Japanese knives stand out from the rest thanks to the quality of the steel used and the blacksmithing expertise that are characteristic of the Land of the Rising Sun. With forges boasting over 800 years of history and knowledge passed down from generation to generation, the Japanese have developed unparalleled expertise that is recognized worldwide. Japanese blades are lighter, very well-balanced, harder, sharper, and retain their edge longer. The result: a clean cut that minimizes damage to the texture and flavor of food. A Japanese knife is an indispensable tool for professionals and anyone who loves to cook.

Unlike factory-made knives, handmade Japanese knives take longer to craft. They must undergo a series of rigorous steps and strict quality control to meet the high standards of Japanese forges. We therefore recommend purchasing high-quality kitchen knives that can handle the vast majority of kitchen tasks, rather than a discount knife set. We suggest you be wary of low-cost imitations and always verify the origin of the knives.

Japanese knives are lighter, very well-balanced, harder, sharper, and stay sharp longer. This gives the user greater control over the knife and ensures a clean cut that minimizes any impact on the texture and flavor of the food.

Every Japanese knife is crafted with a specific purpose in mind. There are versatile knives like the Gyuto, which is the equivalent of a chef’s knife, and the Santoku, whose name translates to “three virtues”—a name that aptly reflects its versatility. The Sujihiki and Yanagiba are designed for slicing, while the Nakiri and Usuba are specialized for cutting vegetables. And let’s not forget the Petty for precision tasks. The list goes on, and the possibilities are endless. To be sure you make the right choice, check out our collection pages. Each includes a detailed description and an explanatory video.

For a first purchase, we recommend a knife that’s as versatile as possible—either the Gyuto or the Santoku. The Gyuto is the Japanese chef’s knife, typically featuring a blade length between 210 mm and 240 mm. Its versatile design allows you to handle 95% of kitchen tasks, from chopping vegetables to slicing fish or meat. If you’re less comfortable with longer blades, the Santoku, with its 165mm to 180mm blade, is your best option. Slightly more geared toward cutting vegetables, the Santoku can also slice small pieces of fish and meat with ease.

We recommend washing the knife thoroughly after each use and drying it completely by wiping it down. Here are some safe ways to store it after use: use a magnetic holder covered in wood or leather, use a wooden saya to protect the blade, use a high-quality knife roller, or simply put it back in its box. Avoid twisting the blade or scraping it across the cutting board to move food, as this could damage the blade’s edge. Do not cut bones or frozen food; we like to use the following analogy: if you can break a tooth by biting into food, you can also break the knife’s blade. If your blade is made of stainless steel, it requires extra care and should be dried regularly after use to prevent rust.

It is important to note that there is a difference between sharpening and honing a knife. Honing a knife is intended to realign the cutting edge, while sharpening is used to restore the edge by removing metal with a whetstone. For honing, you can use a ceramic rod or a leather strop before or after each use of the knife. We strongly recommend using a leather strop instead of a ceramic rod, as the latter tends to damage knives over time. You shouldn’t wait until the knife is dull before honing it, as this would have very little effect. If the blade is dull and no longer cuts, you’ll need to remove steel to thin it and restore the edge by sharpening the knife with a water stone. Honing a knife is a daily task and takes only a few seconds, whereas sharpening can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour; we recommend sharpening on a water stone twice a year.

If you don’t sharpen your knives yourself, we recommend dropping them off at our store so we can take care of them for you. You can also send your knives to us by mail using our shipping option. We specialize in waterstone sharpening, the traditional Japanese technique. We don’t limit ourselves to Japanese blades; we sharpen all kitchen knives without exception. The turnaround time for sharpening or repairing your knives varies depending on our workload and the scope of the task. Feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment by email: info@staysharpmtl.com or by phone:

Of course! You can pick up your order directly at the store: Montreal: 412 Gilford Street, Montreal, H2J 1N2

Montréal: 412 rue Gilford, Montréal, H2J1N2

Québec: 625 rue Saint-Jean, Québec, G1R 1P7

Before you go, make sure your order has been processed and that you can pick it up.

We ship worldwide (except to Russia and Ukraine). Customs duties may apply depending on the destination.

Canada: $15 (free for orders over $150)
USA: $20
Rest of the world: $50

We do our best to process your order within 72 business hours (excluding weekends) so that we can ship your package as soon as possible. Delivery times depend on the carrier. If you would like faster delivery, please contact us at 514-503-1185.

Exchanges are accepted within 30 days. Before returning any item, please contact us at info@staysharpmtl.com. Items must be returned unused and in perfect condition, along with the receipt and the original packaging (undamaged). If items show any signs of use, they will not be accepted for exchange. If the original packaging is not in a condition deemed “resalable,” the item will not be accepted for exchange.

Our knives come with a 5-year warranty. However, the warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse or accidents. Any damage must be inspected in accordance with our standards and must be deemed acceptable under those standards for the warranty to apply.

We do not accept refunds. Our only exception is for defective items (although our team checks every order with the utmost care). If you receive an item that appears to be defective, please notify us as soon as possible after receiving it. For damage caused by the carrier, please retain all original items and packaging materials for future inspection by the carrier. Items returned to Stay Sharp are at the buyer’s expense. Items must be properly packaged to prevent damage and must be fully insured. Please also provide us with the tracking number so we can monitor the status of the shipment. Funds will not be refunded until we have received the items and verified their condition. The refund amount will be the amount paid minus shipping and handling fees, online sales fees, and any other costs incurred.

Canada: $15 (free for orders over $150)
United States: $20
Rest of the world: $50

We do our best to process your order within 72 business hours (excluding weekends) so that we can ship your package as quickly as possible. Delivery times vary depending on the carrier. If you need faster delivery, please contact us at 514-503-1185.


We do not accept refunds. The only exception is for defective items (although our team checks every order with the utmost care). If you receive an item that appears to be defective, please notify us as soon as possible after receiving it. In the event of damage caused by the carrier, please retain all items and original packaging for possible inspection by the carrier. Items returned to Stay Sharp are at the buyer’s expense. Items must be properly packaged to prevent damage and must be fully insured. Please also provide us with the tracking number so we can monitor the shipment’s status. Funds will not be refunded until we have received the items and confirmed that they are in satisfactory condition. The refund amount will be the amount paid, minus shipping and handling fees, online sales fees, and any other costs incurred.