Tojiro is known throughout Japan as a company that provides excellent quality, sharp, and effective knives.
These are pro knives that can be used by anyone from a seasoned chef to the amateur cook looking to start their culinary journey.
They have the feel and quality of a pro knife, but for an affordable price that will not break the bank.
Tojiro is sharing knife craftsmanship, so everyone can experience what a quality knife should feel and be like.
While Tojiro is revered in Japan, as it’s recently entered the international market, people worldwide are recognizing the allure that Japanese people have towards the knife.
It is because of it’s excellent cost performance that many, whether Japanese or not, consider Tojiro “The Knife of Japan,” a brand that encapsulates the ideals and traditions of Japanese knife/food culture.
Feature: Sleek, Durable, and User-Friendly
Tojiro prides themselves on the durability of their knives; guaranteeing long-lasting and excellent knives no matter how many uses.
While Tojiro does create standard knives of great quality, they also venture into stylish and innovative designs to match and keep up with the modern world.
These knives may be chic and visually attractive, but their quality and integrity does not falter.
No matter the knife they are crafted with excellent performance kept in mind. Not only that, but also that the knife can be easily used and feel comfortable.
Design: Stainless Steel to Origami
Tojiro knives are made from a myriad of different metals each with their own unique qualities and perks.
Tojiro uses metal like VG10/Cobalt, nickel damascus, molybdenum vanadium, powdered high speed steel, aogami steel, shirogami steel, and stainless steel.
Out of all the steels that are used and sold stainless is by far the most popular due the fact that it is easy to clean, does not rust easily, and sanitary.
Tojiro has a series of knives called “Tojiro Pro,” in which the entire knife, from the handle to the knife, are completely made of steel.
Tojiro does also sell a more typical knife with a handle, which is made of eco-wood, for a cheaper price point, but more familiar feel and still great quality. Tojiro of course makes elegant and sleek knives, but they also make unconventional knives that all draw inspiration from Japanese culture.
For example, Tojiro has a line of “Origami” knives, in which the handle folds into the knife to represent the folded paper look that origamii is known for.
While this knife does not look like your standard kitchen knife it has the same quality and feel of a Tojiro knife.
From the elegant to semi-wacky, Tojiro guarantees and prides itself on sharpness, longevity, and a comfortable feel.
Tojiro knives are even able to be resharpened to ensure that no matter how many uses and years go by the knife will still be the same quality like when it was first bought.
Function: A Sharpness You can Taste
Tojiro mainly makes knives for kitchen uses like chopping, cutting, slicing, etc.
However, Tojiro also makes a myriad of other products to accompany and compliment their already excellent knives.
For example, kitchen scissors, sharpening blocks, and cutting boards of almost every size and shape. Tojiro also makes and sells various table wares like forks and table knives in differeing styles and designs.
Tojiro is not just for your kitchen, but your office space, as well.
Tojiro has a desk utility knife for open letters, sharpening pencils, cutting paper, and all your stationery needs.
Knife Type: Japanese and Western Style
Tojiro breaks its knives into two different categories: Japanese and Western. Japanese knives consist of mini light Deba knife, Deba knife, Yanagi-Sashimi knife, Tako-sashimi knife, and Usuba knife.
While breaking Western knives into petty knife, all-purpose knife, gyuto/chef knife, nakiri/vegetable knife, and sujiki/slicer knife. They also sell a few different miscellaneous/specialty knives like a soba knife, bread knife, and a few others.
Founder story: Farming to Cooking
In 1953, Tojiro was founded but it originally went by a different name which was Fujitora, after it’s founder, Torao Fujita. However, in the 2010’s they released a series of knives called “Tojiro.” This series of knives were so popular and highly-revered, that Fujitora decided to rebrand. In 2015, Fujitora changed its name to Tojiro, a brand that Japan and the world has become familiar with and loved.
When the brand first was established they did not immediately produce the quality knives that we know today.
They originally made farming equipment and tools.
It was not until two years later in 1955, that Tojiro released a stainless steel fruit knife that they shifted their focus and became the brand that we know today.
The company that exists today is completely different from the agricultural equipment produced in the 1950s, not just their products but they’re ideals as well.
Tojiro strives to make a sharp and professional quality blade for an affordable price.
Tojiro does not cater and gatekeep for professionals, but also orients itself towards housewives, stay-at-home husbands, and the novice chef.
As Tojiro looks to the future for the development of its brand, it also reflects on antiquity.
