafted, minimalist wooden box wrapped in a unique illustration strip.
12Cr18MoV steel offers an excellent balance between edge retention, durability, and razor sharpness. The blade has an impressive Rockwell Hardness rating (HRC) of 62-63, which provides exceptional edge retention while maintaining good chip resistance. This means the edge stays noticeably sharper for a longer time, reducing the frequency of sharpening required. The multi-layered construction doesn’t just create beautiful patterns – it contributes to excellent cutting performance and stability.
The blade’s hammered finish not only adds visual appeal but also helps reduce food sticking during use, enhancing efficiency in your food preparation. Like a rainbow appearing after rain, each blade reveals stunning, one-of-a-kind patterns that catch the light differently with every angle.
The Handle
The beautiful handle is made with extremely limited European maple burl dyed in an Natural Brown colour and feature a subtle copper ring under the oak bog wood kakumaki (collar of the handle). The wood has to be dried for two years before it undergoes the process of stabilisation. This ensures the wood is completely waterproof to avoid bacteria growth and is able to last generations.
The blade’s kakumaki (collar) is made with oak bog wood. A wood ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 years in age. Its age and living conditions give it a unique character and rich natural colour variation determined by its age. Giving you a knife with a rich history.
The stabilised premium-cut maple burl is shaped into an octagonal shaped ambidextrous handle to give you a firm grip on the knife. Not only are the handles aesthetically pleasing, they are also perfectly balanced, light and comfortable. This allows for maximum precision and more controlled movements during use.
No two handle colours or patterns are ever the same as the natural properties of each wood block are unique and will absorb the colour dye differently. This will give each knife a beautiful unique look and it can serve as an unforgettable gift.
The Blacksmith
The spirit of Samurai “Bushido” has never faded away from the history of Japan. The art of greatest sword smiths has been inherited through 780 years till now and it’s present in Japan’s Samurai Knife City, Seki in Gifu Prefecture, where Seki Kyuba knives are made.
High quality katana and kitchen blades are made with Japan’s traditional swordsmith technique and the latest technology, and are famed throughout the world today, especially high end kitchen knives.
Our partnership with one of the most talented and prominent blacksmiths of Japan resulted in Seki Kyuba kitchen knives, that are perfect for those that demand the highest quality. Being part of the Japanese knife community and owning a knife like this is a great honour and pleasure. We welcome you to Kyuba knives world.
