Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和出刃・柳刃包丁 國重 極上/特製雲富士

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Vintage Japanese Deba & Yanagiba Knife Set – Kunishige Gokujō / Tokusei Kumo Fuji – Signed Traditional Japanese Fish & Sashimi Knives

An attractive vintage set of two traditional Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a substantial Deba (fish-processing knife) and a long, elegant Yanagiba (sashimi knife).

Both knives bear Japanese inscriptions and retain additional original-style branding on their traditional wooden handles.

The Deba is marked 「國重 極上」 (Kunishige Gokujō), while its wooden handle bears the branded mark 「本家登録商標國重」. The Yanagiba is marked 「特製 雲富士」 (Tokusei Kumo Fuji) and retains a distinctive Japanese label on the handle reading 「切味抜群 最高級御料理包丁」, indicating its presentation as a high-grade cooking knife with excellent cutting performance.

These surviving inscriptions, branding and label details give the pair considerable vintage character and make the set particularly interesting for collectors of traditional Japanese cutlery.

The two knives also represent two classic and complementary forms of Japanese fish knife: the broad and powerful Deba for the heavier stages of fish preparation and the long, slender Yanagiba traditionally associated with precise slicing and sashimi preparation.

1. Deba – 「國重 極上」 / 「本家登録商標國重」

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba.

The blade bears the inscription:

「國重 極上」 – Kunishige Gokujō

The term 「極上」 (Gokujō) is a traditional grade expression meaning approximately “Superior / Highest Grade.”

In addition, the wooden handle bears the branded mark:

「本家登録商標國重」

The combination of the blade inscription and surviving branded handle gives this vintage knife a particularly distinctive and authentic appearance.

The knife has the broad, substantial blade profile characteristic of a traditional Deba, with considerable blade height and a strong pointed form.

The Deba is one of the classic specialist knives of Japanese cuisine and is traditionally associated with preparing whole fish, including filleting and working around the head, joints and bones.

It is fitted with a traditional dark wooden Japanese handle and a metal ferrule.

Approximate dimensions:

Total length: approx. 29.5–30 cm
Blade length: approx. 16.5 cm
Handle section: approx. 13 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 4.5–5 cm
2. Yanagiba – 「特製 雲富士」 – Tokusei Kumo Fuji

The knife on the right is a long and slender traditional Japanese Yanagiba.

The blade bears the inscription:

「特製 雲富士」 – Tokusei Kumo Fuji

The term 「特製」 (Tokusei) indicates a specially made or special-grade product designation.

The traditional wooden handle retains an attractive black-and-gold Japanese label reading:

「切味抜群 最高級御料理包丁」

which can be understood as:

“Outstanding Cutting Performance – Highest-Grade Cooking Knife.”

The survival of this decorative Japanese label is a particularly appealing vintage detail.

The Yanagiba has a long, narrow blade extending to an elegant pointed tip. This distinctive profile is closely associated with Japanese fish and sashimi preparation and is traditionally designed to make long, smooth drawing cuts through fish.

Its slender profile contrasts beautifully with the broad and powerful Kunishige Deba, demonstrating the very different specialist blade geometries found in traditional Japanese cuisine.

The knife is fitted with a traditional light-colored wooden handle and a dark ferrule.

Approximate dimensions:

Total length: approx. 35 cm
Blade length: approx. 22 cm
Handle section: approx. 13 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 2.5–3 cm
Two Classic Japanese Fish Knives with Distinctive Vintage Markings

The Deba and Yanagiba are among the most recognizable specialist knives associated with traditional Japanese fish preparation.

The robust Deba is traditionally used for the initial and heavier stages of preparing whole fish, while the long and slender Yanagiba is associated with the precise final slicing of fish, particularly for sashimi.

Together, these knives demonstrate the highly specialized nature of Japanese culinary cutlery, in which very different blade forms were developed for different stages of food preparation.

This particular pair is further distinguished by its surviving Japanese markings:

Deba: 「國重 極上」 with 「本家登録商標國重」 branded on the handle.
Yanagiba: 「特製 雲富士」 with the original-style 「切味抜群 最高級御料理包丁」 handle label.

The contrast between the dark wooden handle and metal ferrule of the Deba and the lighter wooden handle with black-and-gold label of the Yanagiba also gives the pair considerable visual character.

They are interesting both as collectible examples of vintage Japanese culinary tools and as restoration/sharpening projects for experienced enthusiasts.

Condition

These are vintage, previously used Japanese kitchen knives and are offered in their present condition.

Due to age and previous use, both knives show dirt and staining, rust/oxidation, scratches and scuff marks, damage/chipping to the blade tips, chips along the cutting edges, wear from previous use and sharpening, and other age-related deterioration.

The ferrule areas also show dirt, scratches, chips, dents, misalignment and other signs of age and previous use.

The wooden handles show dirt, scratches, chips, wear and other age-related deterioration. The surviving label also shows signs of age and use.

Please carefully examine all photographs before bidding, as the photographs form an important part of the description and provide the best indication of the actual condition of both knives.

These are vintage used knives and are not offered as newly sharpened or immediately ready-to-use modern kitchen knives.

They are recommended only for buyers who understand the characteristics and condition of vintage Japanese cutlery and who are able to carry out cleaning, rust removal and sharpening themselves as necessary.

Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the above condition and are able to perform the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.

A distinctive pair of signed vintage Japanese knives combining the powerful form of a Kunishige Gokujō Deba with the elegant profile of a Tokusei Kumo Fuji Yanagiba, both retaining appealing Japanese branding and vintage details.
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● condition of the item
all items are vintage, antique, or pre-owned unless stated otherwise. signs of age, wear, scratches, stains, rust, oxidation, patina, repairs, sharpening marks, and other imperfections should be expected.
please carefully examine all photos before bidding. photos form an important part of the description.
please also understand that some defects or imperfections may not be visible in photographs. hidden or non-visible flaws may exist.
in addition, the condition of the item may change during transport due to vibration, impact, temperature, humidity, or handling.
therefore, items are sold strictly for buyers who have knowledge and ability to perform cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair if necessary. this lot is not suitable for buyers expecting fully restored or ready-to-use items without maintenance.
all measurements are approximate.

● important notice regarding traditional japanese knife handles
traditional japanese kitchen knives (wa-bocho) use replaceable wooden handles. handles are consumable parts and may require repair or replacement due to age, drying, shrinkage, cracking, looseness, or transport stress. replacement parts are not included.

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