Every kitchen should have a Chinese-style cleaver, whose tall, heavy-duty blade and forward-heavy balance do most of the work for you when chopping big batches of vegetables and mincing meats or herbs. We found an excellent model from Japanese producer Toryumon that, unlike most flat-bellied cleavers, has a slightly curved edge similar to a European-style chef’s knife, so American home cooks will find it easier to use. Roughly 7 inches long and 3.5 inches tall, the blade is smaller and more approachable than other models and ideal for those with smaller hands.

Every kitchen should have a Chinese-style cleaver, whose tall, heavy-duty blade and forward-heavy balance do most of the work for you when chopping big batches of vegetables and mincing meats or herbs. We found an excellent model from Japan that, unlike most flat-bellied cleavers, has a slightly curved edge similar to a European-style chef’s knife, so American home cooks will find it easier to use. Plus, the barrel-shaped handle can you more control than a standard shape.

Traditionally used to cut vegetables, the Nakiri has a straight blade that makes full contact with surfaces for smooth, fluid cutting motions. The knife's thin construction creates clean cuts and won't tear or damage delicate foods. We also love the authentic magnolia wood handles, made in the Japanese wa style with resin collars; the rounded handles come to a subtle point on their undersides, nestling in the hand for a more secure grip, even when the knife is wet.

If you prefer a blade that requires a little less care, the VG-10 Nakiri is right for you: VG-10 is a popular kitchen knife steel with a high chromium content, so it holds an edge well, is easy to sharpen and requires little maintenance. The VG-10 Nakiri also has a gorgeous, labor-intensive tsuchime, or hammered, finish. The textured blade isn't just for aesthetics: The divots allow air to flow during use, so foods fall clean off the blade rather than sticking.

Traditionally used to cut vegetables, the Nakiri has a straight blade that makes full contact with surfaces for smooth, fluid cutting motions. The knife's thin construction creates clean cuts and won't tear or damage delicate foods. We also love the authentic magnolia wood handles, made in the Japanese wa style with resin collars; the rounded handles come to a subtle point on their undersides, nestling in the hand for a more secure grip, even when the knife is wet.

Remarkably sharp and lightweight, the Shirogami Nakiri is made from a very pure, high-carbon steel renowned for its ability to take a fine razor edge and maintain its sharpness—Tojiro's knife is an amazing bargain for such a high-grade steel. Over time, the blade will also change color as it develops a patina, a protective layer against rust. It is reactive to moisture and acid, so we recommend cleaning immediately after use, especially when chopping foods like tomatoes or onions.

Hard materials are hard on knives, but this featherlight Japanese cutting board will protect your blades—and will practically heal itself. This 21-inch board is just under 2 pounds and is made from the quick-growing paulownia tree, a soft wood that dries fast and has antibacterial properties. Unlike typical wooden cutting boards—which can be cumbersome and hard on knives—paulownia’s special properties cushion your blades (but won’t bend) to preserve the edge, unlike hard cutting surfaces like fabricated bamboo or hardwoods that have almost no give, eventually dulling knives. The wood naturally contains sesamin and paulonin, two anti-bacterial properties that help prevent germs from breeding. Even better, if you give your paulownia board a good scrub and wipe it mostly dry with a cloth, the grain of the wood will absorb moisture, minimizing the appearance of scratches, cracks and cut marks to ensure longevity.

The Kiritsuke is a style of gyuto, or Japanese chef’s knife, that has a long blade for slicing meat combined with a height that's perfect for cutting vegetables—overall, it's an all-purpose knife for virtually any kitchen task shy of mincing. The flat-bellied profile creates full board contact and clean slicing, while the namesake acute kiritsuke tip, traditionally reserved for head chefs, is specially designed for delicate detail work. Tojiro designed this kiritsuke with an ergonomic western-style handle that will feel familiar to American home cooks. The inner core of this Kiritsuke is VG-10, one of the most popular kitchen knife steels on the market. VG-10's high chromium content means the steel holds an edge well, is easy to sharpen and requires little maintenance.

The Kiritsuke is a style of gyuto, or Japanese chef’s knife, that has a long blade for slicing meat combined with a height that's perfect for cutting vegetables—overall, it's an all-purpose knife for virtually any kitchen task shy of mincing. The flat-bellied profile creates full board contact and clean slicing, while the namesake acute kiritsuke tip, traditionally reserved for head chefs, is specially designed for delicate detail work. We also love the traditional wa-style magnolia wood handle, which is well suited to a range of hand sizes, grips and positions. The rounded Japanese handles come to a subtle point on their undersides, nestling in the hand for a more secure grip, even when the knife is wet. Though ergonomically designed for right-handed use, Matthew Card, our food editor and a leftie, swears by these knives for daily use.

The Kiritsuke is a style of gyuto, or Japanese chef’s knife, that has a long blade for slicing meat combined with a height that's perfect for cutting vegetables—overall, it's an all-purpose knife for virtually any kitchen task shy of mincing. The flat-bellied profile creates full board contact and clean slicing, while the namesake acute kiritsuke tip, traditionally reserved for head chefs, is specially designed for delicate detail work. Tojiro designed this kiritsuke with an ergonomic western-style handle that will feel familiar to American home cooks. The inner core of this Kiritsuke is VG-10, one of the most popular kitchen knife steels on the market. VG-10's high chromium content means the steel holds an edge well, is easy to sharpen and requires little maintenance.