10 Best Japanese Knives for Filleting Fish (Tried & Tested)

Almost everyone can cut down a veggie or a fruit just to call himself an expert. But, the main challenge arrives when cutting down fresh fish. If you are planning to fillet a fish neatly, you have got it already.

To fillet a fish at your best, you are required to first get a knife. In the world of knives, Japanese knives are the king when it comes to sharpness, and longevity & especially in professional work.

In this article, you will get to know the Best Japanese Knives for filleting fish, that you can use right then immediately after receiving any fish. However, nobody has the caliber of fileting down a tiger fish, Salmon, and tuna at least.

To save you from wasting expensive tuna & salmon just due to not having a good knife, we have made a complete list to help to find you the Best Japanese Knives for filleting fish. Deba’s thick spine, & single bevel is king in these tasks.

Top 3 Picks of Best Japanese Knife For Filleting Fish

Best Japanese Fillet Knives At a Glance

IMAGE	PRODUCT	SHOP
Overall Best	Global 6.25″ Boning Knife Benefits: The Sharpest Blade, Flexible blade knife, Versatile & balanced, Metallic grip handle, Super easy fileting	Shop Here
The Sharpest	DALSTRONG Filet Knife – Shogun Series Benefits: Double bevel 8° blade, Full tang & comfortable, Ultra-sharp knife blade, Comes with a plastic sheath, A Good edge retention	Shop Here
The Durable	Kizzaki Premium 8 inch AUS-10 Japanese Knife Benefits: Durable Japanese Fillet Knife, An Exceptionally sharp blade, Hexagonal yet full tang handle, Easy to clean/maintain a knife, Lightweight & non-stick blade	Shop Here
Best Edge Retention	Imarku Sashimi Sushi 10 inch – Yanagiba Knife Benefits: Best Edge Retention, A Decent Sharpness, Comfortable handle, A Single bevel blade, Easy to maneuver the knife	Shop Here
Easy to sharpen	Yoshihiro Shiroko High Carbon Steel Kasumi Deba Benefits: Easy to sharpen Knife, Hard yet stable blade, Thick spine & sharp, Butchers whole fish, A Cool build quality	Shop Here
Best Budget	Imarku 6-Inch Fillet Knife Benefits: Budget Japanese Fillet Knife, A Sharp knife for the price, Decent & comfortable handle, Double bevel 16° blade angle, Good for beginners & casual use	Shop Here
Lightweight	Shun Pro 8-1/4-Inch Deba Knife Benefits: Lightweight Japanese Fillet Knife, Comfortable Pakkawood handle, A single bevel & pre-sharpen blade, Ideal for filleting the fishes & chicken, More than enough edge retention	Shop Here
Comfortable	Sashimi Sushi Knife 10 Inch Benefits: The Comfortable Knife, Impressive build profile, A nice wooden handle, 10” long & versatile blade, Best for filleting the fish	Shop Here
Best Fillet under $100	TUO Deba knife, Fish Filleting Knife 6.5 inch Benefits: One of the Best Fillet knife under $100, Grippable Laminated wooden handle, Best to fillet down a small-medium fish, Durable, versatile, & stable blade knife, Single bevel knife with a thick spine	Shop Here
For Beginners & Students	TUO Sashimi Sushi Knife 8.25″ – Meteor Series Benefits: Best for Beginners & Students, Knife with a single bevel blade, Durable yet versatile knife, A Long & comfortable handle, A Sharp blade out of the box	Shop Here

Best Japanese Knife for Filleting Fish Reviews of Best Picks

1. Global 6.25″ Boning Knife

Alright, let’s get started today’s list with Global’s knife is one of the recent launches of it, & it is the 52nd best boning knife out there. This lightweight knife could be a great companion for chefs with some advanced cutting skills.

Build Quality & Material:

Global is using stainless steel coating on its lower spine that is known as its sharp edge. This knife is mainly a result of high carbon steel, which is one of the best out there in the market.

The steel contains a good alloy of chromium, molybdenum, a bit of cobalt & steel along with a vast field of carbon elements of course. With these materials, this knife has an edge over some other ones.

In the cutlery world, this material is commonly known as Chromova due to its great resistance against rust. Not only that, this material makes a perfect compliment along with the stainless steel coating to stand out even better.

See the Difference between Deba & Fillet Knives

Cutting & Performance:

With this knife, you can cut down the entire fillet of a fish from its gills to its pectoral fin, with literally no problems. Though the knife is using more than average chromium shades, this also makes it versatile.

This blade has a length of 6.25-inches that is balanced perfectly. Most of the time, the higher the length of the blade, the more versatility it will get. But this is not the case here as the versatility is not limited to its lengthened blade.

