Minonokuni Take 8.3-inch (210mm) Yanagiba

A 210mm yanagiba is a comfortable length for slicing sashimi on a home cutting board, and the Take version gives a first-time sushi cook a knife that will grow with their skills. The blade is ground very flat, and the long, narrow edge cuts a block of fish in a single drawing stroke.

Draw the knife toward you from the heel, keeping the pressure light. The single bevel and hollow back let each slice fall away cleanly instead of clinging to the blade. Short fillets of salmon or yellowtail are well within reach of this length.


Take or Matsu?

The Take line uses white steel, which takes a very fine edge and comes back quickly on a waterstone. It is less brittle than the blue steel of the Matsu 210mm yanagiba, and so better suited to a cook who is still learning both the slicing stroke and how to sharpen a single bevel. It is good enough for professional use, which is why we call Take the sweet spot.

Longer blocks of fish are easier with the Take 240mm yanagiba. Left-handed cooks should see the Take 210mm left-handed yanagi. The knife shapes guide covers the yanagiba.

SKU: Take-1558

Availability: Out of stock

$186.00

Details

Specifications

  • Series: Minonokuni Take
  • Shape: Yanagiba (single-bevel sushi and sashimi slicer)
  • Blade length: 210mm (8.3 inches)
  • Steel: Shirogami #2 (White #2) carbon steel, kasumi construction; not stainless
  • Hardness: 60-62 HRC
  • Grind: Single bevel with an urasuki (hollow-ground) back, ground for right-handed use
  • Spine thickness: 3.65 mm (0.14 inch)
  • Blade height: 28 mm (1.10 inches)
  • Weight: 4.05 ounces (115 g)
  • Handle: Oval (D-shaped) oiled ho (Japanese magnolia) wood with a buffalo horn ferrule
  • Item number: Take-1558
  • Made in: Japan

A matching 210mm yanagi saya is sold separately.


Take Yanagiba Sizes

KnifeBladeHandSuited to
Take 8.3-inch (210mm) Yanagiba210mm (8.3 in.)RightHome boards, small sushi stations
Take 8.3-inch (210mm) Left-Handed Yanagi210mm (8.3 in.)LeftHome boards, small sushi stations
Take 9.4-inch (240mm) Yanagiba240mm (9.4 in.)RightStandard sushi counter length
Take 9.4-inch (240mm) Left-Handed Yanagi240mm (9.4 in.)LeftStandard sushi counter length
Take 10.6-inch (270mm) Yanagiba270mm (10.6 in.)RightWide blocks of fish, volume slicing
Take 10.6-inch (270mm) Left-Handed Yanagi270mm (10.6 in.)LeftWide blocks of fish, volume slicing
Take 11.8-inch (300mm) Yanagiba300mm (11.8 in.)RightLarge blocks, long single strokes
Take 13-inch (330mm) Yanagi330mm (13 in.)RightWhole tuna loins, wide salmon sides

Matsu, Take and Ume Compared

LineSteelHardnessBest for
MatsuAogami #2 (blue)63-65 HRCExperienced single-bevel users; longest edge retention, most delicate
TakeShirogami #2 (white)60-62 HRCThe sweet spot; professional use, less brittle than blue
UmeSK-4 (yellow)58-60 HRCNovices; most forgiving and the best for learning to sharpen

About a Hand-Forged Knife

Take knives are forged by hand, so no two are identical. Small hammer marks, uneven shading in the kasumi finish and minor variation in the bevel line are normal results of handwork rather than defects, and they have no effect on the edge.


Before First Use

Wash and dry the blade before slicing any fish. The knife arrives sharp, but a yanagiba reaches its best after the edge is refined on a fine finishing stone.


Tips for Best Results

  • Slice with one long pull from heel to tip; avoid sawing or pressing down.
  • Wipe the blade between slices so fish does not dry on the steel.
  • Never cut through bone or frozen fish with a yanagiba.
  • Sharpen the bevel side on waterstones and flatten the burr with light strokes on the back only.

Care

  • Wash by hand and dry right away. Keep the knife out of the dishwasher and out of standing water.
  • This is a reactive carbon steel. It will darken with use and form a patina, and it will rust if left wet.
  • Before storing it for a while, wipe on a light coat of camellia oil.
  • See our guide to the care and maintenance of carbon steel for more detail.

Additional Info

Blade Length (Inches) 8.3 in.
Blade Length (mm) 210 mm
Blade Width (inches) 1.1
Grind Urasuki Chisel
Steel Type White #2 Carbon Steel
Rockwell Hardness 60-62
Stainless No
Handle Material Oiled Japanese Magnolia (Ho) Wood with a Buffalo Horn Ferrule
Spine Thickness (mm) 3.65
Brand Minonokuni
Country of Manufacture Japan
SKU Take-1558
Manufacturer's Part Number 1558
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price $233.00

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