Are you a professional or hobbyist cook looking to upgrade your cutlery? Perhaps you’ve been using the same knives for ages and are thinking of upgrading to a better brand. Miyabi is a top-notch line of knives manufactured in Japan by Zwilling JA Henckels. Henckels is a widely renowned brand for producing superb quality products. Miyabi uses high-quality material to produce some of the sharpest and most durable knives you’ll find in the market today. Our comprehensive features the best Miyabi knives review you can buy in 2021. We have also provided a buying guide highlighting the key features to look for in order to identify genuine Miyabi knives.
Miyabi Knives: Why are the Knives so Popular?
Unlike other knife brands, Miyabi knives have made significant steps to achieve perfection. This perfection is seen in the knives’ quality material, ergonomic designs, sharpness, durability, among other aspects.
Advantages of Miyabi Knives
Strength and durability
Miyabi knives have very strong blades that are hard enough to resist chipping and flexible to resist breakage. This is due to the ice-hardening process that the knives are put through, resulting in unrivaled hardness; therefore, guaranteeing life-long service.
Sharpness
Miyabi knives are also very sharp and can cut through almost anything. The knives are hand-honed using the Japanese 3-step Honbazuke process, a similar process to what native Japanese used when making Samurai swords. The result of the process is razor-sharp knives with an edge angle of 9.5 to 12 degrees.
Quality Materials
The brand uses high-quality steel to manufacture strong and durable knives. The manufacturers use either VG10 or SG2 steel, both of which are very strong variables of steel. Therefore, the knives have superb edge retention and anti-chip properties.
Stylish
Miyabi knives are very aesthetically pleasing. The blades feature stylish designs with beautiful Damascus patterns. Therefore, in addition to having quality knives in your home, you’ll also get to show them off to your friends.
Ergonomics
Finally, Miyabi knives have very ergonomic handles to provide a comfortable grip when cutting. Thus, you can use the knives for hours without putting too much strain on your hands, or risking the knife slipping from your hands and causing injury.
Quick Comparison
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10 Best Miyabi Knives Reviews
1. Miyabi 34373-203 Chef’s Knife, 8-inch
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The Miyabi Birchwood 34373-203 model is a top of the range chef’s knife by Miyabi. This culinary piece is a complete work of art, with all the features you could wish for in a top-notch knife brand. Some of the knife’s perks include, but are not limited to, stylish design, strong build, and flexibility. Additionally, the knife is built with strong SG2 micro-carbide powder steel, which is reinforced with 100 layers of steel. Besides that, the blade is treated to Miyabi’s unique ice-hardening process, giving the knife superb edge retention even after several uses.
Key Features
- The Miyabi Birchwood features a G2 micro-carbide powder steel blade.
- A super-thin blade as is authentic with Japanese-style knives.
- A comfortable handle for easy handling.
- A flowery Damascus pattern on the blade.
- Ice hardening for long-lasting sharpness
- The blade is taken through the 3-step Honbazuke honing process to produce a super sharp edge of 9.5-12 degrees.
PROS
- Comfortable handle for a nice grip
- Perfect craftsmanship and attractive design
- Value for money
- Very durable
- Lightweight knife
CONS
- The tech data imprinted on the side ruins the Damascus pattern
Final Verdict
The Miyabi Birchwood knife is an excellent cutlery piece that can handle multiple cutting jobs in the kitchen. Since the knife is multipurpose, I recommend it to professional and home cooks alike.
2. Miyabi Kaizen Chef’s Knife
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The concept behind Miyabi Kaizen Chef’s knife is to build improvement of previous versions of knives; Thus, the Miyabi Kaizen is a mixture of the best build technologies to produce a knife that is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also highly effective in operation. The knife features the traditional flowery Damascus design for an attractive appeal, a razor-sharp blade, and an equally attractive D-shaped handle.
Key Features
- The knife features a 64-layer Damascus pattern that gives the blade a stylish and attractive look.
- An 8-inch blade honed to 9.5-13 degrees sharpness.
- The blade is built with VG10 steel to provide immense strength and durability
- Ice-hardened blade to 60 Rockwell scale of hardness
- Features a Micarta handle that comes in a D-shape and linen pattern
PROS
- Guaranteed durability
- Maintains a sharp edge for long
- Offers value for money
- Stylish traditional Damascus design
- Very sharp edge (9.5-12degrees)
- Has a factory hardness of 60 Rockwell, thus is very stable
CONS
- Some customers have pointed out that the blade is prone to chipping.
