Sakai Takayuki Ginsan (Silver 3) Nakiri 165mm
Ginsan is the stainless steel Sakai sharpeners reach for when a customer wants a carbon-steel edge without the rust. In a nakiri, it means paper-thin slices of vegetables from a knife you can leave in the rack.
- Ginsan (Silver 3) stainless, about HRC 60 to 62, sharpens like carbon steel
- Traditional Sakai hand-finished blade with a nashiji finish and octagonal wa handle
- Flat edge for full-contact chopping
Specifications
| Blade length | 165 mm |
|---|---|
| Overall length | about 307 mm |
| Blade height at heel | about 51 mm |
| Spine thickness | about 2 mm |
| Weight | about 160 to 200 g, depending on the handle wood |
| Steel | Ginsan (Silver 3) stainless core, stainless clad (san mai) |
| Hardness | about HRC 60 to 62 |
| Finish | Nashiji (pear-skin) with a kasumi polished edge |
| Handle | Octagonal Japanese wood with a buffalo horn or wood ferrule; the wood varies by batch |
| Bevel | Double bevel (50/50 or near) |
| Made in | Sakai, Osaka |
| Steel family | Ginsan (Silver 3) |
| Knife type | Nakiri Knife (菜切) |
Who this knife is for
Best for vegetables, carbon-steel feel without rust, wa handle fans. Read what a nakiri knife does well and badly on the nakiri knife page, and what to expect from Ginsan (Silver 3) steel in daily use.
Which Sakai Takayuki Ginsan nakiri this is
Sakai Takayuki is the brand of Aoki Hamono in Sakai, and it sells several nakiri that look alike in search results. This one is the Ginsan Nashiji nakiri, the one shops list as Ginsan Nashiji, Gin #3 Nashiji or Silver #3 Nashiji. Ginsan, Gin #3 and Silver 3 are three names for the same Hitachi stainless steel, so those listings are this knife.
Two other lines are easy to confuse with it. Ginga is a different line: a Damascus nakiri in ZA-18 steel, not Ginsan, and it costs more. The VG10 Nashiji nakiri, usually listed at 160 mm, has the same shape and the same pear-skin finish, but the steel is VG-10, which holds an edge a little longer and is slower to sharpen. Other Sakai workshops also sell Ginsan nashiji nakiri under their own names. They are similar knives, not this one.
Stores abroad sell this knife with different handle woods (wenge, teak, ebony, zelkova or magnolia), which is why listed weights run from about 160 g to about 200 g. The blade is the same. If you want a particular wood, say so when you reserve and we tell you whether it is available before you pay.
How it compares with the other nakiri we carry
| Knife | Steel | Hardness | Weight | Handle | Delivered price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakai Takayuki Ginsan (Silver 3) Nakiri 165mm | Ginsan (Silver 3) stainless core, stainless clad (san mai) | about HRC 60 to 62 | about 160 to 200 g, depending on the handle wood | Wa (octagonal) | $180 to $230 |
| Tojiro Shirogami Kurouchi Nakiri 165mm | Shirogami 2 (White #2) carbon, soft iron clad, kurouchi finish | about HRC 61 | about 150 g | Wa (D-shaped magnolia) | $80 to $110 |
The Tojiro is carbon steel with a rustic kurouchi finish and costs less, but it rusts if you leave it wet and needs drying after every use. The Sakai Takayuki is stainless, sharpens with a similar crisp feel, and can sit in a knife block without worry. If you are deciding between a nakiri and an all-purpose knife, the nakiri page covers what the flat edge does well and badly.
Price and stock at other stores (checked 2026-10-15)
This nakiri is often sold out abroad, so we checked the stores that show up when you search for it. Prices are as listed on 2026-10-15, before sales tax and shipping. Stock changes daily, so treat this as a snapshot.
| Store | Listed price | Stock on 2026-10-15 |
|---|---|---|
| Burrfection (US) | $239 (wenge or teak handle), $259 (ebony) | Sold out in all three handles |
| Knives Combined (US) | No price shown | Out of stock |
| Hamono.nl (Netherlands) | €249 | Out of stock |
| Hamono Direct | about $199 delivered, shipping and US duty included | Bought in Japan after you reserve |
If a US store has it in stock, buying there is quicker and the total will be similar. Reserve with us when it is sold out everywhere, as it was at every store above on the day we checked, or when you want a specific handle wood or kanji engraving.
When you reserve, we check stock with Sakai wholesalers and email you the lead time and the final delivered price. Nothing is charged until you say yes.
Shipping, duties and returns
Ships from Tokyo by DHL, FedEx or Japan Post EMS, tracked and insured, in three to ten days. The price includes US import duty; you will not be asked to pay anything on delivery. If a knife arrives damaged we replace it. Details on the shipping and duties page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sakai Takayuki Ginga the same as Ginsan?
No. Ginga is a separate Sakai Takayuki line with a Damascus finish and ZA-18 steel. Ginsan (also written Gin #3 or Silver 3) is the steel used in this Nashiji nakiri.
Does Ginsan rust?
Ginsan is a stainless steel, so it does not rust the way carbon steel does. Wash it by hand, dry it, and keep it out of the dishwasher, and it will stay clean without oiling.
Can left-handed cooks use it?
Yes. The edge is ground on both sides, about 50/50, and the octagonal handle is symmetrical, so it works the same in either hand.
What is the delivered price of the Sakai Takayuki Ginsan (Silver 3) Nakiri 165mm?
About $199 to a US address, including shipping and US import duty. The exact figure moves with the yen and stock on the day; we confirm it by email before you pay anything.
Is this knife in stock?
We buy each knife in Japan after you confirm the quote, from the maker or their wholesaler. Most ship within two business days. If the maker is out of stock we tell you the lead time before you pay.
Can you engrave it?
Yes. Kanji or roman-letter engraving on the blade is available on most knives for a small fee and adds a day or two.