A regular household has one or two kitchen knives in general. But if you are a passionate cook like me, you might have several kitchen knives for different purposes. And when it’s about kitchen knives, we all know that Japanese blades are unbeatable.
In ancient times, Japan used to make the deadliest samurai and katana swords. As the river of time flew by, they started to forge the best kitchen knives instead of swords, and a new era has begun.
But some of us still feel the confusion while choosing a Japanese kitchen knife because the “Tojiro vs Shun” debate bothers their mind as these two are the top ones in this field. So if you are also a confused soul wondering about which one is the best, you have come to the right place.
As a knife enthusiast and collector, I have my fair share of experiences with Tojiro and shun knives. Therefore, I can help you with all the information you need to know about them. So let’s dive into the sea of details about these blades.
Tojiro Knives Review
Since 1955, Tojiro has been manufacturing top-notch kitchen knives, and they started with making stainless steel blades. But over time, Tojiro has improved their knife’s construction, design and gradually built-up the reputation they hold today.
Knives manufactured by this brand are a perfect combination of Western and oriental styles. So we are getting the Japanese blade combined with European style handles, which is the best of both worlds.
Features of Tojiro knives
Tojiro knives are famous for being efficient, sharp, balanced, and durable. Kitchen knives by this brand are holding a legendary position among professional chefs around the world. These knives come with a light-weight construction that allows the user to handle them with maximum ease.
These knives are very easy to maneuver, so you don’t need any higher knife skills to work with this kitchenware. If your recipe requires a longer cooking time, you can choose this tool for having an effortless cutting and chopping session.
A Tojiro knife has a relatively thinner blade than other kitchen knives. This particular design of the blade allows you to have precise slices every time you work with it. It makes the blade more efficient and functional when you are trying to improve your cooking skills.
Knives by Tojiro come in a variety of designs and weights so that you can choose one according to your preference. Once you get the hang of it, a Tojiro knife will become your kitchen’s best friend!
5 Best Tojiro Knives
Steel Used for Tojiro blades
Before we start our tab on Tojiro vs Shun, you need to have a clear idea about the steels used for forging Tojiro blades. Usually, Tojiro blades have qualities that I am mentioning below.
- Abrasion-resistant
- Exceptionally durable
- Stays sharper for a significant amount of time
- Light-weight yet robust
- Corrosion-resistant
So, Tojiro manufactures their knives with the materials that can have all the potential to be the most efficient kitchen knives. Some of the most used materials by Tojiro are:
- Shirogami steel
- Nickel-Damascus steel
- HC stainless steel
- Aogami steel
- Molybdenum-Vanadium steel
- Powdered high-speed steel
- VG-10 steel
Each of the materials comes with their perks and uniqueness that makes Tojiro knives unique.
Handle Shape and materials
Tojiro knives come with a European style handle with an ergonomic design. The handles are always securely attached to the blade for maximum security. For instance, Tojiro DP knives are constructed with a triple-riveted handle so you can work in a safe environment.
Generally, Tojiro handles are made of Oakwoods as they are sturdy and durable. Oak handles are not vulnerable to damage, and they are water-resistant. But sometimes Tojiro made handles out of composite woods to make it last longer.
Tojiro has many knives series that come with differently designed handles with different materials. But all of them are well-built, robust, designed to last long, come with a comfortable and firm grip.
The handles of Tojiro knives are beautifully curved so it can fit in your palm comfortably. They also come with protective lamination to make them damage-resistant.
The types of Tojiro knives
There are two styles of knives available from this brand. They are; Western-Japanese style and Traditional Japanese style knives, and these two styles of knives come in several types.
The types of the Western-Japanese style knives are:
- Santoku knife
- Petty knife
- Gyuto knife
- Nakiri knife
- Sujihiki knife
Tojiro does not have any chef’s knife series, but the closest thing they have to that is the Tojiro DP Gyuto knife. These Gyuto knives are equivalent to a chef’s knife by any other brand. And if you are looking for something that allows you to have precise slicing, you can get the Sujihiki knife.
The Tojiro Santoku knives are for versatile usage. You can use them for cutting, chopping, dicing veggies, fishes, or meats. So if you are looking for an all-in-one kitchen knife, you can choose this one.
The types of Traditional Japanese Tojiro knives are:
- Deba
- Ajikiri
- Yanagi-Sashimi
- Tako-Sashimi
- Usuba
Price
Despite being one of the fiercest kitchen knives in words, Tojiro knives are relatively inexpensive. They come within everyone’s budget and extremely durable. If you thought that you have to spend a fortune on premium-grade kitchen knives, Tojiro knives are here to break that tradition.
