Oishya Review: Best Japanese Knives?

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I’m a firm believer that there is too much you can achieve in the kitchen without having the right equipment. I’ve been in the position of having a full Ikea kitchen and cookware that doesn’t last more than a year.

But since I started this blog and I’ve been more serious about perfecting my cooking skills, there is one item that was on my wishlist: a high-quality knife.

Japanese Knives are worldwide known for their endurance and high quality. And I’ve been dreaming of owning one for a long time.

So, in my research, I stumbled with te brand Oishya. Their products are individually fabricated, by professional blacksmiths from around the world, which make them non-negotiable in terms of quality. The quality is hard to find elsewhere.  

Established in 2016, Oishya (previously known as Japana Home) has become a household name. It’s worth mentioning their signature traditional Japanese knife (Sakai Kyuba set). You purchase one, and you experience the Japanese culture first-hand.

Features of Oishya Products

Quality – From the workshop to your home

Oishya takes the quality of its products with the utmost seriousness. Their knives are no special, and they undergo a rigorous production process to ensure they are A+ quality.

Unlike the typical-industrial-produced knives, each Oishya knife is crafted individually by experienced artisans in Japan and Europe.

Each knife blade is made from Stainless Japanese Damascus 46-layer Steel which gives a marvelous performance.

When using the knife, you’ve got to take care of your fingers! What about the handle? Not synthetic plastic. The handle is made from Italian maple wood. Sound cool, isn’t it?

Oishya offers the whole kit and caboodle (knife and accessories)

Besides selling knives, Oishya commits itself to ensure the blade lasts for the longest time possible, it’s likely your great-grandchildren will use it too.

For this reason, they also sell magnetic stands, sharpening stones, and cutting boards. Knife storages include a magnetic rack, magnetic knife holder, and magnetic knife board.

Japanese sharpening stones ensure the knives are always sharp while cutting boards helps one to avoid making the knife blunt. A sharper knife is better, safer, and lasts longer. 

Uniqueness

Beauty and distinctive designs are the backbones of Oishya. Like noted above, different blacksmith crafts each Oishya knife. Also, handle patterns on every knife do not resemble, not even ones.

With this in mind, for every knife you purchase, you get a unique piece of workmanship. My Oishya knife beyond how useful it is, it’s absolutely beautiful to look. It’s like an elaborate piece of art in my kitchen.

Have you ever heard of the famous Osaka? Yes, this kitchen knife is from Sakai City, synonymous with cutlery. Its history dates back to the 5^th century. Sakai Kyuba, one of Osaka’s knife wizard, earned himself a brand from his artistry prowess. The world knows the Sakai Kyuba premium knife for its beauty and refinement, thanks to the blade master.

Aesthetics

Though looks don’t deceive, the phrase shouldn’t apply on tools. However, Oishya knife is simplistic, yet a hub of real Japanese art. Since the knife blade is made of VG10 steel, you get both beauty and excellent performance. 

Pros and cons Oishya Products

Pros 

• No middle man
• 45-day returns
• Free delivery
• Beautiful 

Cons

• No mass production
• Orders may take longer to be delivered
• Pricey

Types of Oishya Knives

Chef’s knife (Gyuto)

This knife is medium in size, and the best part about it is that it’s multi-purpose. This knife gets everything that requires knifing around your kitchen done. In case you are looking to start your knife collection, this should be the first one to buy.  

Pairing knives (petty)

The petty knife is smaller in size, and it’s obvious what small tools do when it comes to handling stuff. Precision and accuracy, especially when slicing small pieces, peeling or cutting irregular foods. It’s easy to control this knife when handling food.

Vegetable knife (Nakiri)

It comes last but takes the number one spot of the best knife to have in your kitchen (It’s the one that I have). The vegetable knife is ideal for bigger fleshy vegetables and fruits. Think about watermelons, pineapples, or even pumpkins, that’s why you need this knife. You will do the task effortlessly. By the way, Nakiri is rectangular. 

All the knives are extremely lightweight and easy to handle. 

*When I received my Oishya Knife, I spent the first days cutting everything in front of me. It was like Christmas morning for a foodie lover*

If you are a bit confused about Japanese knives types and uses, check my 101 Japanese Knives guide. 

Pricing 

Considering the quality of the knives, the price tag on each knife is worth its value. Think of a knife in use by a Michelin restaurant’s chef; it must be quality and worth the price tag. I’ll just name the prices of some of the gadgets;

Item	Price
Sakai Kyuba – Pairing Knife	$343
Sakai Kyuba – Vegetable Knife	$370
Sakai Kyuba – Chef’s Knife	$384
Sakai Kyuba – The Knife Set	$892
Wooden Magnetic Knife Stand	$165
King Gold G-1 (Japanese sharpening stone)	$110

Table 1 Prices

You can save 20$ using the code GEEK20 in your first buy! 

Conclusion

While you can buy a single knife, buying a whole set is both economical and wise. You get the collection at a lower price for each knife, plus you avert the risk of missing out on the product due to depleted stock.

Oishya customers have also left some excellent reviews on TrustPilot.