Katana to Kitchen

Bevel Type Analysis

KatabaFlat (Concave)Bevel Angle

Single Bevel (Kataba)

Traditional single-bevel (Kataba) blades are flat or slightly concave on the back (Urasuki) and beveled only on the front. This enables clean, razor-sharp surgical slices without pushing or squeezing foods—highly favored by Japanese sushi and sashimi chefs.

Cutting Mechanics

Single vs Double Bevel Cut Mechanics

Single-Bevel (Kataba)Ingredient (Fish / Daikon)Straight CutPushes Slice Away✓ Clean slices without crushing delicate fibersDouble-Bevel (Ryoba)Ingredient (Meat / Vegetables)Equal Splitting Force✓ Intuitive straight cuts, easy for all home cooks
knife

Banshu Carpenter Tools

Banshu Daiku Dougu

Description

The history of Banshu Miki dates back 1,500 years. Following the Siege of Miki in 1578, carpenters and blacksmiths from different parts of the country gathered for reconstruction, helping refine the local tools. Today, Banshu is known for producing a wide range of traditional carpenter tools.

Best For

✓ Woodworking
✓ Cabinetry
✓ Architecture
✓ Precision joining

Blade Characteristics

  • Traditional forging methods involving the welding of steel and iron.
  • Meticulous hand-hammering and precision quenching.
  • Small-scale workshops practicing high-mix, low-volume production.
  • Requires 14 to 21 intricate steps for each tool.

Steel Recommendations

For this type of blade, professional makers typically suggest: Yasuki Blue Paper Steel (Aogami) or White Paper Steel (Shirogami) for ultimate push-cutting geometry and ease of hand whetstone sharpening.

Famous Regions

This cutlery type is famously forged and crafted in:

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Knife Anatomy

Parts of a Traditional Japanese Knife

Tip (Kissaki)Fine slicing & piercingSpine (Mune)Back ridge of the bladeRidge Line (Shinogi)Cutting Edge (Ha)Primary sharp slicing edgeHeel (Ago)Eye coring & heavy prepNeck / Gap (Machi)Handle-to-blade clearanceCollar (Kakumaki)Buffalo horn / collar bandHandle (E) & TangMagnolia wood + inserted tang