Final Verdict
The Miyabi Kaizen knife is a super-sharp knife that can handle several cutting tasks. However, due to the knife’s super-sharp edge, I’d recommend you only use it for veggies and boneless meat to avoid injuries.
3. Miyabi 34073-203 Chef’s Knife
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The next best Miyabi knife to purchase in 2020 is the Miyabi 34073-203 chef’s knife. This is yet another top-notch Miyabi knife portraying unique Japanese craftsmanship. Just like the previously reviewed models, this knife is built with high-quality SG2 micro-carbide steel and has a Katana cutting edge. The knife features both traditional and modern Japanese techniques; therefore, resulting in a premium product with all benefits you’d want from a of top-quality knife.
Key Features
- A super-thin blade profile as is custom of Japanese knives
- The blade is built from SG2 micro-carbide steel
- Hand-honed through the 3-step Honbazuke process
- Features an edge sharpness of 9.5-12 degrees
- D-shaped handle
PROS
- The D-shaped handle provides comfort during use
- The knife is very durable
- Provides value for money as you will use the knife for many years
- Perfect craftsmanship
- A super sharp edge
- Maintains a sharp edge for long
CONS
- Not suitable for cutting hard foods like bony meat
- The packaging is not very appealing considering the knife’s price
Final Verdict
The Miyabi 34073-203 is possibly the most stylish knife produced by Miyabi, in addition to having superior build and strength. The only problem we found with the knife is the cheap packaging, which is not what one would expect of a knife of this caliber.
4. Miyabi 34072-133 Utility knife
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The Miyabi 34072-133 utility knife is very similar to the previous 34073-203 model. The only difference is that the Miyabi utility knife is an ideal fit for a multipurpose kitchen knife. The knife will easily cut through veggies as well as handle other tasks such as slicing chicken and turtles – even paring fruits. This high-quality utility knife is made of SG2 Micro-carbide steel so you can be sure that the knife is super strong yet flexible to resist avoid breakage.
Key Features
- A D-shaped handle for a comfortable grip.
- A thin blade profile making the knife very light and easy to use
- A strong blade made of SG2 steel and ice-hardened
- Hand-honed edge with 9.5-12 degrees of sharpness
PROS
- Aesthetic build
- Comfortable handle for a good grip
- A sharp edge that will cut through anything
- Value for money
- Long-lasting sharpness
CONS
- Poor packaging
- The bolster is a bit asymmetrical
Final Verdict
The Miyabi 34072-133 is a great fit for a top-quality utility kitchen knife. However, some customers have complained of the bolster being slightly off. But apart from this minor flaw, the knife meets all other standards of a quality knife.
5. Miyabi Mizu SG2 Chef’s Knife (9.5 inches)
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Next, we shall review a Miyabi Mizu model. The Miyabi Mizu 9.5-inch chef’s knife is a top-quality chef’s knife that is suitable for chopping, slicing, dicing, and cutting meat and vegetables. The Miyabi Mizu chef’s knife is a thing of beauty, with attractive Mosaic designs on the handle, as well as a Damascus pattern on the core. In addition to the aesthetic design, the knife is also very efficient in operation, providing exquisite performance.
Key Features
- Built with quality micro-carbide SG2 powder steel.
- A Damascus-pattern core
- Ice hardened treatment for extended strength of the blade
- The blade has a factory hardness of 63 Rockwell
- The symmetrical blade is hand-honed to the sharpness of 9.5-12 degrees
- Micarta D-shaped handle with a Mosaic design
- Lifetime warranty
PROS
- Perfect craftsmanship
- Ergonomic design
- Comfortable handle
- Value for money
- Easy to hold and use
- Very hard, thus, resists chipping
- Durable
CONS
- Doesn’t come with a knife box/scabbard
Final Verdict
The Miyabi Mizu SG2 chef’s knife comes with many unique features such as the mosaic design and Damascus pattern, which give the knife a very attractive look. As for efficiency, the Miyabi Mizu SG2 is top of the line, which is why we recommend the model to anyone looking to upgrade their cutlery.
