Some of the best knife makers in the world are based in Japan. When it comes to Japanese knives, you cannot complain about the quality. The combination of modern technology and traditional world-famous sword forging methods is used to make Japanese knives.
Japanese knives are lightweight, razor-sharp, elegant, and durable. Both Shun vs. Miyabi knives are made in Japan. That’s why it’s hard to choose between Shun vs. Miyabi chef knives.
It’s a simple choice to buy knives from one of these brands. These are both amazing options, and you can’t go wrong with whichever way you decide to go. The real decision comes when you try to decide which one to choose.
So, what is the difference between kitchen knives, Miyabi vs. Shun chef knives? You will find a detailed side-by-side comparison in this article.
Table of Contents
Shun
Shun Cutlery was founded in 2002, and it is a kitchen knife brand of the KAI Group, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Shun knives are one of Japan’s leading knife lines.
Most of their blades come with an iconic aesthetic that quite easily separates Shun knives from the competition. Some of the techniques used to make each blade are reminiscent of the methods you can use to make a Japanese sword!
One advantage that Shun shares are that they can claim that their knives are made with genuine Japanese blades. The Shun tool has been made using Japanese methods.
Miyabi
Miyabi was founded in 2004 and is a kitchen knife brand of the ZWILLING Group. Miyabi knives are also one of Japan’s leading knife lines. Miyabi is a much more recent company, but it has rapidly become one of Shawn’s relatively formidable competitors in the market.
MIYABI knives are made with genuine Japanese blades. As a result, Japanese craftsmanship is combined with German engineering skills to produce fantastic efficiency in their manufacturing processes.
Miyabi vs Shun (Similarities)
Miyabi vs. Shun is a battle between the two best Japanese kitchen knives on the market today. There are a number of similarities between Miyabi and Shun. Similarities between Miyabi and Shun includes:
- Both are high-end knife brands, and both are using highly high-quality materials and are handmade in the same city, i.e. Seki City, Japan.
- They both have thin blades (compared to German knives) without bolsters, making them lightweight and allowing you to sharpen ’s an entire edge.
- Both knives require more than 100 steps and 42 days to produce each knife.
- They both display their logos prominently on the top half of the blade close to the handle.
- They are both made to the highest possible standards.
- Both knife brands have extremely sharp edges.
- Both brands offer a limited lifetime warranty.
Miyabi vs Shun (Differences)
There are many differences between Miyabi and Shun. Differences between Miyabi and Shun includes:
- Miyabi knives come with a triple-riveted handle, while Shun knives come with an octagonal-shaped handle.
- Miyabi blades are ice-hardened by a method known as FRIODUR and, depending on the collection, have a variety of hardnesses on the Rockwell scale. Miyabi blades score between 57, the Red Morimoto Edition, and 66, the Black Edition.
- Shun blades vary from 60 to 62 on the Rockwell scale, depending on the type of steel used in the manufacturing process. For eg, VG10 and VG-Max blades, such as Dual Core and Classic, score between 60 and 61, while the SG2 core blade scores between 61 and 62.
- Miyabi knives are sharper out of the box than Shun knives.
- Miyabi knives have an edge angle of between 9.5 to 12 degrees per side for a total edge angle range of 19 to 24 degrees across collections. While Shun knives are sharpened to a 16-degree angle on both sides for a total edge angle of 32 degrees.
- Shun knives have larger blades than Miyabi knives.
Read More:
Miyabi vs. Shun: Comparison Chart
If you are hurried and want to get the Miyabi vs. Shun 30 seconds comparison, check out the following table. 2002 2004 Seki City, Japan Seki City, Japan SG2, VG10, VG-MAX SG2, VG10, Special Formula PakkaWood, Tagayasan wood, TPE PakkaWood, Karelian Birch, Micarta, POM, black ash wood Traditional Japanese Japanese with a German influence 7 ounces 8 ounces 32-degree angle 19 to 24-degree angle 60 to 62 55 to 66 Limited Lifetime and Lifetime Free Sharpening Warranty Limited Lifetime Warranty
Futures & Specification
Shun
Miyabi
Founded
Where is it made?
Blade Material
Handle Material
Design
Weight of 8-inch chef’s knife (average)
Edge Angle Total (lower = sharper)
Blade Hardness (higher = harder)
Warranty
Price
(View on Amazon)
(View on Amazon)
You can’t compare one option with another when comparing Miyabi and Shun. Both brands have a variety of knife collections, each with its own distinctive features.
They even cost more or less the same amount. They do have one or two differences, which might help you choose one over the other, and in this article, we’re going to share all these differences.
So, in order to understand the difference between these brands, you have to understand each collection. Let’s dive in, starting with Miyabi.
Miyabi Collections
First, we’re going to have a look at some of the best Miyabi knives. So, you should see all product specifications and features for that.