If you are dealing with small fishes but they require some deep cuts, this knife is a great tool for that case. It is a flexible blade that does not take a host of force to get penetration into the filets.

Moreover, the life is a complete piece of high-quality metal, from its edge to its handle. This is one of the best handles that doesn’t bend nor break. You will get a perforated & tiny little blind hole on every single inch that makes it non-slip.

Instead of using a common bolster, Global has renovated the design by making a dedicated spot for adjusting your index finger to get the most performance out of it. To be honest, the handle is easy to grip and is also packed with comfort.

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2. DALSTRONG Filet Knife – Shogun Series

The great successor to Global, which is known as the best filet knife. This knife is ranking as the 11th best fillet knife & it is a launch of 2017. With this lightweight knife, this make is also economical to get.

Build Quality & Material:

As this knife belongs to the house of Dalstrong, then how could it be possible of lacking in quality. The knife is using steel known as Super steel due to its long life span. Basically, the knife is made up of AUS-10 Japanese steel, a good one to see.

This is a layered steel knife that is further treated with vacuum heat. The treatment not only packs more durability in its microstructure, plus, it also validates the quality against cracks itself.

The AUS steel has a Rockwell hardness score of 61+ HRC, which is proof of its durability even without testing it. If you want something that would last in your professional hands for a long time, Dalstrong has launched it for you then.

Cutting & Performance:

We are sure that you can get your fish done in a matter of minutes to marinate it for sushi. With its partially contoured blade from its next half of the blade length, it makes it easy for you to remove the central bones from the fish fillet.

This also saves you a lot of time that you would spend after first cutting it carefully, later putting it down to analyze & remove those bones. Dalstrong has made an effective shape for fillets.

It is the second-best knife that has a flexible, versatile & durable blade all at the same time without any extra costs to you. You can easily tear down a salmon right after gutting it down.

Its Tsuchime pattern that they are calling a Damascus pattern prevents the large fillets of fish from sticking onto the blade. The edge retention is more than average here. Plus, the knife also comes with a sheath to protect it from rusting.

3. Kizzaki Premium 8 inch AUS-10 Japanese Knife

Another great successor to both Dalstrong & Global that comes in at a reasonable price. The knife is a launch of the year 2019, that is also popular but not as much as the former ones.

Build Quality & Material:

Exploring its build & material, Kizzaki has preferred to use Japanese steel of AUS-10, the same as we had in Dalstrong’s case. But, this time, they have slightly added some more carbon to make the steel harder.

This time, you have a Rockwell hardness of 62HRC, which is a bit more than the others. Now, the knife is not flexible just like the Dalstrong or Global, but this is meant for handling some powerful stuff.

To protect the blade from rust, & corrosion, Kizzaki has used Nitrogen treatment to increase its longevity. This knife is mainly meant for professionals, but you can also get it as a domestic or home chef to make Sushi meals.

Cutting & Performance:

You are not limited just to fillet the fish, as you can also behead it as well. This is due to its exceptionally hard blade, with a thick spine as compared to other ones. Now, you should not apply an impact load, as this doesn’t have a Deba like a spine.

Kizzaki has a long-lasting, durable, & one of the sharpest blades out of the box. This knife can also be used to remove skins or the fins of the fish without struggling a lot. The edge has also got some good retention here.

The blade is using a shallow sort of Tsuchime pattern that prevents the fish fillets from sticking on the blade. This also increases your productivity with its hexagonal full tang blade. Plus, there are no sharp or dangerous edges in this knife.

4. Yoshihiro Shiroko High Carbon Steel Kasumi Deba

The only guy from the Yoshihiro store belongs to its Shiroko series. This is the first Deba knife that is exclusively meant for fish butchery for professional hands. It is the 20th best Deba knife with a launch of 2012.

Build Quality & Material:

The Kasumi Deba is using high-quality steel that is loaded with a high ratio of carbon to make the knife more trendy. Yoshihiro has packed the knife with a lot of quality that helps it last for a long time.

The steel is commonly known as White steel with #2nd grade that does have consistent bonding with carbon. Due to its high carbon content, the knife blade becomes exceptionally sharp.

The last thing, the knife has a Rockwell hardness score of 63 HRC, which is even harder than any of the other tools by far. Though the knife is the sharpest one, it doesn’t blow its sharpness for a long time, but sharpening takes a lot of time.

Cutting & Performance:

Making slices through is not a big deal for this boy. The knife comes in a couple of variants with different blade lengths & handle material. This Deba has a single bevel blade, that enhances the sharpness level even more.

If you are busy or you want quick filleting, this is a good deal for you due to its versatility and sharpness. Being a Deba & single bevel, this knife can also be used to behead the fish or its hard parts in the case of tuna.