6. Miyabi Birchwood SG2 6.5″ Nakiri Knife
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The Miyabi Birchwood Nakiri is another top of the line knife that every professional cook should have in their cutlery set. Nakiri is Japanese for a vegetable cleaver, so you get the idea of the knife’s ideal use. The model comes with many impressive features, such as being lightweight, having an ergonomic handle, and stylish design, among other features.
Key Features
- The knife features a 6.5-inch steel blade
- An ice-hardened blade for enhanced strength and stability to resist chipping
- An attractive Damascus pattern on the blade
- The Damascus flowery patterns are resistant to scratch and wear during washing
- A Birchwood handle to provide a comfortable grip
- Microwave and oven-friendly for versatility
PROS
- An attractive blade with Damascus pattern
- Maintains a sharp edge for long
- Value for money
- Resistant to scratches and wearing of patterns
- Flexible blade to avoid breakage
- Comfortable handle
CONS
- Doesn’t come with a sheath
Final Verdict
The Miyabi Nakiri knife is a perfect knife for slicing veggies. However, the knife doesn’t come with a sheath; therefore, you should be very careful where you store it to avoid injuries.
7. Miyabi 34372-093 Paring Knife
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We cannot exhaust our Miyabi knives reviews and fail to review at least one paring knife by the popular brand. You can always use any of your other knives to peel vegetables, but the process would be much easier if you used a paring knife for the job. The Miyabi 34372-093 paring knife features a short blade, which makes peeling vegetables and fruits super-easy. The knife also has a very sharp blade, which makes the knife suitable for other jobs as well.
Key Features
- A G2 Micro-carbide powder steel blade
- A super-thin blade profile
- Birchwood handle for a comfortable grip
- A super-sharp edge of 9.5-12degrees, thanks to the 3-step Honbazuke honing process
- Has a blade size of 3.5 inches which makes pealing vegetables very easy
PROS
- A long-lasting sharp edge
- Perfect for peeling vegetables
- Attractive Damascus pattern
- Easy to handle
- Strong build
CONS
- The knife is only fit for peeling vegetables
Final Verdict
The Miyabi 34372-093 paring knife is a very easy-to-use paring knife. The knife is still sharp enough to cut through anything and can handle other jobs just as well. However, I’d only recommend you only use the knife for its recommended use – peeling vegetables.
8. Miyabi 34088-183 Rocking Santoku, 7-inch
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Next, we shall review a Miyabi Santoku knife model. The Miyabi 34088-183 rocking Santoku is a 7-inch knife that is ideal for slicing, dicing, or mincing small-sized vegetables. The knife is medium-sized, with a comfortable handle that will fit perfectly in small to medium-sized hands. The blade is also equally impressive with attractive Damascus patterns as well as high-quality build.
Key Features
- The Santoku knife is built with superior SG2 micro-carbide steel
- Features the authentic Japanese super-thin blade profile
- The blade is honed by hand through the 3-step Honbazuke to achieve sharpness of between 9.5 and 12 degrees
- The blade features a lovely Damascus flower pattern
- A D-shaped handle to allow easy handling when cutting
PROS
- Comfortable handle
- Offers value for money
- Easy to use
- Lightweight knife
- Reduces sticking of foods on the blade
CONS
- Not ideal for cutting large vegetables
Final Verdict
The Miyabi 34088-183 is a very efficient knife for a Santoku model. However, if you are looking for a knife to cut vegetables larger than onions, I’d recommend you use a slightly larger knife.
9. Miyabi Fusion Morimoto Edition Chef’s Knife
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The Miyabi Morimoto edition is a perfect blend of western and Japanese architecture. The model combines traditional Japanese styles for the blade, and European-inspired handles, thus, giving you the best of both worlds. Like other Miyabi knives, the Morimoto chef’s knife is treated to the 3-step Honbazuke honing process to produce a razor-sharp symmetrical edge of 9.5-12 degrees.
Key Features
- Features a strong steel blade made of VG10 super steel
- Has a super-thin blade
- Hand-honed blade to achieve an edge of 9.5-12 degrees sharpness
- A CRYODUR blade that is ice-hardened to achieve a factory Rockwell 60 hardness
- Features 65-layer flowery Damascus design for a stylish look
PROS
- Offers value for money
- Guaranteed durability
- Maintains a sharp edge for long
- Comfortable handle
- A strong blade that resists chipping
- Very light
CONS
- Not suitable for cutting hard objects like bones
- Very dull when received
Final Verdict
The Miyabi Morimoto edition is a perfect fusion of European and Japanese style. The knife gives you the best of both worlds with a Japanese-inspired blade and western-style handle. This is a knife you will love to use for every occasion.