1. Miyabi Chef’s Knife
It’s the most expensive knife on our list, but it’s also the most premium. This knife is made of G2 micro carbide powder steel, which is one of the hardest and most premium materials for knife blades today. The SG2 micro-carbide powder steel is protected by 100 layers of steel.
Its high-quality steel comes from Japan, and it results in a blade that can hold its edge very well. Its razor-sharp edge helps the knife to do daily kitchen work.
The handle’s length is 5.39 inches, and the handle of the knife is hand-honed using the three-step Honbazuke process that is sharpened to 9.5-degree to 12 degrees that results in an incredibly sharp blade.
The in-house developed ice-hardening process promises the longevity and sharpness of each blade. The sharp edges of each blade will last for a long period of time.
Professionals from all around the world praised this for being one of the best knives on the market today.
It can be expensive, but if you are looking to invest in incredibly high-quality knives, it will not be much better than this model.
2. Miyabi Kaizen
Miyabi Kaizen knife comes with a Revolutionary FC61 steel core that has the perfect distribution of carbide and is covered by 48 long-lasting layers of Damascus steel.
Its high-quality steel comes from Japan that creates a razor-sharp edge. It can hold its edge for a long time and provides durability to the knife. This knife is perfect for all cutting purposes.
It is heated up to a Rockwell hardness rating of 61°, the highest rating for most kitchen knives. This means that it should maintain a sharp edge for a long time.
It comes with a Double FRIODUR ice-hardened blade that provides exceptional durability and cutting-edge retention. The double FRIODUR ice-hardened blade ensures improved corrosion resistance and excellent durability.
Miyabi Kaizen II knives are as beautiful as they are functional. The beautiful flower pattern of the blades of Damascus steel is dramatically darkened by acid dipping.
The knife blade is hand-honed using the four-step Honbazuke process, which is sharpened to 9.5 degrees to 12 degrees, resulting in an extremely sharp blade.
The knife comes with a substantial D-shaped handle made of black Pakkawood that feels very comfortable in hand, and the knife handle is easy to grip. The Pakkawood looks luxurious & beautiful, and it provides exceptional comfort and durability to the knife. Your palm and wrist would not tire, even after extended use.
3. Miyabi Koh
Each of the elegant Miyabi Koh knives is manufactured in Seki, Japan. There, Miyabi artisans blend a rich Japanese tradition with expert German engineering and state-of-the-art steel to make the finest kitchen knives.
This knife is made with FC61 fine carbide stainless steel that is heated up to a Rockwell hardness rating of 61°, the highest rating for most kitchen knives. This means that it should maintain a sharp edge for a long time.
It comes with an ice-hard FRIODUR blade that provides excellent durability, cutting-edge retention, and resistance to corrosion. The stunning blades are finished with a real katana edge, a homage to the samurai swords made in Seki centuries ago.
The knife blade is hand-honed by the Honbazuke process and is sharpened to 9.5 degrees to 12 degrees, resulting in an extremely sharp blade, and the hand-honed Honbazuke blade has a scalpel-like sharpness.
This cutting-edge steel ensures that the hand-honed blades maintain their impressive sharpness for a long time.
The knife comes stylishly stamped with a silver mosaic pin, an elegant octagonal handle that feels as amazing as it looks. There is no finger guard, which gives you the option of using the knife’s entire length for cutting.
It comes with a Pakkawood handle that supports both Western chopping and Asian rocking cuts and experiences ergonomic perfection with each slice. The Pakkawood looks luxurious & beautiful, and it provides exceptional comfort and durability to the knife. Your palm and wrist would not tire, even after extended use.
4. Miyabi Black 5000MCD67
The Miyabi Black 5000MCD67 is a true work of art. The blade is made of micro-carbide powdered MC66 steel, which is ice-hardened to an impressive 66 HRC.
This results in an incredibly sharp and long-lasting edge.
The blade is wrapped in 132 additional layers of steel, resulting in a beautiful flower Damascus pattern.
The resulting pattern is nothing short of stunning, but when combined with a black ash wood handle, it goes to a different level.
The knife handle is made in a traditional “D” shape that offers optimum ergonomics for fatigue-free cutting in the kitchen.
The knife handle is hand-honed using the Honbazuke process. The handle of the Miyabi Black series is made of rare black ash wood.
The graining on the D-shaped handle offers a pleasing contrast to the Damascus pattern on the blade.
5. Miyabi Fusion Morimoto
Miyabi Morimoto features a combination of traditional Japanese and German knife design with a 64-layer Damascus blade (Japanese style) and a triple-riveted black POM (synthetic) handle (German-style).
The Miyabi Fusion Morimoto is made with a superior VG10 steel core that gives the knife more strength. The VG10 super steel blade is covered by a beautiful 64-layer Damascus flower pattern and complemented by an easy-to-care POM handle. The VG-10 stainless steel blades of this knife are extremely sharp and keep their edge well.
