Shun Kanso Chef's Knife - 8″

• THE must-have kitchen knife
• Designed with Japanese philosophy of Kanso, which translates to simplicity
• Japanese AUS10A high-carbon vanadium stainless steel blade
• Handle made from Tagayasan wood, same wood used for Samurai sword handles
• Heritage blade finish gives rustic look that gets better with age
• Hand crafted in Japan, Lifetime Warranty

Shun Kanso Chef’s Knife – 8″

✨ The Essential Knife for Every Kitchen ✨

The Shun Kanso 8″ Chef’s Knife is the ultimate all-purpose kitchen tool—crafted for precision, balance, and timeless beauty. Whether you’re slicing vegetables, dicing onions, or carving meats 🍅🥩, this versatile blade delivers effortless control and professional-grade performance.

Handcrafted in Seki City, Japan, the Kanso Chef’s Knife embodies simplicity and functionality inspired by the Zen philosophy of Kanso, meaning “simplicity that refines.” The AUS10A high-carbon stainless steel blade is razor-sharp, corrosion-resistant, and built for durability. Its heritage finish not only hides scratches but develops a distinctive patina that enhances character with age.

The Tagayasan wood handle, also known as “iron sword wood,” ensures exceptional strength, balance, and comfort—drawing inspiration from the handles of traditional samurai swords ⚔️. With its perfectly balanced full-tang design and a finely honed 16° double-bevel edge, this knife provides precision cuts every time.

⚙️ Key Features & Highlights

🔹 All-Purpose Performance – Perfect for chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing.
🔹 AUS10A High-Carbon Steel – Strong, durable, and resistant to wear and corrosion.
🔹 Razor-Sharp Edge – Hand-sharpened 16° double-bevel blade ensures clean, precise cuts.
🔹 Rustic Heritage Finish – Naturally conceals scratches and improves in appearance over time.
🔹 Tagayasan Wood Handle – Dense, ergonomic handle crafted from traditional “iron sword wood.”
🔹 Full-Tang Construction – Offers balance, stability, and long-lasting durability.
🔹 Handcrafted in Japan – Precision-made by skilled artisans in Seki City.
🔹 Lifetime Warranty – Guaranteed quality and lasting performance.

🌿 Shun Kanso Series – Simplicity Refined

The Shun Kanso Series embodies the spirit of Zen minimalism—focusing only on what truly matters: sharpness, balance, and comfort. Each knife is forged from AUS10A steel, hardened to 60 HRC, and sharpened to a precise 16° double bevel for effortless slicing and long-lasting edge retention.

The heritage finish creates a warm, rustic aesthetic while protecting against wear, and the Tagayasan handle provides timeless beauty and exceptional handling. The result: a knife that performs flawlessly while reflecting the artistry and soul of Japanese craftsmanship.

🏯 About Shun

In Japanese, “Shun” (旬) means “at the peak of perfection.” For over a century, the Kai Corporation in Seki City, Japan —a region legendary for samurai sword-making ⚔️—has continued this heritage through Shun cutlery.

Every Shun knife is meticulously handcrafted in over 100 individual steps, combining traditional Japanese forging with cutting-edge technology. The result: blades that are not just tools, but masterpieces of performance, precision, and beauty. 🌸

✅ 8″ Chef’s Knife | 🔪 AUS10A Steel | 🪵 Tagayasan Handle | ⚙️ 16° Double Bevel | 🌿 Heritage Finish | 🏯 Handmade in Japan | 🕊️ Lifetime Warranty

Use and Care

Proper Cutting Techniques: Shun Cutlery is designed to be used in a smooth, slicing motion, never in a "chopping" manner. When you cut, always push forward and down, and pull back toward your body to retain your blade's edge. Repeat this motion as you cut. Always pay close attention to your fingers to prevent injury. 

Cleaning: A Shun knife is a fantastic investment for your kitchen, so properly washing your knife is essential. Always hand wash Shun knives with gentle dish soap and a non-abrasive brush. Do not use soaps with citrus extracts or bleach as they can promote rust. Rinse and towel dry immediately after washing. Do no drag the edge of the knife on the towel as it can cut through and cause injury. Always blot dry the cutting edge. 

Proper Knife Storage: Knives have to be stored in a safe place to protect the cutting edge and guarding against injuries. There are some options for storing your knives. Magnetic knife bars are convenient and safe for chefs who want to be able to view their blades and easily access then. They attach to the wall and firmly hold knives in place.  A wooden knife block is the best way to store knives on the counter. The size of the block varies with the number of knives to be store. Most Zwilling J.A. Henckels blocks also have a slot for a honing steel and kitchen shears. 

Cutting Surfaces: The cutting surface you use makes a big difference in keeping your knives sharp. A cutting boards with good quality will help retain a sharp edge for substantially longer. Soft woods such as hinoki, wooden, or bamboo cutting boards, and quality polyethylene boards. Avoid surfaces that can dull or damage the knife such as china, marble, granite, tile, Formica, porcelain, stainless counter tops and glass; these surfaces can be very hard on your knives. Remember, all cutting boards and surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly immediately after use to avoid harmful bacteria growth.

Honing and Sharpening: Regular honing is necessary to maintain the a sharp cutting edge. Weekly honing will significantly extend the time between sharpening. For sharpening, it is recommended to use a whetstone, or send knives in Kai USA Ltd for a free sharpening service. Shun brand products are sold by Kai USA Ltd. and are backed by a Limited Warranty against manufacturing defects. In addition to supporting their products through this warranty, Shun will sharpen any Shun knife for free for the lifetime of the owner. The knife owner pays for shipping and processing and Shun experts will sharpen the knife for free. Sharpening is done in Shun's Tualatin, Oregon facility, using the same horizontal sharpening wheel to put the original edge back on Shun knife. Called a hiromai, this sharpening wheel, and the skills of knife experts ensure a Shun-sharp edge every time.

Warranty

Unless otherwise stated here, Shun cutlery from Kai USA Ltd. carries a limited warranty for the lifetime of the owner. Shun guarantees their cutlery will perform as advertised when properly used and maintained, and is free of manufacturing defects in material and construction. The Limited Lifetime Warranty is non-transferable and does not extend to normal signs of wear, rust, damage or breakage due to improper maintenance, accidents, loss or theft. Any product we determine to be defective will be repaired or replaced solely at Shun's discretion. To receive warranty repair or replacement, the owner must send the product to be evaluated by Kai USA Warranty Services in their Tualatin, Oregon headquarters. In addition to the provisions of this warranty, the owner may also have other rights that can vary by state. No other warranties are implied or expressed other than what is specifically stated here. If you have a warranty concern, please do not return your knife to the place of purchase. 

Wood Accessories 90-Day Warranty

Shun's wood accessories are made of natural materials that will show wear over time. This is not a defect. Shun's 90-Day Warranty protect you against original manufacturing defects, but not natural wear. Please visit Shun's website for warranty details.