About Hocho Journal
Hocho Journal is an independent editorial publication about Japanese kitchen knives, written for English-speaking home cooks and working professionals who want more than a top-10 listicle.
Our Editorial Team
Tokyo-based editorial team writing about Japanese kitchen knives for English-speaking cooks. We publish buying guides, brand deep-dives, and hands-on reviews grounded in field research in Kappabashi, Sakai, and Seki.
Editorial Policy
First-hand sourcing
Every recommendation is grounded in hands-on use at specialist shops in Kappabashi, Sakai, or Seki. We test with the knives ourselves — no spec-sheet-only reviews.
Transparent pricing
Prices are quoted in USD ranges as of publication. We note which models are made in Japan vs. designed in Japan but manufactured elsewhere.
Affiliate disclosure
Some outbound links may be affiliate links. They never influence our recommendations — we recommend what we think is best for the reader, period.
Continuous updates
Articles carry a "Published" and "Updated" date. We revisit our top guides at least twice a year as prices, models, and brand lineups evolve.