The Kanso Collection

With each use of your knife, the razor sharp edge naturally bends over just a tiny bit. The edge is still sharp, but the sharpest part isn’t making contact with the food. The answer is honing with the shun kanso combination honing steel. It gently realigns the edge of the blade, prolonging the knife's sharpness. This Kanso 9 in. Steel Honing Steel has two surfaces a smooth one for day to day honing, and a micro ribbed one for weekly honing. While fine European knives can require honing after each use, shun's harder steel means you can done just once a week or so, depending on your level of use. To make honing to the correct 16° shun angle easier, this Kanso 9 in. Steel Honing Steel has a built in 16° angle on the handle. The steel handle provides a secure grip and matches the look of the rest of the shun kanso line.

This was a real step up from what we used at home for years.. Anonymous. Wed Nov 02 2022

To keep steaks flavorful, you need to keep more of the juices inside the steak. The knives in this beautiful set are hand-sharpened to a 16° edge on each side to glide through your steak, cutting fewer of the capillaries in the meat and keeping more of the juices inside. You will be astonished at what a difference these fine-edged steak knives can make in the flavor and enjoyment of your steaks. Simple and beautiful in design, Kanso brings you what is most essential in fine cutlery: High-performance steel, a razor-sharp edge, perfect balance, and precision cutting control.

Beautiful knives! Sharp blade and very smooth cutting. I love the unique aesthetic of the rustic handle.. Heidi M.. Tue Feb 24 2026

The Shun Kanso 9-inch Bread Knife is a specialized bread cutting knife designed for precision and durability. This serrated bread knife features wide, undulated serrations that gently glide through bread, pastries and cakes without crushing or tearing. Made with AUS10A high-carbon stainless steel reinforced with vanadium and an angled, tagayasan wood handle, this serrated knife is strong, durable and precise. The butt of the knife is designed to function as a bottle opener and allows for easy hanging on knife hooks. Supported by free honing. Handcrafted in Japan, the Shun Kanso Bread Knife adds essential simplicity to any cooking knife collection.

Beautiful knife. Makes my bread slicing so nice. Homemade sourdough can be a crusty challenge slicing but this knife Kanso 9" Bread Knife was the best purchase for it's purpose.. Anonymous. Fri Apr 17 2026

The Shun kanso BBQ set features the three key knives you'll need to handle grill worthy proteins of all types all in a handsome shun knife roll, perfect for when you take your BBQ show on the road. This gorgeous set includes the shun kanso honesuki, a Japanese style poultry knife, the Shun kanso boning fillet knife and the Shun kanso brisket knife, ideal for trimming and slicing larger cuts of meat, including brisket, ham, roasts and turkey. Brisket knife includes its own wooden saya, or sheath. Kanso is a design principle based on zen philosophy. It means “simplicity,” but simplicity that is achieved by eliminating the non essential. In kanso, QKA/Shun took away anything that doesn’t matter and kept everything that does: high performance steel, razor sharp edge, perfect balance and precision cutting control. The steel is Japanese aus10 a highly refined, high carbon, vanadium stainless steel that takes a razor sharp edge and holds it longer. Kanso's heritage finish hides scratches and gives kanso a rustic look that just improves with age. The handle is made of a wood called tagayasan or wenge, which is sometimes known in Japan as “iron sword wood.” the handle contouring enables an easy chef's grip. Full tang construction provides strength, balance and easy cutting control. Like all Shun knives, kanso is sharpened to a 16° cutting angle each side to cut cleanly and help preserve food’s freshness and best taste.

Rustic design meets precision tools…and at half the price!. Mo. Indianapolis, IN. Fri Apr 24 2026

The Shun Kanso 7-inch Hollow Ground Santoku Knife is a multipurpose knife used for just about every cutting job in the kitchen. Slightly shorter than the standard chef's knife, this Japanese steel knife is easy to maneuver and works well as a fruit, protein and vegetable knife. Hollow ground indentations reduce friction while cutting, making it easier to glide through food. Made with AUS10A high-carbon stainless steel reinforced with vanadium and an angled, tagayasan wood handle, this all purpose knife is strong, durable and precise. The butt of the knife is designed to function as a bottle opener and allows for easy hanging on knife hooks. Supported by free sharpening and honing. Handcrafted in Japan, the Shun Kanso Santoku Knife adds essential simplicity to any cooking knife collection.

This is a beautifully crafted knife. The blade is beautiful and made with the devotion that Japanese craftsmen are famous for. The wooden handle is a lovely dark brown and fits nicely in my hand. This is more than a kitchen knife, it is a piece of art and deserves special care. No dishwasher, dry immediately after use and store such that it won't nick you or be nicked by other cutlery.. Robert. Virginia. Sun Sep 23 2018

The Shun Kanso 6.5-inch Hollow Ground Nakiri Knife is a specialized kitchen tool designed for effortlessly slicing and dicing vegetables with precision. With its straight blade, edge and spine, this Japanese Nakiri vegetable knife is ideal for simple push cuts - making it perfect for everything from stir fry to salads. Hollow ground indentations reduce friction while cutting, making it easier to glide through food. Made with AUS10A high-carbon stainless steel reinforced with vanadium and an angled, tagayasan wood handle, this vegetable knife is strong, durable and precise. The butt of the knife is designed to function as a bottle opener and allows for easy hanging on knife hooks. Supported by free sharpening and honing. Handcrafted in Japan, the Shun Kanso Nakiri Knife adds essential simplicity to any cooking knife collection.

Sharp! Sharp! This is a very lightweight knife that is perfect for dicing and cutting a variety of things! The texture is cool. The handle is not smooth and the blade itself looks industrial - does not match the other KAI series from Shun, but this is a great knife! Packaged perfectly and safely. Get it and enjoy!. Kj. Boston, MA. Tue Nov 22 2022