Ryusen Blazen Ryu Wa SG2 7" Bunka

Yoshikane has long been my favorite knife brand, but this Ryusen is quickly becoming its strongest competitor in my collection. Both knives move through ingredients with remarkably little effort and separate food cleanly after the cut.

What makes the comparison interesting is that Ryusen and Yoshikane follow noticeably different design philosophies. They do not feel identical in the hand, yet both achieve a similarly high level of cutting performance. The Ryusen feels exceptionally refined, controlled and precise, while still providing enough feedback to remain engaging to use.

The SG2 blade takes a very keen edge and combines excellent cutting performance with good edge retention and easy maintenance. Its geometry allows it to glide through ingredients without feeling fragile or excessively delicate.

This is one of those rare knives that becomes more impressive each time I use it. It has earned a place alongside my Yoshikanes at the top of my collection.

I now have multiple bunka knives. They range in cost from a Zuma to a Nakagawa. This knife is somewhere in the middle. It came out of the box wicked sharp. Since acquiring this knife I’ve used it two or three times a week. I’ve stropped it before and after every use. It has retained its edge. The geometry is fantastic, the fit and finish is top of the line. It’s by no means an inexpensive knife like the Zuma but well worth the cost. I highly recommend this knife.