Global Cutlery Knife Global Yoshikin, located in the Tsubame/Sanjo district of Japan’s Niigata Prefecture, introduced stainless steel blades to the Japanese cutlery world in 1960. Rust-resistant blades with edge-holding abilities equal to traditional Japanese steel were just the first step. Decades of experience and years of intensive research and development resulted in an award-winning all-stainless steel knife that’s the favorite of many world-class chefs as well as a standard feature in many home kitchens.

History

Yoshida Metal Industry Company, Ltd., or Yoshikin, began manufacturing stainless steel products in Niigata Prefecture in 1954. At first the company specialized in tableware, but saw the potential for stainless steel kitchen knives and introduced the Bunmei Gincho product line of traditionally styled Japanese knives with high carbon stainless steel blades in 1960. Other manufacturing techniques developed for tableware also seemed well suited to professional cutlery, but Yoshikin planned something special instead of simply copying old styles with new materials.

In 1978 a development team led by industrial designer Komin Yamada set out to create an entirely new knife concept. Yoshikin requested a combination of Italian design, Germany reliability, and Japanese precision. The knife would be formed from a single piece of high carbon stainless steel. Perfecting the design and manufacturing processes took Komin Yamada’s team five years.

Products

At present Global Yoshikin manufactures three main product lines including the original Bunmei Gincho series with traditional Japanese blade styles and handle builds. The defining feature of the Bunmei Gincho line is the high carbon stainless steel — otherwise these knives match the familiar Japanese patterns many Asian chefs prefer. The Global series — more familiar to western chefs — offers a complete selection of prep and serving cutlery with acutely ground blade edges, perfectly balanced blades, and dimpled stainless steel handles. Many Global knives sport the dovetail handle that consumers often recognize as the company’s trademark feature, but more conventional grips are available for many of the knife styles.

Yoshikin’s professional series, Global-Pro, is currently a limited production enterprise and only available in Japan. Knife construction and style closely match the original Global series but refinements include sharper blades finished with the “honbazuke” honing process.

Read all of our global knife reviews below


Global

Global Bread Knife G-9 Full Tang | Kitchen Serrated Pastry Blade, Scalloped 8 3/4 Inch

The Global G-9 Bread Knife’s serrated edge slices cleanly through all types of bread and pastry. The hard CROMOVA-18 stainless steel...
JT Hats
56 sec read

Global Meat Cleaver G-12 Knife | Butcher Kitchen Bone Chopping Blade 6-1/2 Inch

Although many chefs do use this excellent G-12 Meat Cleaver from Global to chop through bones, Global advises against that and...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global Butcher’s Knife GF-27 | Professional Heavy Cromova Steel 7 Inch

Anyone doing their own butchering needs a knife that holds up to hard work. This heavy butcher knife from Global blends...
JT Hats
52 sec read

Shun Classic Chef’s Knife, Granton w/ Pakkawood Handle | Scalloped Damascus Forged Blade, VG-10 8 Inch

Shun’s Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife has the perfect build for smaller hands but a much more efficient design than the usual...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global G-16 Chef’s or Cook’s Knife | Yoshikin Full Tang Stainless Steel 10 Inch

The award-winning design of the Global G-16 10-Inch Chef’s Knife brings new versatility to the powerhouse blade of the European kitchen....
JT Hats
1 min read

Concord Master Chef Knife Roll Set w/ Sharpening Steel | High Carbon Stainless Kitchen Cutlery 9 Piece, Global Yoshikin Budget

The Concord 9-Piece Knife set may seem like an impossibly good deal — with eight all-stainless steel knives, a knife hone,...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Global Knife Block Set of 6, Includes G & GS | Yoshikin Kitchen Stainless Steel Cutlery Storage Review

This 6-Piece Block Set from Global Yoshikin outfits your kitchen with five versatile all-stainless steel knives and stainless steel countertop storage...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global Vegetable Slicing Knife Set, Fluted | Full Tang Granton Slicer G-56 GS-39

Blades ground in the reduced-friction granton style set these two Global vegetable knives apart from the company’s main knife styles. Already...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Global Starter Prep Kitchen Knife Set | Chef’s, Utility & Paring Cutlery, Full Tang 3 Piece

Global’s 3-Piece Knife Starter Set introduces chefs to three different handle styles and three great knives in this very popular and...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global Stainless Steel Knife Block Set of 6 | Cook’s, Carving, Bread, Utility & Paring G GS