Tojiro takes a fresh approach at knife production by using traditional Japanese forging techniques, like Warikomi, and uses modern machinery to increase production efficiency.
They use a perfect blend of tradition and modernity to produce a whole new product, rich with history.
Today, Tojiro also looks overseas to expand their brand even further. As the world becomes more of an international community, Tojiro stays on trend and evolves with the world to share their excellency.
Tojiro currently has it’s factories in Tsubame, Niigata, which is widely known as a metal producing area.
In 2017, they unveiled and opened a new, updated factory which they refer to as an “Open Factory.” This factory is open to the public for all those who want to get first-hand experience and watch from start to finish the production of Japanese knives.
This factory consists of several buildings: the main entrance, the knife gallery, the forging house, the knife atelier, and the knife factory. Anyone can go to this factory and learn about Tojiro and Japanese knives from history to the actual forging of the knives.
Each building individually serves a separate purpose in the knife making process, and they all eventually culminate to the finished quality that Japan and the world has come to know and love.
Just last year in 2019, the factory underwent renovations and had a reopening to commemorate it’s renovations and expansions.
Pupular Products of Tojiro Knives
Tojiro VG10 Clad Steel with Bolster Santoku 170mm
This knife is one of Tojiro’s quintessential knives ranked number two on their online store for popularity and quality amongst customers.
This knife is classified as a santoku knife, or all-purpose knife, meaning it can be used for a multitude of functions.
The blade is made of cobalt and a 13-chromium stainless steel, while the handle is reinforced lamination, so this knife can be used in and out of the kitchen.
Like all Tojiro knives, this one is tough, sharp, and durable and guaranteed to last. Because of this, this knife won the Good Design and Long Life Design award in 1996. This knife retails for 8,800 Yen which is around 85 USD.
Like all Tojiro knives this one can be engraved, price varies depending on engraving, and gift wrapped for free.
Tojiro Pro DP 3 Layered VG10 Santoku 170mm
For a more luxurious and expensive feel this knife is the way to go.
It is a similar knife to those mentioned above, but some key differences that make the number one ranked knife on Tojiro’s online website.
This knife is also a santoku, all-purpose knife, but this one from handle to blade is entirely made up of stainless steel.
The allure and appeal of this knife is that the entirety of the knife is hygenic, easy to clean, and amazingly sharp.
An interesting design element is that handle is what Tojiro calls a ‘tornado pattern.’ This pattern and handle was developed so that even if your hands or the handle is covered in grease or water, it will fall in between the grooves of this pattern so that you can grip and handle the knife with no difficulty. This knife retails for 9,900 yen, or about 95 USD.
Tojiro Pro DP 2 Layered VG10 Deba 165mm
The previously mentioned were Western and multi-purpose knives for anyone wanting to get into knives, but this knife is for those more familiar and interested in traditional Japanese knives.This knife is a completely stainless steel deba knife.
For those unfamiliar, deba knives are primarily used for filleting fish, but can also be used for cleaving vegetables and parting out poultry.
This knife mixes the tradition and antiquity of Japanese deba knives, with the modern feel of stainless steel, a true embodiment of the Tojiro brand. This knife was also awarded the Good Design Award in 2000.
This knife retails for 17,600 japanese yen or 170 USD.
Best place to buy Tojiro Knives
For people living in Japan, you can use several different websites to purchase these knives the main one’s being Tojiro.com, Amazon, and Rakuten.
For an American or Western audience, you unfortunately cannot buy from Tojiro’s website directly because they do not provide international shipping.
So, you will have to use a different retailer in order purchase and experience these products. Amazon is the most reliable and has a large variety of their knives at competitive prices.
line-up: Knives for Anyone and Everyone
Every knife in Tojiros lineup can be directly purchased from their personal website, while on Amazon and Rakuten you can buy a great deal of Tojiro knives, but not as many as you might if using their personal website/online store.
For people living outside Japan, Amazon will be your best bet to browse a good range of knives, with more safety, reliability, and gaurantee of these knives’ authenticity.
If using a different reseller, I would exercise some caution about these sites and do a bit of research before making a purchase.
Currently, Tojiro.com has two promotions going on.
These promotions are only applicable to their personal website, and cannot be taken advantage of unless you live in Japan and can have Tojiro deliver to your residence.
First, Tojiro announces that it brought back a limited stock of its Desktop Utility knife and this product will only be available while supplies last.
Next Tojiro announces that they are selling a New Year’s Grab Bag, which contains two Tojiro Supreme DP knives, for a sale price of 11,000 yen or around 106 USD.