The knife is packed with performance and this can last for a long time in professional hands with no doubt. This is a bit expensive, so it’s not recommended for beginners. You can jump towards Tuo’s guys & Imarku in the end.

Moreover, the knife comes along with a Mongolian sheath also known as Saya, that comes out of the box at no extra cost to you. The knife has a slightly tapered handle that is comfortable & easy to maneuver at the same time.

5. Imarku Sashimi Sushi 10 inch – Yanagiba Knife

The first contestant from Imarku’s fleet belongs to its Sashimi series, the knives that are exclusively built for fish. This knife is one of their latest launches that got revealed back in 2020. Plus, it is the third-best Deba knife out there in the market.

Build Quality & Material:

Well, these knives come in a couple of other variants as well, with a major difference in their blade length & some sort of prices only. This knife is a result of a high carbon stainless steel known as 5cr15mov technically.

This steel owns a Rockwell hardness of 59HRC, which translates it to a sharp blade along with a hard sort of core out of the box. The knife comes sharpened already and doesn’t take time to sharpen for the first time.

These knives are not just forged, instead, they are heat & ice treated to give them army training. Now, the knife is featuring a sharp blade that has good longevity along with decent sharpness.

Cutting & Performance:

It is one of the Best Japanese Fillet Knives on this list, & we can bet that this has the best edge retention on this entire list. Some knives may come close to it, but can not beat it when it comes to edge retention.

The knife is a single-sided or single bevel, that makes it easy to slice and bow down your filets from the fish. Here, the blade has a short angle that ranges from 12-15°, & it is one of the best that can be used to remove even the skin of fish.

However, the knife has a tapered, decently polished, & boulted handle as well. With this knife, you can easily handle it if you are some master. Though the handle is full-tang & versatile, it could cause some slipping as well.

6. Shun Pro 8-1/4-Inch Deba Knife

After a long time, we have got you captured with Shun’s knife. If you are a die-hard fan of their knives, we just want to tell you guys that it is the only knife from Shun that we found worthy for today’s context.

Build Quality & Material:

The knife comes in two different variants along with different sizes of blades, but we will keep considering the 8-inch version. This modern Deba blade is a make of high carbon steel of high quality with a high ratio of rust-free elements.

Shun is making this knife through its one of the best Japanese steel known as VG-10 at its best possible quality. This knife holds a good edge but not the greatest as Imarku’s Sashimi that we reviewed right before.

Now, there is a micro layer of stainless steel in its lower spine for the blade, to protect it from rust. However, all of the other parts of the blade are using VG-10 texture that is also good for the price.

Cutting & Performance:

Being a traditional Japanese knife brand, it manufactures knives with traditional craftsmanship. But this time, Shun has decided to implement a modern western sort of design in this knife by retaining the same blade philosophy.

According to shun, this knife is exclusively for meat, chicken & fish butchery sort of stuff. But, we are unable to find a context that forces Shun to give it a look at Santoku when it comes to its edge part.

One thing we found good for this knife; you can take a deep & long cut inside the salmon right next to its bone column. It’s better not to apply an enormous forehead force because doing this can harm the edge as it can be done easily.

Moreover, the blade is also using a pattern on its face, that makes the knife not only non-stick. Plus, it also prevents the knife from slipping by resisting against the friction inside the meat.

7. Sashimi Sushi Knife 10 Inch

Next, we have got another good Japanese knife for filleting fish that is the very first budget Filleting knife on the list. The knife is a launch of 2017, & it is now ranking as the third-best Sashimi knife.

Build Quality & Material:

Let us jump towards its build that will help you assume why this is one of the best-selling Japanese fillet knives right for a while. This knife has a blade that is using a high carbon blade. But, what makes it stand out is its Stainless steel protection.

For its design, the manufacturer has integrated an edge that has decent retention to make it last for a long time. The knife is lightweight due to its average level of carbon that has been used here.

Overall, the knife is nicely built and extremely worth its price. With great durability, value for money, this knife is preferably the best one for casual, beginners, and amateur chefs.

Cutting & Performance:

The knife can not only be used to fillet down a fish. Plus, you can also use it for slicing Sushi. Due to its 10-inches long blade, the knife has made it easier to get it done professionally.

Surprisingly, even being a budget Japanese knife for filleting, it is still using a single bevel blade that has an exceptional sharpness level. This sometimes becomes hard to get even in mid-range budget knives.

The knife owns a slim & narrow blade that is easy to maneuver inside a fish to get deep and precise filets of fish in a matter of minutes or two. Though the knife is not truly flexible, its narrow blade has done its part here.

