Author Description

The Japanese Knife Manual Live with Your Knife—When You Change How You Use It, Cooking Will Change Too Are you curious about Japanese knives but unsure where to start? Have you already purchased one, only to find yourself wondering how to use or care for it properly? This book is your most practical, beginner-friendly guide to understanding, using, and living with a Japanese knife—not just as a tool, but as a lifelong companion in your kitchen. This is not just a “book of knowledge.” It’s a manual for everyday life with your knife. This is the follow-up to the internationally praised The Japanese Knife Handbook, which focused on knowledge—types of steel, blade shapes, history, and tradition—to help readers become people who can talk about Japanese knives. Now, this second book shifts the focus from knowledge to practice. It was written with a heartfelt goal: To clearly and gently teach you what you absolutely need to know to use a Japanese knife with confidence, and to help you bring that knife into your daily routine, habits, and joy. Four Stages That Will Transform Your Relationship with Your Knife This book guides you through every phase of your journey, from your first encounter with a Japanese knife to using and maintaining it for years to come: 1. Before You Use It: Which knife should you choose? What mistakes should you absolutely avoid? Your relationship with your knife begins the moment you select it. 2. While You Use It: How do you hold it, move it, stay aware while cutting? Proper use affects not just the sharpness of your blade—but the sharpness of your presence. 3. After You Use It: Washing, drying, storing, resting— Small, intentional habits will protect your knife and deepen your connection to it. 4. Q&A: Collected from hundreds of conversations with students and chefs worldwide. Real questions, clear answers—for knives, cutting boards, and whetstones. By the ti