Kiritsuke

Kiritsuke, meaning “with a cut”, is a term used for Japanese kitchen knives with a distinct angle from the spine to the tip. The back side of these knives isn't sharpened, but the sharp angle makes the blade's end more delicate, allowing for detailed work.

Various knife styles such as Gyuto, Yanagiba, Petty, and Nakiri can feature a kiritsuke or “k-tip”. However, Santoku knives are the most common style to have a k-tip. Consequently, they have evolved into their own knife style, known as Bunka. Aside from the advantage of intricate detailing, the k-tip mainly serves as a unique aesthetic choice.