# Japanese knife types (illustrated)

Santoku, gyuto, deba, yanagiba and more: 12 Japanese knife types with illustrations, uses and price guides, plus Tokyo shops.

Santoku (三徳): All-purpose · Meat, fish and veg in one

Gyuto (牛刀): All-purpose · Meat, fish and veg in one

Bunka (文化): All-purpose · Small kitchens, fine tip work

Petty (ペティ): All-purpose · Fruit and small tasks

Nakiri (菜切): Vegetables · Mostly vegetables

Sujihiki (筋引): Meat · Slicing meat and roasts

Honesuki (骨スキ): Meat · Breaking down chicken

Deba (出刃): Fish · Filleting whole fish

Yanagiba (柳刃): Fish · Slicing sashimi

Usuba (薄刃): Vegetables · Fine Japanese veg work (katsuramuki)

Kiritsuke (切付): Fish · Yanagiba + usuba in one (advanced)

Chinese cleaver (中華包丁): Chinese · Chinese cooking in one

## Links

- [Santoku](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/santoku/)
- [Gyuto](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/gyuto/)
- [Bunka](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/bunka/)
- [Petty](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/petty/)
- [Nakiri](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/nakiri/)
- [Sujihiki](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/sujihiki/)
- [Honesuki](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/honesuki/)
- [Deba](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/deba/)
- [Yanagiba](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/yanagiba/)
- [Usuba](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/usuba/)
- [Kiritsuke](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/kiritsuke/)
- [Chinese cleaver](https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/chuka/)

Updated: 2026-11-15

https://findmyknife.net/en/knives/