Warranty
The Shun cutlery offers you to sharpen your knives if it gets dull. But Tojiro doesn’t provide any privileges similar to that. So, in the battle of Tojiro vs Shun, the Shun cutlery receives an extra point.
They give you a lifetime warranty because they are confident about their product. But it comes with a return policy if you are not satisfied with the knife.
However, Tojiro knives are generally Bolsterless, so they are already easier to sharpen.
Shun knives review
A Shun chef knife comes with premium quality construction and ergonomic design. This brand is one of the high-end ones and absolutely adored by culinary professionals. In Japanese culture, the word “Shun” represents “A peak of perfection”. So you can understand the dedication they put on their knives.
Features of Shun knives
Shun knives have light-weight yet impressively robust construction, and they are aesthetically pleasing. If you are tired of heavy European knives but want something as sharp as them, you should go with Shun knives.
These kitchen knives are made with the highest quality steel, so they are highly durable and cut through any item with immense precision. Unlike Tojiro knives, all of the blades by Shun are handcrafted. To make a Shun knife, the maker must go through almost a hundred handcrafting steps to complete a knife.
The blades of these knives are forged with the best quality materials. They have excellent hardness and edge retention. You can use these knives with minimum maintenance for a long time.
Shun blades are a terrific combination of a hundred-year-old tradition and advanced technology. They are designed to be the highest performing knives in any condition.
But the Shun knives come with a curved-up heel, making them up and down cutting motion quite tricky. Moreover, it comes with a spacious belly, so you have to work a little harder to cut through the object.
So in the case of Tojiro vs Shun, Tojiro knives are more comfortable to maneuver and beginner-friendly. Working with Shun knives requires at least a mid-level knife skill.
5 Best Shun Knives
Blade Materials
Like most kitchen knives, Shun cutlery has a different series of knives made with different high-density and top-grade material.
For instance, a Shun classic chef knife is forged with VG-Max super steel, and the blade is wrapped with thirty-four layers of Damascus steel to make it damage resistant.
On the other hand, Shun Hiro knives are made of Japanese SG2 super low carbon steel. But no matter what type of steel they use, it’s going to be the most expensive and premium ones.
Some of the materials of the most used blades by The Shun are:
- VG-10
- VG-Max
- AUS8A
- AUS10A
- VG-2
- White steel
- Blue Steel
- Kasumi Steel
Handle material and Shape
The Shun knives mostly come with Ebony Pakkawood handles, which are elegant and hard-wearing. This wood is a combination of plastic resin and natural wood. Pakkawood handles give you a long-lasting service than most other wooden handles.
The Shun Cutlery also makes “Tagayasan” handles, commonly referred to as “Iron Sword Wood”. This wood is exceptionally dense and heavy-duty. They also make textured PP/TPE handles, which are relatively low-budget.
The traditional handles of Shun knives are curved with a wonderful D-shape. This flawlessly curved handle perfectly fits your hand and allows you to have an excellent grip while working. They also make the ambidextrous designed handle to use the knives by both left and right hands.
The handle comes in a moderate size so that it will fit in anyone’s hand. They have a smooth finish and striking wood patterns, which adds more elegance to its construction.
Types of Shun knives
- Deba
- Santoku
- Sashimi
- Paring
- Kiritsuke
- Utility
- Boning
- Kanso
The Shun boning knives are among the most popular ones in the culinary world and often compared with the Tojiro Flash boning knife. When it’s about the Shun premier gokujo boning fillet knife vs Tojiro, I will go with the one by Shun.
The Shun premier gokujo boning fillet knife is forged with a VG-Max cutting core and 32 layers of stainless steel on each side for maximum corrosion resistance with a super sharp edge.
On the other hand, Tojiro flash is constructed with VG-10 steel. It has 30 protective layers of alternating high and low stainless steel.
And so, when it’s about Tojiro flash vs Shun, my vote goes to the Shun.
Despite making hundreds of knives series, Shun has only a few knives for the most paramount performance. Some knife series by the Shun is:
- Fuji
- Dual-core
- Hikari
- Classic
- Classic pro
- HIrokoji
- Kanso
- Sora
- Shun Blue
Price
Shun knives are handcrafted and made with only premium-grade materials. The handles of these knives are made from the best quality woods, and they are water, damage, and bacteria-resistant. So, they are comparatively much more expensive than any other kitchen knives.
