Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和菜切り・柳刃包丁 登録元昇作/兼秀作

● IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CERTAIN EU COUNTRIES - IOSS SHIPMENTS UNDER EUR 150

Due to recent changes in EU import procedures, temporary shipping restrictions may apply to IOSS shipments under EUR 150 to the following countries:

- Austria
- Germany
- Finland
- France
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Portugal

Shipping availability may change depending on Japan Post and the destination country's postal procedures.

Please consider this possibility before placing a bid.

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Vintage Japanese Nakiri & Yanagiba Knife Set – “Registered Motosho-saku (登録元昇作)” & “Kanehide-saku (兼秀作)” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives
An attractive pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining two distinctly different traditional blade forms: a broad Nakiri vegetable knife and a long, slender Yanagiba slicing knife.
The Nakiri is a traditional Japanese vegetable knife characterized by its broad, rectangular blade and relatively straight cutting edge, while the Yanagiba is a long, narrow slicing knife traditionally associated with preparing sashimi and sushi. ウィキペディア
Both knives retain Japanese blade inscriptions and traditional wooden Wa handles. The Nakiri is especially appealing for its surviving black-and-gold “切味優良保証” label on the handle, adding an attractive period detail to this vintage set.
Visible signs of age and long-term use—including oxidation, scratches, edge wear and other imperfections—give these knives the authentic character of vintage Japanese working kitchen tools.
1. Nakiri Vegetable Knife – “登録元昇作”
The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Nakiri, immediately recognizable by its tall, broad and almost rectangular blade.
Nakiri knives are specifically associated with vegetable preparation. Their broad blade and relatively straight cutting edge allow efficient downward and push-cutting motions, making the form particularly suitable for slicing and chopping vegetables. Japanese Knife Lab
The blade bears the inscription:
登録元昇作
For accuracy, the original Japanese inscription is retained as the primary identification of the maker.
The traditional wooden Wa handle also retains an attractive black-and-gold vintage label reading:
切味優良保証
Approximately:
“Guaranteed Excellent Cutting Performance.”
This wording is reproduced as part of the surviving vintage label and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of the knife's present sharpness or cutting performance.
The combination of the broad traditional blade, Japanese inscription, black ferrule, wooden Wa handle and surviving decorative label gives this Nakiri particularly appealing vintage character.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 31 cm
- Blade length: approx. 17 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 5.3 cm
2. Yanagiba – “Kanehide-saku” (兼秀作)
The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, characterized by its exceptionally long, narrow blade and sharply pointed tip.
Yanagiba knives are traditionally used for slicing raw fish for sashimi and sushi. Their elongated blade allows a long drawing cut through the fish rather than repeated short cutting motions. Japanese Knife Lab
The blade bears the inscription:
兼秀作
Kanehide-saku
Its approximately 24 cm blade creates a particularly elegant and distinctly traditional silhouette.
The knife is fitted with a dark wooden Wa handle and black ferrule. Compared with the broad rectangular Nakiri, its long and narrow proportions create a striking visual contrast.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 36 cm
- Blade length: approx. 24 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 2.7 cm
Please note: All measurements are approximate estimates based on the measuring tape visible in the photograph. Slight differences from actual measurements should be expected.
Two Contrasting Traditional Japanese Knife Forms
One of the most appealing aspects of this lot is the opportunity to acquire two fundamentally different Japanese knife forms in a single vintage set.
The approximately 17 cm Nakiri has a broad, tall blade designed around vegetable preparation, while the approximately 24 cm Yanagiba has the long, slender profile associated with precise slicing of prepared fish. 農林水産省
The Nakiri is particularly distinctive for the combination of its:
“登録元昇作” blade inscription
and
“切味優良保証” vintage handle label.
The Yanagiba complements it with its elegant proportions and clearly engraved:
“兼秀作”
inscription.
Together, the Japanese inscriptions, traditional wooden Wa handles, black ferrules, dramatically contrasting blade profiles and visible evidence of previous use create a set with strong vintage Japanese character.
Condition
These are vintage, pre-owned Japanese kitchen knives and show clear signs of age, previous use and sharpening.
The condition includes:
- Age-related dirt and staining
- Rust / oxidation
- Scratches and scuff marks on the blades
- Chipping / damage to the blade tips
- Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges
- Wear from previous use and sharpening
- Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
- Dirt and signs of use on the wooden handles
- Age-related wear to the surviving vintage label
- Other age- and use-related imperfections
The knives have not been fully cleaned, polished, restored or professionally sharpened and are offered in their present vintage condition.
Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding. The photographs form an essential part of the description and show the actual condition of the blades, cutting edges, tips, ferrules, wooden handles, inscriptions and surviving label.
These are vintage working knives rather than fully restored or maintenance-free modern kitchen knives. Depending on their condition and intended use, cleaning, sharpening and other maintenance or restoration work may be required.
Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the vintage condition—including the rust, tip damage, edge chipping and wear—and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.
With the broad “登録元昇作” Nakiri retaining its vintage “切味優良保証” label and the elegant long-bladed “兼秀作” Yanagiba, this is an appealing pair for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, and admirers of traditional Japanese culinary tools.
■ IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING

● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK,UNITED KINGDOM,UNITED STATES (USA)

● bidding and payment
please do not place a bid if you do not intend to complete the purchase and make payment. by placing a bid, you confirm full intention to complete payment if you win. non-paying bidders cause serious delays. if payment is not completed after reminders from catawiki, the order may be cancelled under catawiki policy.

● 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.

● shipping restrictions - knives
due to uk law, we do not ship knives to the united kingdom. due to strict regulations, we also do not ship knives to denmark. shipments to other countries may also be restricted depending on local laws. bids from restricted countries will be cancelled.

● international shipping - customs
import rules for knives vary by country. buyer confirms legality of import. seller ships from japan with accurate customs declarations. customs delays, inspections, confiscations, taxes, or import issues are outside seller control.

● countries we do not ship to
We do not ship to the United States at this time due to ongoing international shipping restrictions.
Shipping service to the United States remains temporarily suspended and we are currently unable to accept orders with US delivery addresses.
We also temporarily do not ship to Portugal due to logistics instability.
Bids from these countries will be cancelled.

● international situation - shipping limitations
due to global conditions, sanctions, transport restrictions, or postal issues, shipping may become impossible to certain countries. in such cases, orders may be cancelled.

● important notice for italy
delivery to italy may take one month or longer due to customs and postal delays. please bid only if you accept this.

● no combined shipping
each item will be shipped separately even if multiple items are purchased.

● shipping method and delivery time
all items are shipped from japan via japan post. estimated delivery time is 3?4 weeks. delivery time is not guaranteed.

● import duties and taxes (EU buyers)
import duties, VAT, and other taxes are not included. buyer is responsible for all charges.

● customs contact and buyer responsibility
buyer must respond to customs requests promptly. failure may result in delay, return, confiscation, or destruction of parcel.

● returned parcels
if returned due to customs refusal or non-response, reshipping requires double shipping cost.

● force majeure
seller is not responsible for delays or failures caused by war, sanctions, disasters, postal suspension, or other force majeure events.

● agreement
by placing a bid, you confirm you have read and accepted all conditions and understand the item may contain non-visible defects and may require cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair.