ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BUNKA

Deciding on a new knife is not an easy task, with so many options to choose from, how on earth do you know what knife is "the one". We spend most of our time searching for the best Japanese knives available so you can rest assured that once you have found a knife that meets your criteria, it will exceed  your expectations. 

BENEFITS AND VERSATILITY OF THE BUNKA

The Bunka is a mid sized, all purpose knife designed for home cooks or professional chefs looking for something compact, nimble, and capable of many tasks. Though it's not as versatile as a Gyuto or Kiritsuke; because it's a touch shorter, it is easier to wield and less intimidating to use. 

COMMON USES OF THE BUNKA

The Bunka is one of our favourite shapes here at the shop. The "reverse tanto" or "K-tip" featured on the Bunka gives it unique aesthetic but also serves a purpose. It gives the user more travel for their guide finger toward the tip of the knife which is super handy when performing tasks like brunoise shallot or garlic or any task that requires precise tip work. The Bunka is also great at slicing smaller proteins both cooked and raw and, of course, it's more than capable of flying through bags or onions or any other mid sized vegetable. 

ALTERNATIVES TO THE BUNKA

If you are looking for an all purpose knife there really isn't a better alternative than the Bunka, however, if you're looking for the MOST versatile knife, the Gyuto takes that prize. The added length of the Gyuto will make it easier to deal with larger ingredients and will be better for slicing. Maybe you prefer the aesthetics of the Bunka but want more versatility? In that case, check out the Kiritsuke, it's basically the same shape as the bunka, just the longer version. 

TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR FIRST BUNKA

While it can be tempting to purchase a Bunka based purely on aesthetics (I should know, I've done it once or twice), We would highly recommend considering a few factors before making a decision. Japanese knives are made from a variety of steel types which can impact their maintenance requirements. Knives made from carbon steel can and will rust if not properly maintained, while knives made from stainless steel will remain rust free. All of our knives have their steel type and care instructions listed on the product page so you can make a better informed decision. You can also check out our Knife Maintenance blog post here. You will also find that Bunka come with a wide variety of blade profiles (how curved is the edge), A knife with a more flat blade profile will be better suited to an up and down chopping motion while one with a more curved profile will be better suited to a rock chopping motion.