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The TOJIRO BASIC range of knives has quickly gained a following. This comes as no surprise. They offer excellent value for money and are therefore the ideal gateway into the world of Japanese laminated knives. At the same time, they have created a suitable platform for a higher tier of these hybrid knives. The term ‘hybrid’ refers to the combination of a European full-tang construction with a Japanese blade. Such knives are particularly sought after by chefs who are accustomed to European ergonomics but require high cutting performance.
As the name itself suggests, the main difference between the BASIC and BASIC DAMASCUS ranges lies in the blade construction. The original San Mai has been replaced by the more striking Damascus steel. It consists of 37 layers of corrosion-resistant material. The alternation of soft and harder steel creates an interesting pattern across the layers. The core is made of tried-and-tested cobalt VG10 steel with a hardness of 61 HRC. This keeps the symmetrical ‘V’-shaped cutting edge in excellent condition.
The difference can also be seen in the handles, although not at first glance. Pakkawood has been replaced by highly durable Micarta. What remains unchanged are the perfectly countersunk rivets. This detail is truly one of TOJIRO’s strengths. Once again, there is no steel boster, which results in significantly lower production costs.
Our verdict: For a more than fair price, you’ll get an original Japanese Damascus knife that performs exceptionally well.
©2026 Copyright Roman Ulík, Nippon Knives, www.japonskenoze.sk.
All rights reserved. The photographs and text are protected by copyright law and may not be used without the author’s consent.
About producer
We have been watching the Tojiro brand for several years. We focused our attention not only on the kitchen knives themselves, but also on the history and background of the company, the scope of its assortment and the ability to repeatedly achieve the highest quality standards. Finally, after getting to know each other for a long time, we had the honor of representing the Tojiro brand in Slovakia.
There are several areas in Japan famous for the concentration of exceptional blacksmiths and grinders. Cities like Seki, Sakai, Takefu, Tsubame-Sanjo need no introduction to lovers of noble knives. And it is in the Tsubame-Sanjo area in Niigata Prefecture that Tojiro is based.
Tojiro is known above all for its strict adherence to proven techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation since the Edo period. It was the duty of every wealthy feudal lord to spend a certain amount of time in the capital city of Edo. It was a sign of respect for the ruling shogun. The feudal lords brought the best quality products from their regions to the shogun. Therefore, each of them employed the best craftsmen on their estate. Blacksmiths were of course no exception. Today, the shogun for a Japanese manufacturer is its customer. This explains the enormous care for quality that producers devote to their products.
Since the mere observance of tradition is not enough in today's competitive environment, Tojiro introduces new advanced procedures and technologies into its production. It is enough to mention the DP method, in which the manufacturer can prevent unwanted decarbonization at higher temperatures. The result is very hard and durable blades DP series kitchen knives. It may be safe to say that Tojiro represents a clear symbiosis of tradition and revolutionary techniques.
Nippon Knives has selected for you the most interesting from the Tojiro production program, not only in terms of quality but also in terms of price. The ratio of price to performance is a very strong point of the Tojiro company. See for yourself and enter the catalog of our products.
©2010-2018 Copyright Roman Ulík, Nippon Knives, www.japonskenoze.sk all rights reserved.
Photos and texts are protected by copyright law and their use without the author's consent is not possible.
