Sha Ra Ku Mono Bread Knife, 230 mm (9.1")

The second masterpiece by visionary industrial designer Komin Yamada, Sha Ra Ku Mono’s seamless construction, elegant contours, and standout design have earned it a place in our carefully curated collection for over twenty years. Unlike Global knives, Yamada’s previous creation, Sha Ra Ku Mono features hollow handles that give it a delicate balance evocative of traditional wood-handled Japanese knives.

Sha Ra Ku Mono is produced by Tojiro in Tsubame, Japan and distributed exclusively by Seattle Cutlery.

Function

The bread knife is specialized for slicing through bread without crushing it. Bread presents a unique challenge due to its hard exterior and soft, crushable interior. The bread knife’s coarse serrations (4.25 per inch) can saw through the crust without exerting pressure on the bread, giving a clean, non-destructive cut. The serrated edge also makes it useful for other foods with hard exteriors and soft cores.

The Sha Ra Ku Mono bread knife is available in two sizes. The 230 mm (9.1") length is more versatile, but the 175 mm (6.9") length give better control for smaller items.

Form

Sha Ra Ku Mono blades are forged from molybdenum-vanadium alloy stainless steel, which finely balances edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. This alloy is softer than the VG-10 steel used in other Tojiro knives but harder than European knife steels and is comparatively easy to sharpen.

The handle is made from hollow 18/8 stainless steel, crafted with the blade as a single piece. Much like a traditional wooden wa handle, its light weight keeps the knife's balance farther forward than on European knives. The ergonomic shape allows it to be gripped either by the handle or with a more versatile pinch grip.