Hamono Direct
Shipped from Tokyo · US import duties prepaid

Japanese kitchen knives, bought where they are made, delivered to your door.

We source gyuto, santoku, nakiri and single-bevel knives directly from the makers in Sakai, Seki, Tsubame-Sanjo and Echizen. One delivered price in dollars. No customs bill on your porch.

See the knivesAsk us which knife to buy
Duties includedThe US ended duty-free small parcels in 2025. We prepay the duty, so the quote is the final price.
Maker-directBought from the smithies and wholesalers in Japan's knife towns, not from an export catalog.
3 to 10 daysDHL, FedEx or EMS from Japan, tracked and insured, signature on delivery.
Any knife, to orderNot on the list? Tell us the maker, size and steel and we will find it and quote it.

Knives we recommend first

All 14 knives

Tojiro DP VG-10 Gyuto 210mm

Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata · VG-10 · Yo handle
$95 to $125 delivered, duties included

Takamura R2 (SG2) Gyuto 210mm

Echizen, Fukui · SG2/R2 · Yo handle
$210 to $270 delivered, duties included

Sakai Takayuki Ginsan (Silver 3) Nakiri 165mm

Sakai, Osaka · Ginsan · Wa handle
$180 to $230 delivered, duties included

Moritaka Aogami Super Kurouchi Bunka 170mm

Yatsushiro, Kumamoto · Aogami Super · Wa handle
$170 to $220 delivered, duties included

Sakai Takayuki 33-Layer VG-10 Damascus Gyuto 210mm

Sakai, Osaka · VG-10 · Yo handle
$190 to $240 delivered, duties included

Sakai Takayuki Shirogami 2 Kasumi Deba 165mm

Sakai, Osaka · Shirogami 2 · Wa handle
$190 to $260 delivered, duties included

Find the right shape

All knife types

Petty Knife ペティ

small produce · trimming meat · herbs and garnishes
From $50

Nakiri Knife 菜切

vegetables · push cutting · thin slices
From $60

Santoku Knife 三徳

vegetables · boneless meat · fish fillets
From $60

Gyuto Knife 牛刀

meat · vegetables · general prep
From $80

Bunka Knife 文化

vegetables · boneless meat · fine tip work
From $90

Honesuki Knife 骨スキ

breaking down chicken · poultry joints · deboning thighs
From $90

Deba Knife 出刃

whole fish · fish heads and spines · filleting
From $120

Sujihiki Knife 筋引

slicing roasts · carving · portioning fish
From $120

Yanagiba Knife 柳刃

sashimi · sushi · slicing raw fish
From $120

Kiritsuke Knife 切付

slicing fish · vegetable cuts · long push cuts
From $150

Usuba Knife 薄刃

katsuramuki · fine julienne · decorative vegetable cuts
From $150

Read before you buy

All guides

Best Japanese Kitchen Knives (2026): A Buyer's Guide From Japan

The best Japanese kitchen knives for 2026, picked by need: first knife, value, stainless, carbon, vegetables, fish and gifts, with honest USD price bands.

Gyuto vs Santoku: Which Japanese Knife Should You Buy First?

Gyuto vs santoku compared on length, profile, cutting style and who each suits, with a side by side table. Find out which one fits the way you cook.

Japanese Knife Steel Guide: VG-10, SG2, Aogami, Shirogami

A Japanese knife steel guide to VG-10, SG2/R2, Aogami, Shirogami, Ginsan, AUS-10 and ZDP-189: hardness, edge life, rust and sharpening. Pick with confidence.

Buying Japanese Knives From Japan to the USA: Duties, Shipping

Buying Japanese knives from Japan to the USA after de minimis ended: duties, DDU vs DDP, shipping times, customs rules and returns. Know the real cost first.

How to Sharpen a Japanese Knife on a Whetstone, Step by Step

How to sharpen a Japanese knife on a whetstone: 1000, 3000 and 6000 grit, a 12 to 15 degree angle, raising a burr and stropping. Avoid the common mistakes.

Best Japanese Knife for Beginners: What to Buy Under $150

The best Japanese knife for beginners under $150: stainless, double bevel, a 210 mm gyuto or 170 mm santoku, what to skip, and easy care. Start right.

How buying through us works

  1. Pick a knife from the catalog, or tell us what you cook and what you own and we suggest two or three.
  2. We quote a delivered price in US dollars: knife, shipping and US import duty, all in one number.
  3. You pay, we buy it in Japan from the maker or their wholesaler, check the edge and handle, and pack it for transit.
  4. It ships tracked and arrives in three to ten days. Carbon steel knives ship oiled and wrapped to prevent rust in transit.

We started this because friends in the US kept asking us to buy knives for them in Kappabashi and Sakai. Read who we are and exactly how duties and shipping work.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay US customs duties when the knife arrives?

No. The US suspended its $800 duty-free de minimis exemption in 2025, so every parcel from Japan now owes duty. We prepay it. The price we quote is the price you pay, nothing at the door.

How long does shipping from Japan to the US take?

Three to ten days door to door with DHL, FedEx or Japan Post EMS, tracked, signature on delivery. We ship within two business days of payment for in-stock knives; made-to-order pieces take two to six weeks.

Is it legal to import Japanese kitchen knives into the US?

Yes. Kitchen knives are ordinary goods at US customs. There is no federal blade-length limit for kitchen cutlery. A few states restrict certain folding or automatic knives; none of that applies to a gyuto or santoku.

Why buy from Japan instead of a US retailer?

Selection and price. Most of what Sakai, Seki and Echizen make never reaches US catalogs, and Japanese retail prices are usually lower than the same knife sold in the US even after duty and shipping. We can also source a specific maker, length or handle to order.

Can you engrave a name or make the knife left-handed?

Both. Kanji or roman-letter engraving is available on most knives for a small fee. Left-handed single-bevel knives are made to order by the smith and usually take a few weeks.