Yoshihiro Cutlery Guides & Tips

What is Stainless Cladding?
Close-up of a stainless-clad Japanese kitchen knife blade showing the layered construction
What is Stainless Cladding?
What stainless cladding (san-mai) means on a Japanese knife, why bladesmiths wrap a carbon steel core in stainless layers, and how to care for the exposed edge.
Why a Sharp Knife Makes All the Difference: Benefits of a Fine Cut in Cooking
Sharp Japanese knife slicing cleanly through an ingredient on a cutting board
Why a Sharp Knife Makes All the Difference: Benefits of a Fine Cut in Cooking
Why a sharp knife cuts cleaner, preserves ingredient texture and flavor, and takes less effort than a dull one — plus how often to sharpen and why it matters.
Understanding Japanese Knife Finishes: Kurouchi, Damascus, Kasumi & More
Row of Japanese knives showing different blade finishes side by side
Understanding Japanese Knife Finishes: Kurouchi, Damascus, Kasumi & More
A practical guide to Japanese knife finishes — kurouchi, nashiji, kasumi, hammered and suminagashi damascus, and mirror polish — and their real trade-offs.
Japanese vs. Western Knife Handles: What’s the Difference?
Japanese and Western knife handles displayed side by side on a wooden surface
Japanese vs. Western Knife Handles: What’s the Difference?
Japanese wa handles and Western knife handles are built differently for balance, weight, and grip. Here's how each is constructed and how to choose.
How to Remove Rust from Knives
Rust spots on the blade of a high-carbon steel kitchen knife
How to Remove Rust from Knives
How to remove light surface rust from a high-carbon steel knife with a rust eraser and oil, when to see a professional, and how to prevent it recurring.
How to Measure Your Japanese Knife
Diagram showing how to measure the blade length of a Japanese knife
How to Measure Your Japanese Knife
How Japanese knife blade length is actually measured, why the deba is measured differently, and why the same stated length can vary between brands.
Japanese Knife Steel Guide: Choosing Between Carbon, Stainless, and High-Performance Steels
Chart comparing types of Japanese knife steel
Japanese Knife Steel Guide: Choosing Between Carbon, Stainless, and High-Performance Steels
Compare Japanese knife steels — White, Blue, ZDP-189, Ginsan, VG-10, INOX, R2/SG2, HAP-40, SRS13 — by edge retention, hardness, and required care routine.
The Japanese Knife Making Process
Deba knives shown at various stages of the forging process
The Japanese Knife Making Process
How a Japanese knife is hand-forged: bonding iron and steel, shaping, annealing, quenching, tempering, grinding, and handle attachment, step by step.
Single Bevel vs Double Bevel Knives: Which is Right for You?
Comparison of a double bevel and a single bevel knife edge
Single Bevel vs Double Bevel Knives: Which is Right for You?
Single bevel vs. double bevel Japanese knives explained: typical edge angles, sharpening differences, handedness, and which style suits your kitchen.