The Global 6-Piece Knife Block Set is a great way to jump up to the higher standards of Global knives with...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global Portable Knife Case Storage | Black Nylon 21 Pocket Folding Chefs Luggage

Global designed this hard-sided folding knife case specifically for Global knives, so don’t expect a perfect fit if you own a...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Global Knife Block, Stainless Steel | Cutlery Storage 11 Slot G-835/KB

If you’re looking for convenient knife storage that’s compatible with the all-stainless steel look of Global knives, consider this stainless steel...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global Shinkansen Knife Sharpener, Manual Ceramic | Minosharp Plus 440 GB

Since hand honing systems designed for western cutlery don’t match up with the acute bevels and hard cutting edges of Global’s...
JT Hats
1 min read

Knife Storage Tray for Global Steak Knives | Stainless Steel w/ Rubber Lining

Yoshikin’s Global knives literally are too sharp for safe storage if just loose in a drawer. The edges could abrade or...
JT Hats
57 sec read

Global Yoshikin 5 Piece Set w/ Knife Storage Tray | High Carbon Stainless Steel Cutlery

Lighter and harder than European forged steel knives, Yoshikin Global cutlery outperforms heavyweight German patterns in many ways. Using these fine...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global Diamond Sharpening Steel 10 Inch | Vanadium Chrome | Yoshikin Knives

Made from a solid rod of chrome vanadium stainless steel and embedded with a matrix of fine industrial diamonds, this unusual...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Global Waterstone Rough & Medium Grit | Knife Sharpening Whetstone | Combination Stone

Combination stones are always partly a great idea and partly a compromise. There’s no question that individual stones work a bit...
JT Hats
1 min read

Medium Grit Ceramic Sharpening Waterstone by Global

Produced by Yoshikin for upkeep of their especially hard-edged cutlery, these stones bring more efficient materials to the old Japanese waterstone...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global Wall Rack Knife Storage | Hanging Magnetic 20 Inch

I admit I was skeptical when I first came across this idea — to me wall magnet racks represent something that...
JT Hats
1 min read

Global Ceramic Whetstone | Knife Sharpening Stone, Rough Grit 120

Many modern high-end knives are built with steel so hard that the edge chips if used improperly. Micro-chips may not cause...
JT Hats
56 sec read

Global Boning Japanese Knife | Flexible Full Tang 4 Inch

If you’re looking for a flexible Western-style boning knife with the performance of Japanese steel, look no further. Global knives were...
Mike
41 sec read

Yoshikin Global Serrated Utility Knife | Forged Cromova 18 Stainless Steel 6 Inch

The Global 6-inch serrated utility knife incorporates the best of modern design and modern materials, produced entirely from forged Cromova 18...
JT Hats
50 sec read

Yoshikin Global Whetstone | Fine Ceramic Powder Sharpening Stone

This fine 5000-grit synthetic waterstone from Yoshikin, maker of Global cutlery, is the recommended sharpening method for fine Global knives and...
JT Hats
47 sec read

Yoshikin Global Japanese Santoku | 7 Inch Stainless Steel Slicing Knife

Global’s 7-inch Santoku brings modern one-piece forged design to an old Japanese pattern, and is closer in appearance to the original...
JT Hats
55 sec read

Global Paring Knife | 4-Inch Santoku Blade

I’ve always liked Global knives. The futuristic look has always appealed to me and they always feel comfortable and well balanced....
Ken
1 min read

Global Santoku Knife | 7-Inch Hollow-Ground, Granton Edge

While most other knife makers are watching and mimicking each other, Global stands by its unique design. They were the first...
Ken
59 sec read

Global Steak Knives | 4-Piece Knife Set | Stainless Steel Cutlery

Take Global’s unique styling and engineering and apply it to the old standby — the steak knife — and you get...
Ken
36 sec read

Global 7-Inch Deba Knife | Japanese Chef’s Knife

The Deba knife is a Japanese-style Chef’s knife, ideally suited for butchering fish or slicing through hard vegetables. It’s hefty enough...
Ken
32 sec read

Global Cutlery 8 Inch Cook’s Knife | G-2 Lightweight Chef’s Knife

Ah, Global… You either love ’em or hate ’em. Global ushered in a new era in kitchen cutlery 15 years or...
Ken
43 sec read

Global 5-Piece Chef’s Knife Set | Best $350 Kitchen Knives | Japanese Steel

Global Knives are known for their razor-sharp edges, lightweight feel and funky contemporary styling. This set consists of five essential kitchen...
Ken
1 min read