It’s sometimes hard to justify buying a Shun chef knife. Shun’s high-quality Japanese style knives are beautiful, effective, and fairly hassle-free as far as Japanese knives go. Unfortunately, they’re also pretty pricey. A nice Damascus Shun knife tends to be noticeably more expensive than options from competing brands like Dalstrong or even Yoshihiro.

A Kasumi chef knife is a wonderfully crafted work of art. Each blade is made in Seki, Japan by skilled artisans who manipulate high-quality VG-10 steel into a wonderful package. A Kasumi-brand knife is a solid addition to virtually any home cupboard and would not be out of place in most restaurants. Despite this impressive pedigree, however, I think that buyers should approach the Kasumi brand with moderation.

These days, any serious sushi chef will have a dedicated knife for sushi. These special blades are sharper and thinner than a normal knife, making it easier to slice through a sushi roll without it collapsing and losing its distinctive round shape. Sushi knives are expensive, however, so it can be a daunting task to select the appropriate tool for your budget, kitchen, and skill level. Here’s a handy guide that outlines everything I’ve learned about the best knives for cutting sushi.

Tojiro chef knives earn high marks from many knife experts and professional chefs around the world. They’re not the best knives on the market by any means, but what they lack in raw excellence they make up for in value. Tojiro’s knives are incredibly affordable, especially when you consider their high-quality steel, excellent edge retention, and crazy sharp blades. This makes them a very good choice for anyone who wants to try out a high-end Japanese chef’s knife on a budget.

I’m always cutting food. Whether I’m making sushi for my family or slicing meat and veggies for delicious stir-fried pork fried rice, I always find that having a sharp knife makes the job significantly easier. For this reason, I’m always sharpening my knives with my blade sharpener, and from time to time, I like to take my knives out to get sharpened professionally.