Kai KAI AE2908 Gyuto Knife Seki Magoroku Akane 8.3 inches (210 mm), Made in Japan, Dishwasher Safe, Easy Care

Razor sharp. Great knife at a great price.

The media could not be loaded. The knife is worth every dollar I spent on it. It is the best kitchen knife I ever owned. The size is perfect. It is the most affordable in its class at $29 that is really made in Japan. Its competitors are priced in the upper hundreds. I am a knife and samurai enthusiasist. I am impressed. It cut paper like butter. The blade and handle is superior quality. This should last generations. See video for proof.

I got into knives about 3-4 years ago. Since then I've owned and used a Victorinox Fibrox, Mercer Santoku, Kiwi Nakiri, Kom Kom and other Target/Faberware/Ikea knives.When it came to chopping onions (which I do a lot) I started to prefer the kiwi nakiri over any other knife I owned. However, nakiris aren't the most versatile knives so sometimes I'd end up needing another knife. I had heard about Japanese knives and really wanted a gyuto. I saw this knife being recommended in a few places and went for it.Man is this knife good! The victorinox really struggles with some onion cuts (probably due to the thick spine), and while my kiwi nakiri is good, this one just seems smoother. It was sharp out of the box and I just love to chop with this knife, it is my new favorite. I'd say it is a great beginner Japanese knife.Have used it for a week so don't know how long the edge will hold but I'm prepared to sharpen it with a whetstone when needed.

The logo started flaking off very quickly. The knife seems to be sharp, comfortable, cuts well.

If this knife had a "made in China" label, it would be worth half the price, you are paying extra for the "made in Japan" label.Quality: it's on the lighter side, and after cutting an onion, tomato, jalapeno, cilantro and lettuce, I was underwhelmed with the sharpness out of the box. My knife wasn't able to cleanly cut through an ad from the mail. After spending 5 minutes sharpening on a 1000 whetstone, it's cutting through newspaper like butter. I highly recommend a quick sharpen before using. It does feel a budget knife.Balance: decent, if the blade weighed 20 or so more grams, it would feel more balanced.Comfort: averageGrip: it has a cheap feel to the handle, but it's a budget knife, it's what I would expect.Look: looks better than it feels.Who is it made for: After a sharpen, I can see this being a knife for fish and meat more than vegetables. My initial impressions are that it lacks blade height/weight for stability for it to be a good chef's knife. I would still highly recommend an inexpensive mercer chef's knife over this as an all purpose knife. I'll continue to use it daily and see if my opinion changes.I'll post an update after I use it for different food items.Update:I've used the knife daily for the past 3 weeks. Every part of my initial impression is still valid.Durability: the durability is surprisingly good. I've used it on an assortment of vegetables and haven't encountered any issues. I hit it with a steel rod 2-3 times per week and it's stayed sharp. No chips or issues with the blade.It will never be my go-to knife for chopping or cutting - a santoku or a nakiri are Soo much better for that. For delicate work, I'll reach for this knife. The tip and overall blade shape is great for control.I want to address some reviews regarding the blade:Rust - always dry your knife after washing. This is not a high carbon steel blade which requires a lot maintenance, but don't leave acidic fluids or water on your blade. Never place your knives a dishwasher. If you develop rust on this blade, it's because you neglected the knife.Sharpening - this is a fantastic knife to learn how to sharpen on. Buy a king 1000/6000 whetstone or even the cheap whetstone kits are better than nothing. These knives are mass produced, you may get a super sharp one or in my case, I had to remove some material on the heel and give it a quick sharpen.

Love this knife for simple cooking tasks. Lightweight yet durable. Japanese quality of steel is one of the best ones. Definitely would trust this brand for other models of knives

Sharp, keeps sharp for a long time

the knife cuts through everything like it's butter. I am very happy with this knife and would recommend it to everyone. Nice craftmanship for sure, well balanced, and really nice to use it. I wish I would have bought this knife 20 years ago!!!