Bunmei has been a long-time leader among Japanese sashimi and traditional kitchen knives. In fact they also make Samurai swords, and have been crafting perfectly forged blades with razor sharp edges for generations. In the Japanese craft tradition the blades are curved and welded. The handles are manufactured from specially selected rosewood which is slip-resistant. So that the handle doesn't split or crack under pressure, the blade is bound with a reinforced fiber and sealed with wax for greater hygiene. Yanagi are pointy tipped, single sided Sashimi knives, used in the northern regions of Japan, for cutting sushi.