Vintage Seijiro Sakai Kokaji Takehiro Yanagiba Knife Set 2x Carbon Steel 2150

Experience Two of Japan's Most Essential Blades in a Single Rare Find

This vintage Seijiro Sakai Kokaji Takehiro set pairs a Yanagiba 230mm with a Deba 160mm - both single-bevel, fully forged carbon steel, and never used. Two blades that define Japanese fish cookery, found together in original condition.

The Specs

• Brand: Seijiro Sakai Kokaji Takehiro
• Steel: Carbon Steel
• Bevel: Single bevel
• Handle: Timber
• Construction: Fully forged
• Origin: Made in Japan
• Condition: Second hand - never used
• Original box: Included
• Set includes: Yanagiba 230mm + Deba 160mm

The Set

The yanagiba and deba are the two blades at the heart of Japanese fish preparation - and finding them together, unused, from a respected Sakai maker is genuinely uncommon. The yanagiba is designed for drawing cuts through fish flesh in a single stroke, producing sashimi slices with clean, undamaged cell walls and a surface that glistens. The deba is built for breaking down whole fish - its thick spine and single-bevel grind allow it to split bone and cartilage without the blade flexing or chipping. Single-bevel geometry means each knife is ground to one side only, delivering a level of edge precision that double-bevel knives cannot match. Carbon steel sharpens to a finer edge than stainless and rewards consistent maintenance. This set is for the cook who takes Japanese technique seriously - or the collector who recognises what unused Sakai steel is worth.

Care and Maintenance

• Hand wash only - never dishwasher
• Dry immediately after washing to prevent rust
• Apply a light coat of food-safe oil if storing long-term
• Hone on a whetstone only - no honing rod for single-bevel blades
• Sharpen on a whetstone; professional sharpening recommended for single-bevel geometry
• Store on a magnetic strip or in a knife roll - never loose in a drawer