Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Chef-knives

HOSHANHO Kitchen Knife vs Miyabi Kaizen 8-Inch Chef's Knife

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

HOSHANHO Kitchen Knife comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 3.8). The gap is mostly about budget-conscious cooks wanting razor-sharp performance — read the strengths below before deciding.

HOSHANHO Kitchen Knife
Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Chef-knives
HOSHANHO Kitchen Knife
3 sourcesall derived$64.99as of Sep 3

The HOSHANHO Kitchen Knife is praised for its exceptional sharpness and Japanese high carbon steel construction, with reviewers noting it slices through vegetables and meat like a razor blade. One reviewer stated they don't think any of their expensive knives are better than this one, calling it a great value. The ergonomic, non-slip handle design and matte finish are also highlighted as positive features. While some users prefer different blade geometry, the knife's overall performance and quality at its price point are widely commended.

Strengths
  • Extremely sharp, with reviewers noting it can slice vegetables to the thinness of tissue paper
  • Japanese high carbon steel construction for premium durability
  • Ergonomic, non-slip handle design that feels comfortable in hand
Watch-outs
  • Blade geometry is 15°, which may not suit all user preferences for sharpening
  • Some reviewers noted the need to maintain original blade geometry when sharpening
Miyabi Kaizen 8-Inch Chef's Knife
Ranked #7 in Best Chef-knives
Miyabi Kaizen 8-Inch Chef's Knife
4 sourcesall derived$169.95as of Sep 3

The Miyabi Kaizen II 8-inch Chef's knife features a distinctive deep matte Damascus pattern and symmetrical handle design. Reviewers noted its wider blade belly enhances rock chopping performance and that it cuts well right out of the box. The knife uses FC61 steel instead of VG-10, which some find less familiar but still functional. It's priced around $100 and comes with a good warranty, making it a solid choice for those new to Japanese knives.

Strengths
  • Beautiful deep matte Damascus pattern on the blade
  • Symmetrical handle design that is thicker than the original Kaizen
  • Well-balanced knife with a wider blade belly for better rock chopping
Watch-outs
  • Steel composition (FC61) is not as well-known or widely recognized as VG-10
  • Blade has a thinner thickness above the edge (0.7 mm) which may affect durability

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

HOSHANHO Kitchen Knife

The HOSHANHO Kitchen Knife excels in sharpness and value, outperforming the Wüsthof Classic and Victorinox Swiss Classic in terms of cutting precision and price point. While it's sharper than the Matsato Chef Knife, it lacks the outdoor durability and full tang construction of the Matsato, and its 15° blade geometry may not suit all users compared to the more conventional angles of the KAI AE2908.

Miyabi Kaizen 8-Inch Chef's Knife

The Miyabi Kaizen 8-Inch Chef's Knife offers a distinctive matte Damascus pattern and good value, but its FC61 steel is less recognized than the VG-10 used in the Wüsthof Classic. While it's sharper out of the box than the Victorinox Swiss Classic, it doesn't match the Wüsthof's edge retention and is more expensive than the imarku Japanese Chef Knife, which offers better value and durability.

Specs side-by-side

SpecHOSHANHO Kitchen KnifeMiyabi Kaizen 8-Inch Chef's Knife
Blade Length8 in7.87 in
Blade MaterialJapanese high carbon steelFC61
Handle MaterialPakkawoodMicarta
ConstructionForged
Hardness58 HRc
Blade Thickness2.2mm
Weight222g202 g
Blade Width8 inch1.97 in
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