8. TUO Sashimi Sushi Knife 8.25″ – Meteor Series

TUO for the first time making its debut with its Meteor series knife, our editorial team has categorized this as a budget knife. This knife is a launch of 2019, & it is best for beginner seafood chefs to get started with.

Build Quality & Material:

TUO has used a good quality of 7Cr17MoV steel, which makes the blade resist rust. This knife has a heat-treated blade, by using that, TUO is trying to validate its quality.

For the price, quality is exceptional & you do get what you pay for the price. This blade has a sharpness of 58HRC, which establishes a better route between your hands and its longevity.

Surprisingly, this knife is also using a single bevel edge, which makes it easy to glide inside the body of a wild salmon. The knife also gives edge retention but this is not the best one, but for the price.

Cutting & Performance:

So, the knife is performing when it comes to handling most of the butchery stuff. But when it comes to fish and chicken, this stands out for the price. Though the knife has a Kritsuke profile instead of a Deba, it helps you in shallow & deep cuts.

Its single bevel blade takes full advantage of its long blade to give a more than expected sharpness for the price. Being a budget boy, this guy does not have any pattern on its blade, which sometimes leads to stickiness, but not too much.

Overall, the knife is doing a great job to filet down the fish at good speed & at a decent price. With this knife, it becomes easy for beginners to master their knife skills on fish for a long blade

9. Imarku 6-Inch Fillet Knife

Imarku for the second yet last time to leave the chat with this list. If you want something more specific to your low budget being a student, then it’s a great choice to master your skills at a fair price.

The knife is the best selling Japanese filleting knife for a long time. This knife is a launch of 2017.

Build Quality & Material:

Imarku has used a blade that is made up of high carbon steel. This high carbon is decent enough to pack some durability but it is not the greatest of all time. The knife can resist rust if you can manage to take care of it perfectly.

Technically, this is the first knife that is using German high carbon steel, as this is not exclusively built in Japan. To get a budget knife for this price, it is impossible to get a knife that belongs to mainland Japan for every single part.

Moreover, the knife has a durable blade for the price, that has a Rockwell hardness of 58HRC. Because the knife is hard, so you can never expect it for flexibility even being a narrow blade.

Cutting & Performance:

It has a contoured blade that can easily fillet it down with accuracy. Now the knife is not completely round, but you can still remove the bones from the cross-section of the fish with little to no complexity.

The knife has a 6-inches long blade that also packs some versatility, but this is not again the best one. For the price, it is the best deal to grab for beginners and home chefs. We will highly discourage this to professional & commercial chefs.

As this is not the single bevel knife, you would be arguing its sharpness. But believe us, the knife is more than enough for its price when it comes to its sharpness. Moreover, the knife is using a Pakkawood handle to enhance comfort.

10. TUO Deba knife, Fish Filleting Knife 6.5 inch

Last on the list of Best Japanese Knife for filleting fish, we have got you captured with TUO’s Deba knife that is one of the recent launches of TUO in this segment. The knife is a launch of 2019, & it is the 12th best Deba knife out there.

Build Quality & Material:

The knife is a make of one of the best German steels out there in the market for the price. This steel gives an ability to the knife against rust, corrosion, and chipping as well.

This knife comes along with more than enough hardness. Here, you will get a Rockwell hardness of 58HRC, which is more than enough to get for this price. TUO has made the knife by following vacuum heat & nitrogen treatment.

Cutting & Performance:

Being a Deba knife, this also comes with a single bevel blade, that eventually turns into great sharpness. This knife has a thick spine that assists you to apply an impact load while beheading down the fish.

Not only that, this knife has a wide yet short profile, through which you can easily get fillets of small to medium size fishes. Of course, tuna is not the best choice for these small blades to cut the entire piece of fish.

Overall, it has good edge retention that can also handle your impact without bending or chipping. But, it’s better to always apply an optimal load to protect both your knife, ingredient, and the cutting board as well.

FAQs for Best Japanese Fillet Knives

The Bottom Line for Best Japanese Knife for filleting fish

Being a foodie, everybody loves to eat delicious Sushi, tuna, salmon & trout, only if it is prepared perfectly. If you are a chef at Seafood restaurants you can relate to this. At first, the Selmon needs perfect filleting.

Right after gutting a fish, you need to fillet. However, if you are struggling to fillet a fish like a Pro, it is not going to happen just from your skills. In fact, this doesn’t require any Rocket science if you have a Best Japanese Knife for filleting fish.

Deba is a Japanese knife that is the Best Japanese Knife for filleting fish. To fillet down your fish at best accuracy without striving, There is nothing that could be better than these best Japanese knives.

Yes, finding the truth & the Best Japanese knife for fish takes a lot of time, patience & complete knowledge to get. Thankfully, you no longer need to rush as we have already helped you out through this guide.