The Kiritsuke knife is a traditional Japanese knife that blends elements of a sushi knife and a Yanagiba knife in a smaller form factor. Its profile can be likened to that of a squared off santoku, with a flat cutting edge and a long straight spine. This particular Kiritsuke blade is made from an ultra-hard 440c steel core that has been hammered extensively during the forging process for added strength. It is seated in an octagonal Pakka wood handle and is overall, a beautiful and reliable knife. If you already own a good chefs knife, and are looking for something to provide you with a little more precision, this is a great knife to pick up.