These are the knives made in Nara, Japan by Kikuichi, the oldest knife maker in the world. Kikuichi knives today bear the royal Chrysanthemum as a mark of excellence, as did the swords forged during the days of the Samurai nearly 750 years ago by the company’s ancestor, Shiro Kanenaga. The blades are made with a nickel stainless steel core sandwiched between 45 layers of nickel and two types of stainless steel that creates a classic “flowing water” pattern. The result is a thin blade with a 50:50 bevel ratio that provides an agile feel in the hand. Each knife’s tang secures to an octagonal rosewood handle with an ebony ferrule.