10. Miyabi Kaizen Knife Block Set, 7 Piece
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If you prefer to have your knives in a set as compared to buying individual pieces, then here is an option that will utterly fascinate you. The Miyabi Kaizen knife block set is a real gem, featuring 7 different cutleries to handle different cutting tasks. The knives are all built to perfection, featuring high-quality VG10 steel and perfect Japanese craftsmanship.
Key Features
- The 7-piece set consists of 3.5″ vegetable knife, 6″ utility knife, 8″ chef’s knife, and a 9.5″ bread knife, 9″ sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and a bamboo block.
- The knives are made of VG10 super steel
- The blades feature a super-thin blade profile that is authentic of Japanese style
- The blades are all ice-hardened to a factory hardness of Rockwell 60
- The blades are also hand-honed through the 3-step Honbazuke process to achieve an edge of 9.5-12 degrees
PROS
- Many items at a discounted price
- The set can handle many cutting tasks
- The blades have a sharp edge straight out of the box
- The blades maintain a sharp edge even after several uses
- The set saves you money in the long run
- The handles provide a comfortable grip for easy cutting
CONS
- The shears and honing rod are of poor quality
Final Verdict
The Miyabi Kaizen 7-piece block set is a combination of all the knives you would need to handle all cutting tasks in your kitchen. The set also saves you a considerable amount of money as you don’t have to buy the pieces separately. I’d recommend this option to anyone just getting introduced to Miyabi cutlery.
Comparison between different Miyabi Knives
There are 4 different types of Miyabi knives you can choose from. These are:
- Miyabi Fusion
- Kaizen
- Miyabi VG10
- Miyabi Sg2
Miyabi Fusion vs. Kaizen
Miyabi Fusion and Kaizen both offer similar benefits, including strength, durability, sharpness, and all other features present in Miyabi knives. However, the difference between the two comes in the handle. The Miyabi fusion handle is inspired by western architecture, while the Kaizen handle is a Japanese-inspired design.
Miyabi VG10 vs. Miyabi Sg2
Miyabi uses two different materials in manufacturing their knives – VG10 and SG2 steel. Both materials are superb variations of steel and result in high-quality build, thus, offering durability. However, there are a few differences between the two materials.
VG10 steel, also referred to as V Gold 10, is top-notch stainless steel that is extremely hard and tough. (VG10 scores Rockwell 61 hardness). The major advantage with knives built with VG10 is that they can maintain a sharp edge for long, and are also very easy to sharpen.
SG2 steel, on the other hand, is superior to VG10 steel, scoring a whopping 64 on the Rockwell scale of hardness. SG2 steel has high carbon content, giving the material consistent grain texture for enhanced durability. The hard grain also makes SG2 rust-resistant, thus, giving SG2 a huge advantage over VG10 steel.
Miyabi vs. Yoshihiro
Yoshihiro is also another top Japanese knife brand. However, just like the case with Shun, Yoshihiro can’t compare to Miyabi because of Miyabi’s cutting edge, which is sharper than Yoshihiro’s. Miyabi features an edge angle of 9 – 12.5 degrees, which is unsurpassed by any other knife brand.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Miyabi knife?
The best Miyabi knife to buy is the Miyabi 34373-203 chef’s knife. However, if you are more interested in buying a set, rather than a single piece, then the best option would be the Miyabi Birchwood GS2 7-piece knife block set.
Where are Miyabi knives made?
Miyabi knives are manufactured in Seki, Japan.
Who owns Miyabi knives?
The manufacturer of Miyabi is known as Zwilling J.A Henckels.
Conclusion
Miyabi is a top-notch knife brand, with some of the best cutlery in the world. Investing in an exclusive brand like Miyabi comes with a ton of benefits for the individual since the products are long-lasting and provide long-lasting service.
Our comprehensive review has featured the 10 best Miyabi knives available in the market today, as well as explaining the features that to look for when buying the knives. We hope that the next time you go shopping for a top-quality Miyabi knife, you will know exactly what to look for. All the best in your endeavors!