If you are willing to spend a fair amount of hard cash, you can choose Shun knives. But Tojiro knives are also excellent and come within an affordable price range. So, based on the affordability of Tojiro vs Shun, Tojiro wins.
Warranty
The Shun cutlery offers to sharpen the blade if it gets dull. You can ship it to them whenever it needs to be re-sharpened, they will do it for free.
They have excellent customer service and provide a lifetime warranty.
Tojiro Vs Shun: Which one is the best?
So now that you know about all the features and details about Tojiro and Shun knives let’s have a quick glance at the dissimilarities of both blades.
- Tojiro knives are affordable; The Shuns are more on the expensive side
- The Shun knives come with a free sharpening service; Tojiro does not
- Tojiro knives come with a beginner-friendly design; the shun needs to be used by skilled users
- The Shun knives are handcrafted, Tojiros are industrially made
Both of these knife companies manufacture top-notch products to ensure the best culinary experience for their users. And the answer to this question is tricky because the best designation of the best knife varies from person to person.
Nobody will understand your requirements better than you. If you are looking for high-quality kitchen knives, within an affordable price range, go with Tojiro knives. If you want premium-quality, high-end knives, choose the Shun cutlery.
To make your choice easier, let me give you the answers to some frequently asked questions about The Tojiro and Shun knives.
Final Verdict
Both Tojiro and Shun are the most famous Japanese kitchen knife brands, so people who care for their kitchen tools keep talking about them. If you want proof, you can type Tojiro vs Shun knives Reddit on the search bar to see the craze.
Tojiro and Shun make the most terrific kitchen knives, no doubt. Both of their products come with their perks and cons like every other human-made thing in the world.
Thus, the debate of Tojiro Vs Shun will go on as long as people are passionate about culinary arts. I know the importance of kitchen knives to a passionate cook; we treat them like sacred keepsakes!
Hopefully, now you have a clear idea about Tojiro and Shun kitchen knives. So it will be easier for you to decide which one is the best. If you figure it out, let me know about it!
The FAQs of Tojiro Vs Shun Knives
When it comes to the FAQ section, it is always very handy. Whether you are newbie or pro chef, these answers will always be your side to help you. Finding the proper answer may save you from lots of hassle. Let’s find out what this section is brining us.
Does Tojiro have better steel than Shun?
For instance, Tojiro DP gyuto knives are made with VG-10 steel, and that’s one of the finest knife series by this brand. And this VG-10 material is one of the most common ones used in making Shun classic knives.
Tojiro blades come with protective layers of Damascus or high-low carbon stainless steel, so id shun. So they are equally perfect when it’s about the blade material and construction.
Shun and Tojiro also make kitchen scissors. And when it’s about Shun scissor Vs Tojiro scissor, they have the best quality steel and ergonomic designs.
Both of the companies make the thinner yet robust blades, light-weight and sharpest. So Tojiro and Shun both make their knives with high-quality material for the best performance.
Shun blade has a better Shape than Tojiro, is it true?
In reality, Shan blades have the perfect thickness to cut through things like butter. You can make precise slices with Shun kitchen knives just as you do with the sharp blades of Tojiros.
But the Shun blades come with an enormous belly. So if you want to cut through any object, you have to put a little extra pressure. And if you’re going to use the knife’s tip, you have to raise the blade to four inches.
On the other hand, if you want to use the tip of Tojiro knives, you only have to raise only two inches. So, if you heard that Tojiro blades come in better Shape than Shun, they were telling the truth.
By the way, none of the tips is for odd works like jar opening or puncturing cans.
Do the Shun knives come with heavier handles?
Even though Shun knives come with longer blades than Tojiro ones, their handles are light as Tojiro knives. So you don’t have to worry about the handle being heavy if you want to get the Shun kitchen knives.
Which handle is better, Shun D-shaped handle or Tojiro DP?
The Shun’s Pakkawood handles come in moderate size, and the classic D-Shape makes it fit in your hand perfectly. These handles are smoothly polished, and the handle’s size allows you to have excellent control over the knife.
By contrast, Tojiro DP handles are huge square-shaped, and it is quite problematic to hold them with ease. Moreover, they are made of composite wood, so it is not as aesthetically pleasing as the Shun ones.
So if you ask for my opinion, I would say that The Shun knives come with better handles than Tojiro ones.
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Thank you for Reading. Best of Luck!