Please refer to our detailed Shun Use & Care blog article for full care instructions.

How to Inspect your Shun Cutlery

One aspect of caring for your knives is maintaining the edge and sharpening when needed, but how you use them daily is just as important.

Cutting Technique:

• Use a smooth, slicing motion – never up-and-down chopping, piercing or stabbing (unless using a Kai knife designed for this, e.g. Seki Magoroku Shoso Deba, heel only).
• Think of using a handsaw: push forward and down, then pull back towards your body.
• Avoid using Shun knives on hard materials such as bones, joints, frozen foods, or very hard vegetables like pumpkin.
• Do not apply sideways force or twisting to the blade, as this can cause chips or cracks.

Cutting Surface:

• Use wood, wood composite, or polyethylene cutting boards to protect your blade’s edge.
• Avoid tile, ceramic, marble, granite, or glass boards – these will damage your knives quickly.

Cleaning:

• Always hand-wash with mild dish soap (avoid citrus-based soaps).
• Rinse and towel dry immediately, then let air dry briefly before storing.
• Never leave your knife sitting in a sink or submerged in water.

Storage:

• Store knives safely in a block, sheath, knife case, in-drawer tray, or on a magnetic wall holder.
• Do not leave knives unsheathed in a drawer – this can damage blades and pose a safety risk.

Sharpening & Honing:

• Hone weekly with a Shun Honing Steel to maintain edge sharpness.
• Use a Shun or Seki Magoroku Whetstone when sharpening is required.
• Alternatively, have your knives sharpened professionally.

As your Kai Shun retailer, Chefs Complements can recommend professional sharpeners or advise you on sharpening services.

Seki Magoroku is a prestigious Japanese knife brand with a rich history dating back to the 1500s. Founded in 1908 in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, the brand honors the legacy of the legendary swordsmith Magoroku Kanemoto, known for his exceptional craftsmanship during Japan’s Sengoku period.

Seki City, renowned for its centuries-old blade-making tradition, provides the perfect setting with its high-quality natural resources like iron sand and water, essential for crafting premium knives. Seki Magoroku blends these traditional methods with modern technology, creating knives that are both functional and beautifully designed.

The brand offers a variety of knives, including versatile Santoku knives, catering to both professional chefs and home cooks around the world. Today, Seki Magoroku continues its commitment to producing high-quality, durable knives with a timeless appeal.