There's a reason Japanese kitchen tools have been celebrated in culinary culture for hundreds of years. Equal parts functional kitchen tool and handmade piece of art, the gorgeous blade from Shun Cutlery brings all the function of a chef's knife, but with a shorter length that allows for nimbler slicing, mincing, and rocking motions. Each is hand-forged in Japan using a 100-step process — with a cutting core of Shun's proprietary VG-MAX steel, outer layers of Damascus cladding, and a hammered tsuchime finish. The hinoki board is made from Japanese cypress, a medium-soft wood that gives a bit as you cut, preserving the blade's fine edge. It's sustainably-sourced, too: Shun's Forest Stewardship Council-certified hinoki products are grown in Japan, all made from wood gathered from forest thinning, which is necessary for healthy forest growth.

• Chef's Knife: Blade (L): 6"
• Cutting board: (L)10.75" x (W) 5.75" x (D) .5"
• VG-MAX "super steel" core
• Damascus steel cladding
• Hammered finish reduces drag
• Wash and towel-dry immediately
• Handcrafted in Japan
• Sustainably-sourced Japanese cypress
• Wash with mild soap, towel dry, then air-dry