About the Shape: A Nakiri is a vegetable knife. Under utilized in the Western kitchen, the Nakiri’s flat blade is meant for the push/pull chopping of vegetables. Since the entire flat edge of the knife kisses the cutting board at once, you wont be turning the vegetable into an accordion. Accordion vegetables are still connected like a paper doll after you're “done” cutting them. To truly understand the awesomeness of a Nakiri we recommend making onion soup your first night with the knife. The ease of chopping will blow you away.

About the Blacksmith: Shosui Takeda’s knives kick-ass, simple as that. A third-generation master blacksmith, Takeda-san was born and raised in Niimi, Okayama, Japan. After he graduated from university in Tokyo, he returned to his hometown to succeed his father as a master blacksmith for Takeda Hamono. Since 1985, he has strived to produce the very best hand-forged blades and tools. Each blade is a unique work of art and has a certain presence. Forging knives, axes, hatchets, sickles, and scythes, it seems nothing is out of the question for Takeda-san.