Ikenami Hamono Takohiki 270mm

The takohiki is a variation on the sashimi knife theme, the style said to have originated in the Kanto region around present-day Tokyo. The takohiki differs from the better-known yanagiba style in important ways.

The takohiki blade is generally thinner and not as tall, so it's a lighter knife. In contrast to the gently tapered, pointed yanagiba the cutting edge of the takohiki is virtually dead straight and comes to a squared end. The form is said to make it the takohiki easier to use, nevertheless it is the weapon of choice for many top sushi shokunin.

Tako is the Japanese for octopus but this is a sashimi knife pure and simple. Why octopus? We don't know for sure but we think it's likely that it's because tako is an unforgiving sashimi subject - if you don't cut it nicely octopus can look rather grotesque and the takohiki was the knife for the task. Tako, octopus; hiku, pull - a reference to the pull-slice used with all sashimi knives.

The Ikenami Hamono takohiki is forged very hard and will retain its sharpness very well. The aogami-ni-go hagane and nantetsu 'soft iron' cladding show beautiful contrast, together with the sandalwood handle and suigyu ferrule it adds up to one very attractive and durable knife at an appealing price.