Deba means “short fat tooth” in Japanese, and that’s the shape of this knife. It’s the first knife a sushi chef would use when preparing fish. It is used to fillet fish and take shellfish apart. Used properly, this ultra-sharp knife can do the heavy work: cutting heads off fish and even some poultry. Once you get the hang of using a deba for fish, you will probably never go back to your old flexible filleting knife.

These knives, and a considerable amount of skill on the chef’s part, are the reason sushi looks so good and why the fish is cleaned so perfectly. Done properly, the bones will be in one pile with almost no meat on them and the meat will be completely bone free, perfect fillets. Don’t let the shape and weight of a deba fool you; they are nimble and precise. Choose your deba’s length based on the fish size you’ll be butchering most often.

The Shirasagi White 2 steel range showcases the timeless elegance and performance of traditional Japanese craftsmanship with a modern edge. Featuring White 2 carbon steel at the core known for its superb hardness and ability to take an ultra sharp edge each blade offers extraordinarily clean, effortless cuts and sharpness that appeals to purists. These knives are clad in a subtly patterned stainless steel layer inspired by the graceful simplicity of the “Shirasagi” heron, providing gentle corrosion resistance while allowing the White 2 core to shine through both functionally and visually. Ideal for chefs and culinary enthusiasts who value traditional aesthetics, razor sharp performance, and the nuanced maintenance ritual that carbon steel demands, the Hatsukokoro Shirasagi White 2 line beautifully bridges heritage and high end utility.

Weight: 334g

Handle Material: Octagonal wenga wood with black ebony ferrule

Handle Length: 138mm (5.4")

Blade Length: 182mm (7.1")

Blade Depth: 52mm

Thickness at spine: 7.4mm

Thickness at tip: 1.0mm

Cutting Edge: Single bevel - right bias

Blade Material: Shirogami #2 (White carbon steel) with stainless steel cladding and Nashiji finish

Hardness (Rockwell scale): 62 - 63