I wanted a way to have easy access to some of my knives and show them respect. I didn't want a magnet bar or board and this fit the bill. The stand only comes out about 7 inches, so it doesn't eat up the countertop. The wood is a nice quality, looks better in person than the pictures show. And the angle of the stand and length of the dowels hold the knives in place while super easy to reach as I need them.
So far my favorite knife! Beautiful wooden handle, with an awesome shape, beautiful blade, with an amazing quality. I'm really happy about my purchases, looking to buy a slicer in the future, please come up with some different ones 😍
Beautiful knife and incredibly sharp right out of the box! Packaging was top notch as well. Asked for advice regarding a handle for an older knife of mine and Tony responded quickly. Very helpful and prompt shipping!
At first, I thought it was small for the price
But after using it, I love this size. It is great with a santoku or petty for smaller prep. It is easy to clean and move around. The 13mm board is sturdy and does not warp.
Five stars goes to the material. The wood fiber mixed in gives a great cutting feel. It leaves my knives super sharp, and leaves no knife marks. Plus, the black color doesn't show stains, and makes your food look great.
Inexpensive? Yes. Cheaply made? No. Easy call to make to take care of my investments. Wish I’d known sooner. Just get a dozen and be done with it. I use them to package knives for mail-in sharpening service and for knife roll storage.
As the person that cooks dinner most night for my family, having actual sharp knives is a game changer. I look forward to cooking each night because of my new knives.
Sharp as can be and the right length for detail work and chopping smaller vegetables.
This knife is beautiful, razor sharp and glides through produce and meat. It is super lightweight and thin, so keeping proper technique is key. Great Santoku, and great service, fast shipping. I am looking for a gyuto next. Happy to buy from Tokushu knife.
This kiritsuke from Tanaka-san is an elegant beast. It didn’t come as sharp out of the box as some other knives, but after a quick session on the stones, it’s a razor sharp workhorse. I can use it like a Honesuki since it’s got such a thick spine, but feels really at home on veggies and cooked proteins. I wasn’t sure if this knife would be for me but I’m so happy I grabbed the last one!
Great board for hard Japanese steel, but expect a unique surface texture
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5 / 5)
Reviewed Item: Hasegawa FPEL Pro-Lite Soft Board (Large Black — 17.3" x 11.4" x 0.7")
I bought this board to protect my higher-end Japanese cutlery—specifically a Moritaka Aogami Super 240mm gyuto and a Tojiro DP 210mm—alongside various everyday Western knives. After putting it to work in the kitchen, it definitely delivers on knife safety, though there are a couple of tactile quirks to get used to.
Pros:
* Unbeatable Impact Cushioning: The soft outer rubber layer absorbs knife contact with a muted thud rather than a harsh plastic clack. When working with ultra-hard, brittle carbon steels like Aogami Super, it completely takes away the stress of micro-chipping delicate edges during push-cuts or fast prep work.
* Rigid Yet Featherlight: The internal wood core keeps the board flat and sturdy without the heavy bulk of end-grain blocks or dense synthetic rubber boards. It’s extremely easy to pick up with one hand to wash or maneuver around the sink.
* High Contrast: The dark black finish provides great visual contrast against light-colored veggies and proteins.
Cons / Things to Know:
* High-Traction Texture: Being my first time using this style of soft rubber board, the surface texture took some adjustment. It’s significantly grippier than traditional wood or smooth poly boards. While that keeps food from sliding around, your knife can feel like it "catches" slightly more than you might be used to until you adjust your technique.
* Long-Term Scoring: I’m knocking off half a star internally just for that initial texture drag, and I'll be keeping an eye on how the surface holds up to deep knife scoring over time, though it feels quite resilient so far.
Verdict:
If you want maximum edge preservation for high-hardness Japanese cutlery without managing a heavy, high-maintenance wooden block, the Hasegawa FPEL is an outstanding option. Just give yourself a few prep sessions to get accustomed to the higher surface friction!
I bought this knife on sale and have used it almost everyday since. I am a line cook, I use this knife all day at work for prep. The knife came in very sharp and has stayed sharp. Its balanced really well, comfortable to use, and great for cutting basically anything. Would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a general purpose knife for every day use.
Absolutely loving the Kujaku! The grind is excellent—thin behind the edge and thin overall, but still sturdy, none of that flimsy, wobbly feel. It arrived surgeon’s-scalpel sharp right out of the box.
The rainbow Damascus is beautifully done, and the whole knife feels impressively refined for the price. I installed a custom handle that really finishes it off. Between the grind, sharpness, and overall fit and finish, this blade is a tremendous value.
Fast shipping and well packed, as usual. Another happy purchase from Tokushu Knife!