The knife blade is hand-honed by the Honbazuke process and is sharpened to 9.5 degrees to 12 degrees, resulting in an extremely sharp blade, and the hand-honed Honbazuke blade has a scalpel-like sharpness. This cutting-edge steel ensures that the hand-honed blades maintain their incredible sharpness for a long time.
The knife blade is ice-hardened to an impressive 60 HRC. This results in an incredibly sharp and long-lasting edge. The incredibly sharp, thin blade enables precise cuts that are associated with Japanese cuisine.
The handle is thicker mostly on the butt and is built for heavy use. Miyabi Fusion Morimoto Edition fuses Western-inspired ergonomics with authentic Japanese blade styles and super steel.
The knife handle has a tough and slip-resistant grip on the knife. It prevents the knife from slipping even though it’s gripped by wet or greasy hands. The handle fits comfortably through your hands for tireless cutting.
Also Check:
Shun Collections
Now we’ll take a look at some of the best Shun knives. So for that, you should see all the product specifications and product features.
1. Shun Classic Blonde 8” Chef’s Knife
Shun Classic Blonde 8-inch Chef’s knife is expensive, but it offers outstanding strength and performance. You can use the fork in the domestic kitchen as well as in the commercial kitchen.
The 8-inch Shun Classic Blonde Chef’s Knife is made of 34 layers of Damascus steel. There’s an additional layer, the core, which is made of VG-MAX steel. VG-MAX steel is a special Shun method with additional tungsten for sharper edges, extra chromium for corrosion resistance, and more cobalt and carbon for durability and longevity.
The handle of the knife comes with a beautiful D-shaped blonde PakkaWood handle.
Pakkawood is a hardwood that prevents the knife from slipping even when gripped with greasy or wet hands. Since it can resist water, its surface is easier to clean.
It also comes with a full tang, which increases the knife’s overall weight and gives balance to the knife. The full tang reduces unwanted rotation and improves grip for right and left-handed chefs alike.
It comes with a hand-sharpened Japanese double-bevel blade, and its angle comes with 16° on each side. Therefore, you can comfortably use the knife no matter whether you’re right-handed or lefty.
The shape of this knife looks like a traditional western knife. The lightweight design of the Japanese knife provides added endurance, exquisite cutting strength, and easy rocking, mincing, cutting, and cutting.
The Shun Classic Blonde 8-inch Chef’s Knife comes with a razor-sharp blade edge. It can perform a range of cutting tasks, from slicing to mining. You can cut fruits, vegetables, and meat with this knife.
This knife is thin and lighter in weight, and due to this, you will not tire even after extended use.
2. Shun Dual Core VG0017 8-Inch Kiritsuke Knife
The Shun Dual Core 8-inch Kiritsuke knife is known as a master’s knife in Japan. Kiritsuke knives are the only true multipurpose knives in Japanese cutlery and are designed to complete numerous cutting tasks around the kitchen.
The Knives are made of true layered and fold-forged Damascus from two premium-quality stainless sheets of steel, i.e., VG10 & VG2. Each knife features 71 alternating micro layers of VG10 and VG2 high-carbon, high-chromium stainless steels.
The layers are welded together and fold-forged to give a finer grain to the steel and to create a beautiful blade pattern. This dual-core construction features both sheets of steel going all the way to the edge of the light, thin blade.
Each knife boasts a razor-sharp 16-degree angle for the ultimate knife experience. Although the knife is thin and light, the blade is solid and is Shun’s sharpest blade edge yet!
The two sheets of steel on edge wear at different rates during normal use, creating micro serrations along the edge, so the extremely sharp edge feels sharper, longer, and is perfect for our kitchen tasks.
The knives are made with a traditional Japanese octagon-shaped handle in ebony Pakkawood. Pakkawood is made of resin-impregnated hardwood.
Pakkawood is a hardwood that prevents the knife from slipping even when gripped with greasy or wet hands and is NSF Certified for use in commercial kitchens.
3. Shun Cutlery Premier 8” Chef’s Knife
The Shun Cutlery knife is designed with 34 layers of Damascus steel. There’s an additional layer, the core, which is made of VG-MAX steel. VG-MAX steel is a special Shun method with additional tungsten for sharper edges, extra chromium for corrosion resistance, and more cobalt and carbon for durability and longevity.
This knife’s main feature is that it can hold its edge for a very long time before it requires any re-sharpening. However, some additional maintenance may be needed as its hardy edge tends to be a bit brittle. You need to be careful not to use a blade on rough foods.
It comes with a hand-sharpened Japanese double-bevel blade, and its angle comes with 16° on each side. Therefore, you can comfortably use the knife no matter whether you’re right-handed or lefty.
