Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和出刃・柳刃包丁 白鳳/特製有次

● 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 Deba & Yanagiba Knife Set – “Hakuhō (白鳳)” & “Tokusen Aritsugu (特製 有次)” – Traditional Japanese Fish Knives
An appealing pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining two classic forms traditionally associated with Japanese fish preparation: a substantial Deba and a long, elegant Yanagiba.
The Deba on the left bears the clear “白鳳” (Hakuhō) inscription, while the Yanagiba on the right is particularly noteworthy for its “特製 有次” (Tokusen Aritsugu / Specially Made Aritsugu) blade inscription and surviving “有次特製” label on the wooden handle.
Aritsugu is a recognized name in Japanese kitchen cutlery. Tsukiji Aritsugu continues to operate in Tokyo's Tsukiji Outer Market, where it specializes in high-grade kitchen knives, sharpening stones and related tools. The current range also includes “Tokusen” Yanagiba knives. 築地場外市場
The visible patina, wear and traces of previous use give both knives the distinctive character expected of genuine vintage Japanese working kitchen tools.
1. Deba – “Hakuhō” (白鳳)
The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba, featuring a substantial blade with a pronounced heel and pointed profile.
The Deba is one of the classic Japanese fish-preparation knives, traditionally used for breaking down and filleting whole fish.
The blade bears the clearly visible inscription:
白鳳
Hakuhō
The knife is fitted with a traditional light-colored wooden Wa handle and black ferrule.
Its straightforward construction, Japanese blade inscription and visible traces of long-term use give this Deba an appealing, authentic vintage appearance.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 31 cm
- Blade length: approx. 17 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 4.8 cm
2. Yanagiba – “Tokusen Aritsugu” (特製 有次) / Tsukiji Aritsugu
The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, distinguished by its long, narrow blade and sharply pointed tip.
Yanagiba knives are traditionally associated with slicing prepared fish for sashimi and sushi. Their elongated blade allows the user to make long, smooth drawing cuts rather than repeated short cutting motions.
The blade is clearly inscribed:
特製
有次
Tokusen Aritsugu / Specially Made Aritsugu
The traditional wooden Wa handle also retains a black label reading:
有次特製
Aritsugu Tokusen
This surviving combination of blade inscription and handle label is a particularly attractive feature of the knife.
Tsukiji Aritsugu is an established cutlery shop located in Tokyo's Tsukiji Outer Market, specializing in high-grade culinary knives. Its current product range continues to include traditional Japanese knives such as Tokusen Yanagiba and Tokusen Deba. 築地場外市場
This listing does not assume that the steel specification of this vintage knife is identical to that of a modern Aritsugu product; the exact steel composition and production date of this particular vintage example have not been independently verified.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 35 cm
- Blade length: approx. 22 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 2.8 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.
A Classic Pair of Traditional Japanese Fish Knives
One of the strongest features of this lot is the pairing of two distinctly different traditional Japanese fish knives.
The approximately 17 cm Deba has a substantial blade traditionally associated with the initial preparation and filleting of fish, while the approximately 22 cm Yanagiba has the long, slender profile associated with the precise slicing of prepared fish.
The Deba is distinguished by its:
“白鳳” blade inscription
while the Yanagiba retains both:
“特製 有次” blade inscription
and
“有次特製” vintage handle label.
The combination of Japanese inscriptions, traditional wooden Wa handles, contrasting blade profiles and visible evidence of long-term use gives this set considerable vintage Japanese character.
Condition
These are vintage, pre-owned Japanese kitchen knives and show clear signs of age and previous use.
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
- Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
- Dirt and signs of use on the wooden handles
- Age-related wear to the surviving Aritsugu handle 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, rust removal, 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, scratches, tip damage, edge chipping and wear—and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.
The combination of the “白鳳” Deba and the “特製 有次” Yanagiba with its surviving “有次特製” handle label makes this an attractive 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.