The 7 Best Japanese Bread Knives and Why You Need Them in Your Kitchen

Japanese kitchen knives are widely considered to be the best in the world, known for their sharpness, durability, and precision. The blades of these knives are often made from a single piece of steel which means that they will not bend or break as easily as other types of metal.

Different kinds of knives are designed to perform different functions, from cutting raw vegetables into thin slices or cubes, to slicing cooked meat into thin strips, or even to break down whole fish filets into smaller pieces.

In this article we’ll be looking specifically at Japanese bread knives and recommending some of our favorite products which are available to order online via the Japanese Taste website. If you'd like to know about the other kinds of Japanese knives, like gyuto, santoku, and nakiri, you can read about them here.

Japanese Bread Knife Materials & Aesthetics

Japanese bread knives are made from different materials and the aesthetic of the blade is a big factor when it comes to their design.  They are usually made of stainless steel so that they are rust-resistant and easy to clean.

When it comes to the handles on Japanese bread knives, these are often made from varying materials including stainless steel, plastic, and wood. Wooden handles are highly durable and easy to use, whilst steel handles prevent the growth of germs, making them more hygienic. Knives with a plastic handle tend to be more affordable.

How to Choose the Best Japanese Bread Knife for Your Kitchen Needs

Below are our top recommendations for Japanese bread knives based on your needs including:

• Tojiro Bread Slicer High-Carbon Stainless Steel Bread Knife – Japanese Bread Knife Best Rated by Customers
• Sori Yanagi Bread Knife Stainless Steel Bread Slicer – Best Designed Japanese Bread Knife
• KAI Seki Magoroku Wakatake Bread Knife – Best Affordable Japanese Bread Knife
• Sumikama Kasumi VG10 Steel Bread Knife – Best Professional Japanese Bread Knife
• Nagao Bread Slicer Molybdenum Vanadium Steel Bread Knife – Best Lightweight Japanese Bread Knife
• Kiya No.180 Edelweiss Steel Japanese Bread Knife - Best for Cutting Soft Bread and Cake
• Tojiro DP Cobalt VG10 Bread Knife 3 Layered with Bolster – Best Multifunctional Japanese Bread Knife

Tojiro Bread Slicer High-Carbon Stainless Steel Bread Knife – Best Bread Knife Rated by Customers

The Tojiro Bread Slicer F-737 features a serrated blade made of high-carbon stainless steel and a natural wood handle for extra durability and ease of use.

This Japanese bread knife has a total length of 375mm and the blade itself is 235mm which is an optimal size to cut any type of bread. This durable knife offers a clean cut without squashing or tearing the bread.

This knife by Tojiro is one of the best-rated bread knives on the Japanese Taste website, with users praising it for its high-quality despite the relatively low price, which sees it cut through bread like butter.

Sori Yanagi Bread Knife Stainless Steel Bread Slicer – Best Designed Japanese Bread Knife

This functional yet aesthetically pleasing Sori Yanagi Bread Knife is made from single-ply stainless steel blended with molybdenum vanadium which provides superior sharpness, durability and corrosion resistance compared to an ordinary stainless steel bread slicer.

The handle is also made of stainless steel, which prevents the growth of germs, making it more hygienic compared to wooden handles.

Yanagi Sori (1915-2011) was a famous designer who created simple and beautiful items, rooted in Japanese aesthetics. His products are known for their timelessness and functionality. As well as designing household products, he also designed metro stations, bridges, and the torch for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Each knife has been carefully designed for ease of use. Each curve, angle, and cut has been put there for a reason which becomes clear when you use it.

KAI Seki Magoroku Wakatake Bread Knife – Best Affordable Japanese Bread Knife

The Seki Magoroku Wakatake Bread Knife has a minimalist and elegant appearance and features a serrated blade made of high-carbon stainless steel and a plastic handle for extra durability and hygiene.

This affordable and functional Japanese bread knife has a total length of 338mm and a blade of 210mm, an optimal size to cut many types of bread.

Sumikama Kasumi VG10 Steel Bread Knife – Best Professional Japanese Bread Knife

The Kasumi VG-10 PRO series is the manufacturer’s premium brand, suitable for professional use. Using this knife allows you to cut through a tough baguette as if it were white bread and it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The blade is made of 100% heavy-duty VG-10, an alloy steel exclusively designed for kitchen blades. It has been edged by skilled craftsmen, so it has an extraordinary sharpness.The knife’s unique-patterned serration of the blade means it can slice any bread thinly and easily.

Nagao Bread Slicer Molybdenum Vanadium Steel Bread Knife – Best Lightweight Japanese Bread Knife

This Japanese bread knife produced by Nagao is renowned having a strong cost vs performance ratio. Its blade is made of extra-rustproof molybdenum vanadium steel with a mirror polish treatment, resulting in a beautiful outer appearance and less cutting friction.

The serrated jaws on the edge facilitate smooth cutting regardless of which kind of bread is used. It’s also lighter than many other bread slicers weighing just 97 grams and has been designed to cut the bread without your fingers touching the chopping board.

The handle is made of natural morado wood, which has great durability and is smooth to the touch.

Kiya No.180 Edelweiss Steel Japanese Bread Knife - Best for Cutting Tender Bread and Cake

Kiya is a traditional cutlery shop founded in Japan in 1792. This is a bread knife from Kiya's No.180 series which features a simple design and excellent durability.

The base material is stainless steel called Edelweiss that is produced by Austrian steel manufacturer BÖHLER. This specialty steel has better toughness and longevity than conventional metals.

In addition, with the special heat treatment, this bread knife contains less carbon than its ordinary counterparts. As a result, it not only has great corrosion resistance, but it is also easy to sharpen the blade.

With this bread knife, slicing a fluffy object thinly and elegantly will literally be a piece of cake. Try this product on white bread or sponge cake.

Tojiro DP Cobalt VG10 Bread Knife 3 Layered with Bolster – Best Multifunctional Japanese Bread Knife

The Tojiro DP Cobalt Bread Knife is made of a triple layered DP Cobalt Alloy steel. The sharpness of the knife and easy maintenance makes it suitable for professional use.

This knife is suitable for cutting both hard and soft breads as well as other food such as tomatoes, cakes, and hard/thick meat. The knife’s convex edged blade allows a smoother and sharper cut with less cutting resistance.

The reinforced laminated handle guarantees long-term and outstanding durability, and the knife has a tough bolster on the joint of the blade and handle which helps prevent the knife from dirt accumulation and allows a smooth transition from knife to handle.

Other Japanese Bread Slicers and Cutters

In addition to bread knives, there are a variety of other Japanese products designed to cut bread. For example, the Akebono Home Bakery Bread Slicer is a cleverly designed gadget that allows you to safely slice bread at your preferred level of thickness.

Another fun bread-related product is the Akebono Sand de Panda Sandwich Maker, a unique product for easily making sandwiches without crusts. Simply put your sandwich filling between two slices of bread and then press down with the Sand-de-Panda tool to make a perfect sandwich every time. Ideal for making kids’ sandwiches.