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{{short description|Japanese knife for preparing sushi and sashimi}}
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[[File:YanagiBaKnifeFrontFace.jpg|thumb|250px|Yanagi-ba (front face)]]
[[File:YanagiBaKnifeBackFace.jpg|thumb|250px|Yanagi ba (back face)]]
[[File:YanagiBaKnifeFrontFace.jpg|thumb|250px|''Yanagi ba'' (front face)]]
[[File:YanagiBaKnifeBackFace.jpg|thumb|250px|''Yanagi ba'' (back face)]]
[[File:Japanese knife blade types B.svg|right|thumb|250px|(b) is angled on both sides, (a) and (c) only on one side, where (a) is for right hand use and (c) is for left hand use.]]
[[File:Japanese knife blade types B.svg|right|thumb|250px|(b) is angled on both sides, (a) and (c) only on one side, where (a) is for right hand use and (c) is for left hand use.]]
'''Yanagi-ba-bōchō''' (柳刃包丁, lit. willow blade knife), '''Yanagi-ba''' or shortly '''Yanagi''' is a long and very thin [[knife]] used in the [[Cuisine of Japan|Japanese kitchen]], belonging to the group of '''Sashimi hōchō''' (Japanese: 刺身包丁, Sashimi [raw fish] hōchō [knife]) to prepare [[sashimi]], [[sushi]], sliced raw [[fish]] and [[seafood]].
'''''Yanagi-ba-bōchō''''' (柳刃包丁, literally willow blade knife), '''''yanagi ba''''', or '''''yanagi''''', is a long and thin [[Japanese kitchen knife|knife]] used in the [[Japanese cuisine]]. It is the typical example of the ''[[sashimi bōchō]]'' (Japanese: 刺身包丁, sashimi [raw fish] bōchō [knife]) used to slice fish for ''[[sashimi]]'' and ''[[sushi|nigiri sushi]].''


In preparing sashimi and sushi, there are very important conditions that the sliced cross section be smooth, shiny and sharp in a microscopic view. Those conditions cannot be met by other usual knives. Yanabi-ba-bocho is especially designed to satisfy the conditions. Important design points for it are as follows.
When preparing ''sashimi'' and ''nigiri sushi'', the goal is usually to have cut surfaces that are smooth, shiny, and even in order to maximize the taste. The construction of a ''yanagi ba'' is designed for this purpose.


* Length: It has a long blade to cut a fish block only in one direction (pulling). Zigzag cutting creates a bad cross section.
* Length: The long blade allows the user to cut a block of flesh in a single stroke. This prevents zigzag cutting, which creates a serrated cross section.
* Thickness: It has a very thin blade to allow cutting using very little force. Using greater force would result in tearing or smashing instead of cutting.
* Thinness: The blade is very thin behind the edge which allows the cut to be made using primarily the weight of the knife. Greater force or thickness would result in tearing or bruising of the flesh.
* Unstickiness: The back faces of some Japanese knives are scooped out to easily detach the sliced piece from the blade after cutting.
* Nonstick properties: The back face (''urasuki'') is concave to easily detach the blade from the substance being cut, and the front bevel (''shinogi'') allows sliced piece to be easily removed from the blade after cutting.
* Steel properties: The ''yanagi ba'' is [[Japanese swordsmithing|crafted using techniques]] from those of the [[Japanese sword]] adapted to modern requirements. The blade is constructed from soft iron, which allows general toughness of the blade and ease of sharpening, laminated to high carbon [[steel]], which allows hardness of the cutting edge and sharpness. The steel is typically [[Hitachi]] blue or white steel.
* [[Hardness]] and [[toughness]]: Consistency in durability and sharpness is created in the same way as a [[Japanese sword]]. The blade is formed from a combination of two different [[steels]], a harder outer jacket of steel wrapped around a inner core of softer steel.
* Single ground: For right-hand use, the ''yanagi ba'' has a bevel on the right side and is concave on the left. This allows a more acute angle compared to most double bevel knives and nonstick properties.
* Single ground: A yanagi-ba blade is angled only from one side, with the other side of the blade being flat. This allows control in the blade angle for delicate cutting and allows for ease of sharpening. The figures in this article are for right-handed version in which the blade is ground only on the right side (front face). Left handed versions exist, but are relatively scarce and expensive.
* Cutting direction: While almost all western knives are used to push and cut, almost all Japanese knives are used pull and cut instead.
* Cutting direction: While almost all western knives are used to push and cut, the ''yanagi ba'' is used pull and cut instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oishya.com|title=Oishya|website=Oishya|language=en|access-date=2022-01-06}}</ref>


