CHICAGO— Kai USA is debuting the new Shun Classic 12-inch Hollow-Ground Brisket Knife and the new Shun 12-inch Hollow-Ground Kanso Brisket Knife at the International Home + Housewares Show, here.
According to the company, the knives are designed with the grilling or outdoor cooking enthusiast in mind as they are ideal for trimming and slicing larger cuts of meat, including brisket, ham, turkey and roasts. The high-performance Japanese AUS10A blades are highly refined, high-carbon, vanadium stainless steel, enabling them to take and hold their Shun-sharp edge longer, according to the company.
Kai stated that the long narrow blades enable a consumer to cut slices in a single pass to ensure more of the juices and flavor stay inside the meat.
“For those that are really serious about flavor profiles and how their meats are prepared, when you have a really sharp knife that easily cuts through the protein, it retains its flavor,” said Matt Matsushima, director of operations, housewares division, Kai USA Ltd.
Matushima also noted that the brisket knives had been in development for a long time, as the company believed that there was a need for such cutlery among those making the investments in their outdoor kitchens.
“Consumers investing in high-end grills and interested in tackling larger roasts and cuts of meat are not going to want to skimp on the knives. They will work for the home cook and will also work for those on the BBQ competition circuit as well,” he said.
The hollow-ground indentations on the blades are said to help food release more easily and the rounded tips make the knives safer and easier to use. A wooden saya, or sheath, protects the blades and makes them safe for transport.
The Shun Classic Brisket Knife is part of the Classic line of cutlery. It features pakkawood handles and has a suggested retail price of $225.
Meanwhile, the Shun Kanso Brisket Knife is part of the Kanso series, a collection based on a Zen philosophy that means simplicity. Kai said the company achieves this collection’s simplicity by eliminating the non-essentials and instead focuses on high-performance steel, razor-sharp edge, balance and precision cutting control.
The Kanso Brisket Knife handle is made of Tagayasan wood, known as iron sword wood. It has a suggested retail price of $213.
The new knives are being introduced as Kai celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Shun brand.
According to the company, Shun was the first major manufacturer to bring Japanese cutlery to the U.S. The Shun Classic knife was the first Shun series on the market with its layered Damascus cladding.
Introduced in 2002, Kai noted that Shun’s pedigree is traced back 100 years ago when Saijiro Endo set up shop in Seki City, Japan.
“It is quite amazing for a company like Kai to launch a brand like Shun in the U.S. and go against long-established manufacturers. Most companies with an average product would not have lasted this long. We are proud of this achievement and to have such leading companies look at our products and acknowledge them— that says a lot,” said Matsushima.