The Shun Cutlery knife comes with a razor-sharp edge of a blade. It can perfectly handle various cutting tasks, from slicing to mining. You can cut fruits, vegetables, and meat with this knife. It is best for home and might not be for restaurant kitchens.
The Shun Cutlery knife handle is made from walnut-colored Pakkawood, a hardwood that has resin to make it stronger. It is a compressed wood that has been influenced by epoxy, which makes it highly resistant to water and oil. It prevents the knife from slipping even when gripped with greasy or wet hands. Since it can resist water, its surface is easier to clean.
The Pakkawood looks luxurious & beautiful, and it provides exceptional comfort and durability to the knife. Your palm and wrist would not tire, even after extended use. Its hammered tsuchime finish helps the knife to release food easily when cutting for a smooth, clean-cut.
This knife is thin and lighter in weight, and due to this, you will not tire even after extended use. It is very comfortable and easy to use. Everyone loves to use this knife as it makes preparation work fun. No one wants to set the knife down.
4. Shun Cutlery Kanso 8-Inch Stainless Steel
The Shun Kanso 8-inch Kanso Knife is Handcrafted in Japan, and it is both beautiful and versatile. This knife is for all-purpose and is perfect for preparing fruits, proteins, vegetables, and more.
The blade of the knife is composed of AUS10A high-carbon vanadium stainless steel. The blade comes with a razor-sharp edge right out of the box, and it holds its edge longer than other knives.
It comes with a full tang, and the knife’s full tang increases the overall weight of a knife and gives balance, strength, and durability to the knife. The full tang and forged design make this set easy to control as well.
It comes with a double-bevel blade with 16 cutting angles that makes cutting easy and effortless. Kanso Knife will perfectly fit on your both hands because of its double bevel edge. So, whether you are a right hand or left hand, this knife will perfectly fit in both of your hands.
It comes with a handle made of wood. The handle is made of tagayasan (or wenge) wood, sometimes referred to as “iron sword wood” in Japan for its durability. It is suitable for all forms of cutting and gives the knife exceptional comfort and durability. Your palm and wrist will not tire after extended use.
The knife comes with a heritage finish and the Heritage Finish of Kanso’s knife hides scratches and gives the knife a rustic and traditional look, while the wooden handle gives it a contemporary aesthetic. In addition, it looks beautiful when you hold this knife in your hand.
5. Shun Classic 8” Chef’s Knife
The Shun Classic Chef Knife is designed with 68 layers of Damascus steel. There’s an additional layer, the core, which is made of VG-MAX steel. VG-MAX steel is a special Shun method with additional tungsten for sharper edges, extra chromium for corrosion resistance, and more cobalt and carbon for durability and longevity.
The blade of a knife is made with a mixture of tungsten, carbon, cobalt, and chromium to give the knife durability and sharpness. The blade comes sharp right out of the box and easy to sharpen as well.
The 8-inch Chef’s Knife is an essential kitchen utensil, and its blade is for all purposes. With its slightly curved blade, It can handle various cutting tasks, from slicing to mining. You can cut fruits, vegetables, and meat with this knife.
It is best for home and might not be for restaurant kitchens. The blade’s size and width make it an ideal tool for preparing protein, fruits, vegetables, and many other foods.
The Shun Classic Chef Knife handle is made from ebony Pakkawood, a hardwood that has resin to make it stronger. It is a compressed wood that has been influenced by epoxy, which makes it highly resistant to water and oil. It prevents the knife from slipping even when gripped with greasy or wet hands. Since it can resist water, its surface is easier to clean.
The Pakkawood looks luxurious & beautiful, and it provides exceptional comfort and durability to the knife. Your palm and wrist would not tire, even after extended use.
It can be an excellent present for couples, owners, parents, friends, cooks, professional chefs, or waitresses so that they can use this knife as a personal kitchen tool.
Conclusion
In our opinion, all these knives are pretty much the same. You don’t have to think about quality with these two knife brands. They’re both well-crafted and finished. Prices are more or less similar, too.
If you are looking for a harder and thicker blade, go with the Shun knives. If you are looking for a sharper and thinner knife, go with the Miyabi chef knife.
If you are looking for a more durable knife, go with Shun. They offer lifetime repairing and sharpening. If you are looking for a hand-made sharper knife, go with Miyabi.
So, in the end, it depends on what you’re looking for. Miyabi is clearly an option if you want the most reliable and sharpest knife. If you’re more interested in long-term durability then you should go for Shun. Both companies are great companies and well worth your time and money.
We hope this review and guide will help you choose the right product. We wish you the best of luck in finding the right knife.
Further, if you have any other queries, you will be most welcome to leave your comment below. I will definitely provide a solution as soon as I can. If you like this article, don’t forget to share it with your groups and have fun.
Also Check:
FAQ’s