The first two characteristics are particularly for yanagi-ba-bocho, and its name 'yanagi' is from long and pliant characteristics of a willow branch. The other characteristics are shared by all knives in Japanese cuisine.
The first two characteristics are particularly for ''yanagi-ba-bocho'', and its name 'yanagi' is from long and pliant characteristics of a willow branch. The other characteristics are shared by all knives in Japanese cuisine.
The important principle in using a yanagi-ba to prepare sashimi is not cutting down but ''pulling'' with its long blade in a single motion.
The important principle in using a ''yanagi ba'' to prepare ''sashimi'' is not cutting down but ''pulling'' with its long blade in a single motion.


==See also==
==See also==

*[[Japanese cutlery]]
*[[Japanese cutlery]]
*[[List of Japanese cooking utensils]]
*[[List of Japanese cooking utensils]]

*[[tako hiki]]
==References==
*[[Sushi]]
<references />
*[[Sashimi]]


{{Knives}}
{{Knives}}
{{Japanese food and drink|state=collapsed}}


[[Category:Japanese kitchen knives]]
[[Category:Japanese kitchen knives]]

Latest revision as of 11:01, 22 October 2023

Yanagi ba (front face)
Yanagi ba (back face)
(b) is angled on both sides, (a) and (c) only on one side, where (a) is for right hand use and (c) is for left hand use.

Yanagi-ba-bōchō (柳刃包丁, literally willow blade knife), yanagi ba, or yanagi, is a long and thin knife used in the Japanese cuisine. It is the typical example of the sashimi bōchō (Japanese: 刺身包丁, sashimi [raw fish] bōchō [knife]) used to slice fish for sashimi and nigiri sushi.

When preparing sashimi and nigiri sushi, the goal is usually to have cut surfaces that are smooth, shiny, and even in order to maximize the taste. The construction of a yanagi ba is designed for this purpose.

  • Length: The long blade allows the user to cut a block of flesh in a single stroke. This prevents zigzag cutting, which creates a serrated cross section.
  • Thinness: The blade is very thin behind the edge which allows the cut to be made using primarily the weight of the knife. Greater force or thickness would result in tearing or bruising of the flesh.
  • Nonstick properties: The back face (urasuki) is concave to easily detach the blade from the substance being cut, and the front bevel (shinogi) allows sliced piece to be easily removed from the blade after cutting.
  • Steel properties: The yanagi ba is crafted using techniques from those of the Japanese sword adapted to modern requirements. The blade is constructed from soft iron, which allows general toughness of the blade and ease of sharpening, laminated to high carbon steel, which allows hardness of the cutting edge and sharpness. The steel is typically Hitachi blue or white steel.
  • Single ground: For right-hand use, the yanagi ba has a bevel on the right side and is concave on the left. This allows a more acute angle compared to most double bevel knives and nonstick properties.
  • Cutting direction: While almost all western knives are used to push and cut, the yanagi ba is used pull and cut instead.[1]

The first two characteristics are particularly for yanagi-ba-bocho, and its name 'yanagi' is from long and pliant characteristics of a willow branch. The other characteristics are shared by all knives in Japanese cuisine. The important principle in using a yanagi ba to prepare sashimi is not cutting down but pulling with its long blade in a single motion.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Oishya". Oishya. Retrieved 2022-01-06.